SIMPLY SUPPORT: Brides Against Breast Cancer

This weekend I had a booth at the Brides Against Breast Cancer event! Here's some pictures of the booth and the design. I was going for a pretty, vintage, rustic, and PINK look. :) It was a great event to be a part of & I was really glad I was able to contribute for a good cause that is close to home! 

{Organic Wednesday} Charity

CharityWatch is a nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help donors make informed giving decisions. Their web site will provide you with information about their organization, the charities they rated, and their method of grading charities. Other features include tips for giving wisely, a helpful-hints guide for getting the most for the dollars you donate; tips for online giving; answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ); and useful and interesting articles on a variety of topics relating to charitable giving; and more.

How does your favorite charity rate? Of the over five-hundred charities currently rated by CharityWatch, only a select number qualify for their listing of Top-Rated charities based on their rigorous analysis. Groups included on the Top-Rated list generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve, and receive "open-book" status for disclosure of basic financial information and documents to CharityWatch.  http://www.charitywatch.org/

After looking at their many highly rated charities, here are my TOP choices of the "A" organizations:

http://www.awionline.org

Since 1951, the Animal Welfare Institute has been dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people.

http://www.thp.org

The Hunger Project (THP) is a global, non-profit, strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. In Africa, South Asia and Latin America, THP seeks to end hunger and poverty by empowering people to lead lives of self-reliance, meet their own basic needs and build better futures for their children.

http://www.bbbs.org

Big Brother Big Sister, positively impact a child for the better, forever.

Also on December 11th CNN broadcasted an amazing show about Heroes. Many tears were shed! The top ten were selected from more than 10,000 nominations submitted online on the CNN Heroes website. 

These four really touched my heart! 

American Widow Project: provided support to more than 900 military widows since 2007.

Global Soap Project: recycles partially used hotel soap to save lives in impoverished countries.

Yayasan Bumi Sehat: Robin Lim and her team have helped thousands of low-income women have a healthy birthing experience.

World Access Project: provided hundreds of wheelchairs to people in rural Mexico.

But there were so many great stories and you must read more and donate if you can here:

http://www.google.com/landing/cnnheroes/2011/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/

http://www.facebook.com/CNNHeroes

How do you donate? What charities do you support? Will/did you make a donation for your wedding?
I like to donate my blood as much as I can to The Blood Alliance and support our local Humane Society

CHOOSE GREEN

CHOOSE GREEN: There are so many fun and unique ideas out there for designing a wonderful wedding or event that won’t create a huge carbon imprint on our world, while still being organic and beautiful. A green event is simply a way in which you can make choices that limit the negative impact to the planet. A green event doesn’t have to mean compromising your dream or having no style. Whether you want to incorporate local wines, serve a completely organic menu, wear an organic wedding dress, use Eco-friendly invitations, or photographers, there are many perfect options for you.

Does my event need to be 100% green? 

That is up to you! It can be a little or a lot, because every aspect of your event can be greener.

Each one of the 2.5 million weddings this year in the United States will produce an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide and 400-600 lbs of garbage. That's a lot of waste! If every engaged couple made just one small green choice, which would be 2.5 million greener choices a year and that is an amazing impact! 

- According to the Green Bride Guide's research

Sharing the love of green on my blog at: http://simplysavannahevents.blogspot.com/p/green.html

GREEN IDEAS:

     

☛ Donate your flowers: Hospice Savannah, St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital, Memorial University Medical Center, Ronald Mc Donald House of Savannah, Buckingham South in Savannah- Retirement Community, Union Mission Inc. Savannah, GA-shelter for men women and families

☛ Support local companies for your guest favors or welcome baskets (see my unique gift ideas on my blog at: http://simplysavannahevents.blogspot.com/p/vendors.html )

☛ Support Etsy vendors, the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace – ask me about my list of unique wedding artists including: refurbished ties and bow ties, cake toppers, banners, accessories, and more 

☛ Hire local Savannah recycling company, Footprint to set up and pick up your recycling at your event

☛ Don’t give guests favors, instead donate the money to your charity of choice:

https://www.idofoundation.org/ 

https://www.justgive.org 

http://www.globalgiving.org/

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ 

http://www.redcross.org/ 

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

☛ Green favors – small plants if they live locally or infused seed favors that can be planted, biodegradable confetti, 100% latex balloons that are biodegradable vs. plastic balloons (bad for the ocean & ocean animals), canvas totes, bamboo, organic chocolate, and I have more!

☛ Have your ceremony and reception at the same location to cut on transportation

☛ Choose a Green Certified Reception or Botanical Garden

Richmond Hill City Center

Savannah Botanical Garden

Bamboo Farm & Coastal Garden

Hunter Cattle Co.

☛ Use Eco-friendly invitations, or just have the save-the-dates be a post card to cut on postage and paper

☛ Choose an organic caterer like Thrive

☛ Choose an Eco-friendly florist: Urban Poppy or A to Zinnias

☛ Have Eco-friendly gift registry items: even Target has great Eco-friendly options now or shop these online stores: http://www.plateswithpurpose.com/ or http://www.dwellsmart.com/ or http://www.branchhome.com/

☛ Use horse drawn carriages or pedi cabs to move your bridal party from one location to the next, if near by

I'll keep them coming don't worry! So what GREEN choices will you make for your wedding?