Archives for May 2013

When a few strong women get together, better prepare yourself for an impact on the world to be made.

When Holly and Gretchen and their daughters Chelsie and Elisabeth put their heads (and hearts) together, Trades of Hope was born. TOH empowers women around the world to create sustainable businesses. Their web store is full of beautiful treasures, but the most valuable treasures are the lives that are changed by income TOH provides to them via generous compensation for their wares so that they can pay their bills, send children to school, provide for their families.

In line with their mission to empower women around the world, they have a team of American women that is growing everyday who add a new label to that of wife or mother or teacher, etc. etc.—that of Compassion Entrepreneur. These ladies work together with unified heart and purpose—growing their business and empowering each other while being a part of something way bigger for women just like themselves all over the world.

I reached out to Trades of Hope to tell them about The Sparrow Fund and our heart and purpose to serve adoptive families. And, their genuine compassion overflowed. With a handful of adoptive families involved in Trades of Hope (including founders Gretchen and Elisabeth who have a daughter/sister from Haiti), they said YES and told us they were full-in to support our efforts to keep giving, keep serving, keep encouraging, and keep pouring into families. Trades of Hope generously donated $1,000 to start our nest building this month. 

They also offered to do a giveaway to all of you, just to sweeten the deal and drive traffic over here so that more people would hear about our fundraiser and efforts for adoptive families—a giveaway I’m certain will do just that since it’s three beautiful pieces worth nearly $70.

The Nepali Aqua Scarf, Tri-leaf Earrings, and Haiti Signature Bracelet – 3 of their top sellers. And, guess what? Since they’ve been following along with all that I’ve been doing this month with all the giveaways (and parenting 4 kids sans husband while he’s been serving overseas), they even sent all 3 pieces to me as a thank you! The giveawayer (aka me) got a super fun package in the mail herself! I can tell you right now that these earrings make me feel so cool (and maybe 10 years younger…). Have a feeling they are going to be my new favorites.

Enter to win these three pieces. And, go check out all the partners’ sites. (If you leave a comment naming just one thing you have ordered/purchased from one of them this month, you get an extra 10 entries for any of the giveaways going on right now…and there are quite a few!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Adoption is near and dear to the heart of Cara of Blue Times 2. She was adopted as an infant herself and knows the blessing of adoption. When we asked her to consider being a part of our efforts to Build the Nest through her great store, she didn’t hesitate at all, desiring to help adoptive parents (which she hopes to be herself one day).

 

She’s a specialist in personalized goodies—and has completely made me fall for her personalized iPhone/iPad plug wraps. I’m placing my own order today for one to match my Gripcase.

Cara is helping us Build the Nest this month, giving us a jump start by sponsoring the event. And, she giving away a monogrammed treat here just so that we can drive some traffic over and raise awareness of the Build the Nest fundraiser going on this month to benefit The Sparrow Fund’s work to support adoptive families. That’s what all these giveaways are really all about.

Enter to win this adorable summer market tote which will be personalized just for the winner. And, go check out all the partners’ sites. (If you leave a comment naming just one thing you have ordered/purchased from one of them this month, you get an extra 10 entries for any of the giveaways going on right now…and there are quite a few!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wanna hear something cool? When small businesses have such a community that they rally behind the causes that make their community’s heart beat faster. That’s what we’ve got here.

Sara Kauffman of New Holland Coffee Company had never really been exposed to adoption before. With friends of NHCC now bringing home twins from the DRC and other friends fostering to adopt, she’s been learning about all that goes into adopting and parenting children who have been adopted.

When The Sparrow Fund hosted Together Called for married couples this past February, Sara shared New Holland beans with us as we sought to give these couples the red carpet treatment. And, this month, Sara became a sponsor of our effort to Build the Nest this May to get us a head start so that we can continue to serve adoptive families.

To help us drive some traffic over and raise awareness of the Build the Nest fundraiser going on this month, Sara’s offered to giveaway 2 lbs. of New Holland Coffee Company’s fresh roasted coffee. And, believe me, you want to win every. last. bean. in. each. pound. (I speak from experience, can you tell?)

So, go ahead. It’s an easy entry, but take a little more time to go check out all the partners’ sites. (If you leave a comment naming just one thing you have ordered/purchased from one of them this month, you get an extra 10 entries for any of the giveaways going on right now…and there are quite a few!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway