The Cause: The event netted almost $100,000 to help contribute to the much needed animal commissary and Zoo improvements.

The Sponsors: This year attendees enjoyed free valet parking sponsored by Villa Ford along with a hosted bar by Foster’s Wine Estates Americas, appetizers and then an exquisite gourmet dinner prepared by Parties by Panache.

The Credentials: Guests were greeted with a special drink appropriately named, “Cleopatra’s Kiss”.  Attendees  enjoyed a large silent auction area as well special visits with the animals; however, the highlight of the evening proved to be the camels!  Brought in for the summer, Noah and Kaleb posed for a special keep sake photo with each guest.  An extraordinary live auction and dancing to the lively tunes of the “Class of 69” followed.  Back this year by popular demand were the evenings co hosts; KOCE’s Ed Arnold and philanthropist Sandy Segerstrom Daniels with Chuck Dreyer returning as auctioneer.  Frank Mickedeit, from the OC Register was honored for his work promoting the zoo while “living in a cage”.

1. Be aware that the size and weight of the invitation, and its components, can impact the amount of postage required which can directly affect your budget.
2. Provide several RSVP options: 1. RSVP card and envelope, 2. telephone number, 3. web address and 4. email address.
3. Include the charity’s mission in your invitation.
4. Include a donation option in case the invitee cannot attend your event but may wish to make a donation.
5. Communicate the style of the event through the invitation design, including the logo.

What other tips do you have for invitations?

]]> http://vivanista.com/2010/09/five-fundraising-tips-designing-an-invitation/feed/ 9 http://vivanista.com/2010/08/world-leaders-leverage-the-united-nations/ http://vivanista.com/2010/08/world-leaders-leverage-the-united-nations/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:05:04 +0000 TeamViva http://vivanista.com/?p=15559 The United Nations “Citizen Ambassador to the UN” video contest encourages world citizens to voice their opinions to Heads of State and Government and weigh in on the decisions made by the member states of the United Nations.

The campaign is the latest in a series of initiatives launched by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which seek to utilize the power of the Internet and social networking to engage a new generation of world citizens in the importance of international diplomacy.

The Call to Action:

“Use your voice as a global citzen and tell world leaders in a short video what you think needs to be done to make this world a better and safer place.”

Layne Gray, Vivanista founder, would say to world leaders that the UN should leverage what it has done for promoting peace and democracy around the globe. NGOs (Non Government Organizations) could use the infrastructure the UN has successfully developed to share best practices to address the Millenium Development Goals.

What Would You Say If You Had The Chance To Talk To World Leaders?

In 2008, the United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), named August 19th, today’s date, World Humanitarian Day. The four principles OCHA lists as key in humanitarian action include Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality, and Operational Independence.

In association with OCHA’s Humanitarian Day, CARE has launched a Twitter campaign asking supporters to tweet in pictures of a word that describes them. Our team at Vivanista has taken the opportunity to share a few words that describe us, below you will find a few pictures along with the World Humanitarian Day video that OCHA posted.

Challenge: Watch video & write down a word that describes you on blank paper. Snap a photo & post below, on twitter or facebook!

As segment 2 of Vivanista’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ look at producing a major charity gala, we tapped into the event Co-Chairs’ must-do regimen to be perfectly primped for the big day. With a little help from Saks Fifth Avenue we got the straight scoop from two style professionals: Rita Brown, makeup artist for Dior, and Secret Agent Salon’s hair stylist, Melissa Wagner. These pros were charged with giving SF Opera Ball Co-Chairs Mary Poland and Charlot Malin the look that’ll rock the Gala parties.

Equipped with two bottles of hair spray for any styling appointment (“One to help set the hair while styling and the other for the finished look”), Wagner is currently a big fan of the retro styles that have resurfaced with the help of “Mad Men,” a look which came in handy when styling Poland’s hair.

“Mary and I share the same enthusiasm for big romantic styles, similar to “Mad Men,” explained Wagner. “I gave her hair vintage appeal by building height in the crown and keeping the bangs full and swept. I wanted retro but not dated.” Malin’s hair, however, was a bit of a different story. Although she originally turned down the idea of a braided up-do, thinking it would come off as too “little-girly,” she compromised with Wagner on an asymmetrical loose chignon. Unlike cuts and color, of which the latter is Wagner’s specialty, “styling is the least permanent service,” she explained, which means there is more opportunity to get playful since one can change the look with the flick of a hair spray bottle.

Compromise is something Wagner has to deal with pretty often. In one case at Saks, where Wagner styles part-time in addition to her job at Secret Agent, after thinking she had completed a client’s hair style, she was handed a bag of diamond broaches which she was instructed to include in the hairstyle as well. While the results were superb, this is a perfect example of how stylists must improvise and adjust their original vision in order to suit the desires of their clients, without allowing the “Wow!” effect of the look to waver.

In case you were wondering, the exclamation “Wow!” is the look stylists strive for, as make-up artist Brown stated when asked how perfect makeup

Saks Director of Marketing, Dawn Dzedzy, with Gala Co-Chair, Mary Poland can complete an ensemble’s look.

“Elegant radiance is what will set you apart from a crowd,” she explained. “With the right skincare and flawless makeup application, your complete look can go from [just] event-ready to red-carpet ‘WOW!’” When prepping for a makeup appointment, Brown insists that actually familiarizing herself with her clients’ personality is more important than just basing the look on their physical appearances.

“By taking some time to get to know [my client], I can execute a makeup [look] that best reflects the image she would like to portray,” Brown explained. Throughout the styling process at Saks with Poland and Malin, Brown made sure to chat with them, as well as double check certain colors and looks with them before applying. “As an artist, it is natural for me to create a vision. [But,] more importantly it is my job to help my client to express hers.”

When it comes to some helpful hints, Wagner indulged that loose, “very airy and romantic” braids seem to be a new trend, while a disheveled bun as an easy DIY look one can throw together if hiring a stylist is not an option. Brown, on the other hand, reminds us that if the event is highly publicized and photos are going to be taken, heavier makeup is necessary.

So there it is! A Vivanista-exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the women behind the ultra-fabulous, uber-glamorous, dare we say, over-the-top-fantabulous looks that will be rocked on September 10th, at the SF Opera Ball.

Check out previous segments of this 7-part series:

- Prelude: Planning a Major Gala

- Part I: Co-Chairs

Next week check out Part III which includes an interview with New York-based event design firm – Van Wyck and Van Wyck.  Hear how they’re approaching the decor for the San Francisco Opera Ball as well as a few anecdotes from other events they’ve worked on, including P. Diddy’s birthday bash at the Plaza where he wanted it to snow…in the ballroom.  Then there was the  MTV Video Music Awards after-party for Quincy Jones in Hurricane-strewn Miami.  Check in on Monday, August 16th.

We have streamlined our welcome/login page and MyViva dashboard into an easy to use drop down tab in the upper right corner of the site.  When logged in you can manage your MyViva profile, settings, and notifications, connect with other members and contribute to the events calendar, forum discussion and submit story ideas.

We have also enhanced our site navigation. Not only are the buttons bigger and more visible they include our Social Calendar, Get Connect/Community page,  Blog and more philanthropy and fundraising topics. The expanded topics include: Philanthropy 101, Giving, Voluntarism, Nonprofit Management, and Lifestyle.

Our fundraising section consists of our new Resource library, which outlines everything you need for planning, generating revenue, marketing and managing at your upcoming charitable fundraiser. You will also find our Fundraisers-In-A-Box, Tips & Tricks, Online Fundraising, and Expert Advice.

We want you to Get Connected with the others in the Vivanista Community to share ideas, discuss best practices and learn something new. Join the Vivanista Forum Club and reply to a question or post a new discussion topic. You can also search for other members, find popular articles, and recent Vivanista tweets.

The Vivablog is where our team will share top-of-mind thoughts, ideas and a little personality behind Vivanista.  Layne Gray, Vivanista founder write’s our inaugural post, hear what she has to say >>

Our final fun feature addition is the Vivanista Podcast, which we are kicking off with Behind-The-Scenes, Part I – Opera Ball Co-Chairs

The Cause: On Thursday, July 15, 2010, Nearly 400 guests gathered to enjoy an evening of music and refreshments in the Fifth Avenue Garden.  Proceeds (nearly $130,000) from the Garden Party supported a full range of programs including educational and curatorial initiatives and Library activities.

The Credentials: Making it’s debut in 2008, The Frick Garden Party has been deemed one of the most memorable social events of the year by The New York Times. Now, this annual benefit offers attendees exclusive access to the museum’s extraordinary Fifth Avenue Garden.

Benefit Chairmen: Emily T. Frick, Fiona Benenson, Clare McKeon, Caroline Milbank, Lisa Morse, Alexandra Porter, Barbara Reibel, Deborah Royce, and Jennifer Wright

Event Sponsor: The evening was underwritten in part by Edmund Hollander Landscape Architects.

With Reese Witherspoon raising awareness for breast cancer as Avon’s first Global Ambassador, Angelina Jolie and hubby Brad Pitt starting the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to eliminate rural poverty globally, Oprah consistently giving away millions to multiple causes, and Madonna building a girls’ school in Malawi, there is no doubt that celebrities are doing their part to give back—just like you!

Use this fun flow chart to determine which celeb philanthropist you can best relate to:

How does $5 make an impact?

$5 Can Help a Girl Stay in School
School Supplies. In Ethiopia and Guatemala, both girls and boys are required to go to primary school, but often girls stay at home because their families cannot afford the cost of supplies. In fact, just one in five girls in Ethiopia finish the equivalent of high school, and in Guatemala, four out of 10 girls don’t go to school because they don’t have the resources. $5 helps buy pencils, books and notebooks so that girls can participate in class and stay in school. Goats and Hens. That’s right! For many families, a goat or pair of hens are a valuable source of food and income. Eggs and goat’s milk can be eaten at home or sold at market. In Ethiopia, $5 can go toward the purchase of goats and hens that will serve as incentives for families to keep their girls in school.

$5 Can Help Keep a Girl Healthy and Safe
Clean Water. In Ethiopia, women and girls walk an average of 6 hours a day to collect fresh water for their families. This often prevents girls from attending school and can put them in danger when they are far from home. $5 helps build water points in local communities that bring clean water closer to home. Everyone in the community benefits, and close access means girls stay safe and have time to go to school and study.

$5 Can Help Girls Become Leaders
Girl Centers. Girl centers and girls clubs provide a safe place in the community for girls to come together, meet with female mentors and learn important life and leadership skills. In Ethiopia and Guatemala, girls clubs provide informal education and training in rural communities, and even connect girls with internships so they can learn valuable job skills. $5 can help support girl centers in more communities.

Five Ways to Invest in Girls:

1. Take five minutes to learn about the issues impacting girls in developing countries

2. Share five facts about girls and the campaign by commenting below or through your social networks Facebook and Twitter

3. Send the campaign’s Girlafesto (Image below) to five friends and family members and ask them to join you in supporting Girl Up

4. Donate $5 or more to provide school supplies, health check-ups, and more

5. Host a Girl Up fundraiser in your school, club, or community to raise funds for the campaign by challenging five friends to see who can raise the most funds to help girls.

Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California is dedicated to improving the lives of children around the world. We do this by providing programs of last resort which help families access medical care and related services that are not covered by insurance companies, hospitals, government agencies or community based organizations.

About the Organization:

Since 1947 Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California has provided local special-needs children and families with crucial relief services, including a needed infusion of appreciation money, material and equipment so that they live happier, healthier and productive lives. With the generous support of our membership, corporate sponsors and volunteers, we are able to make a lasting difference in the lives of handicapped, critically ill and disadvantaged children.

Fun fact, something people may not know about the organization:

Variety owns and operates a private movie theater and event space on Market Street in the financial district. We love throwing parties and showing new movies to our members!

We are recruiting Board Members!

How do you quantify the impact your organization has?

Each year Variety places special adaptive bikes with disabled children, “Sunshine Coach” Vans with community organizations, bikes with under-privileged children, and provides financial assistance in the form of gas and grocery cards to families in need.

What are the top ways your organization raises funds?

Membership, Monthly Giving Program, Great Gatsby Ball, Golf Tournament, Screening Room rentals
What is the most effective fundraiser, event or campaign you’ve been involved in?

Our self-produced Great Gatsby Ball.

How do you leverage social media and online tools to connect with current and prospective donors?

We are on Facebook and Twitter.

How do you thank your (significant) donors?

We have a wall within the Variety Screening Room

How can Vivanista members get involved, whether through volunteering or by donating?

Vivanista can help us to expand awareness of Variety and help recruit members.

How does someone get involved?

Variety is currently seeking new board members and partners to help host/produce events, manage outr membership program, renovate our Screening Room and to perform fundraising.

To get involved, please contact Ian McPherson at ian@varietync.org