PARTY with a PURPOSE
H by SETTLE MONROE
Home shopping parties, where women invite friends and neighbors over to shop for everything from skin care products to frying pans, are all the rage. In 2011, a small group of Raleigh girlfriends hosted their own “sip and shop” party, but instead of asking guests to open their wallets for a pair of earrings or an onion slicer, they asked them to give their time and resources to charities instead. Surrounded by new and old friends, a vast spread of homemade treats, and the warmth of holiday cheer, guests were introduced to representatives from four local nonprofits, and invited to contribute. The Raleigh Giving Party was born. Christina Woelffer, one of the hosts, attended her first Giv-
114 | WALTER
Raleigh giving party co-hosts, from left, Melissa Colantuoni, Christina Woelffer, Natalie Best, Jennifer Venable
ing Party in Chapel Hill in 2007 as a representative of Summit House, a nonprofit that provided an alternative to prison for women with children. Though she expected to find guests dutifully writing checks while making small talk, she experienced a genuine enthusiasm and inspiration among friends. Woelffer knew she wanted to bring the Giving Party to Raleigh. So she did what any smart woman leader does when she needs to give legs to a vision – she called her girlfriends. With the help of Natalie Best and Melissa Colantuoni, she brought the Giving Party to Raleigh. The following year, Jennifer Venable joined as the fourth Raleigh Giving Party host. The women knew the party needed to be full of festivity and fun – not pressure or obligation. To do this, they adopted the motto “Give until it feels good,” and made all financial gifts anonymous. They were admittedly a little nervous the first year, unsure if friends would actually show up or if they could raise any money at all. Their fears were quickly put to rest. Within moments, about
Annie Cockrill
GIVERS
