14 Local Organizations to Love: Share the Love with this Dyanmic Duo!

American Heart Association:

Go Red for Women Pittsburgh Chapter

In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 26,000 women die each year from heart disease and stroke. These are women we know. They are our wives, sisters, mothers, daughters and friends. In fact, one of every three women will die from heart disease, yet less than 60 percent of women recognize heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women.

Your heart is in your hands. Heart disease and stroke are largely preventable if you work to lower your risks. Learn more by taking the Go Red Heart CheckUp.

Through Pittsburgh Goes Red For Women®  movement, the American Heart Association is working to decrease those numbers. We are working to empower women to Speak Up and take action to raise awarness and funds to help women everywhere GO RED.

For more information - or to volunteer for Pittsburgh Go Red For Women - please contact Wendy McCabe at 412-702-1128 or wendy.mccabe@heart.org.

 

NOCC Pittsburgh Chapter

Welcome to the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. From their office in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh,they promote ovarian cancer education and awareness while supporting survivors and their families throughout western Pennsylvania, from Greene and Fayette counties in the south to Erie in the north.

Their chapter is comprised of ovarian cancer survivors, their families, friends and health care professionals and they invite anyone with an interest in raising awareness about ovarian cancer to join our efforts. Their meetings, which are open to the public, are held the first Wednesday evening of every month and include educational presentations on a wide range of topics. NOCC participate in health fairs and outreach events throughout the year and hold their annual Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer in the fall.

Volunteers are needed in all areas, including education and outreach, office support and events.
Please contact NOCC Pittsburgh Chapter at 412-661-1095 if you need support, are looking for information, or would like to volunteer.  They look forward to hearing from you! To receive updates on Chapter events and programs, including the Walk, click here. Make sure to join their discussion on Facebook  and Twitter.

January 26: Propelle

If there's one thing I know, it's that us girls have to stick together! I am fortunate to have many wonderful people (male and female) in my life, but it's the strong women who have really been the backbone and inspiration to me and my business.

Carrie, Emily, & Kate of Propelle

Imagine three of the most inspiring, intelligent, cool, artistic people you know come together to form an organization to help other women succeed in business...and that's Propelle. They often fantasized about having mentors, women who had blazed a trail ahead of them and could share their secrets.

Launch Party, October 11, 2011

That’s what Propelle was created to do. To let you in on those secrets. To help you look fear in the face and use it to your advantage. To help you tap into your passions so you can launch your business into the next stratosphere. To find your voice. To connect with your target market. To be the most successful woman entrepreneur you can possibly be.

Networking Happy Hour

Carrie (I Made It! Market & Carrie Nardini Creative) is a communicator, connector, organizer, and all around swell chick. She's also crafty to the core.  Emily (Emily Levenson, Health Coach) is a coach, confidante, creator, and collaborator. She also loves to cook healthy meals. Kate (Yinzpiration) is a massage therapist, digital strategist and blogger. She's inspired by everyone she meets.

Propelle  offers services to women entrepreneurs of all levels; whether you are brand new to the busines world or you are looking to move to the next level, Propelle will be the (literal) wind beneath your wings. Make sure you visit them online, follow them on Twitter, sign up to receive their emails, and "like" then on Facebook so that you know when the next Propelle flight is taking off!

January 13: Wendy McCabe of Go Red for Women

"Lucy, you have to hear about this event...", that's what I heard from my friend Leigh-Anne, and that's how I was introduced to Wendy McCabe and Go Red for Women. A young stroke survivor herself, Leigh-Anne had been volunteering for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Fashion Show and generously thought of bel monili when the discussion of vendors at the show arose. Leigh-Anne passed along Wendy's contact information, and shortly thereafter I had the pleasure of meeting with Wendy to discuss the fashion show, Go Red for Women, friends, family, business...I liked her right away. I am thrilled to say that bel monili had the distinct honor of participating in this year's Go Red for Women Fashion Show as a vendor, and we even had the chance to create special red dress flower pins (sold for $10 each, with 50% of each sale going to Go Red for Women in Pittsburgh).


Go Red for Women red dress flower pin
$10 each (50% goes directly to the cause!)
www.belmonili.etsy.com

 Wendy McCabe is the Go Red for Women Director for the American Heart Association in Pittsburgh. On any given day, you will find her working diligently on an event, promoting Go Red for Women, or educating the community on heart health, warning signs of heart attack and stroke, and teaching preventative measures women can take to decrease their risk of heart attack and stroke. She is one of those people who leaves a trail of positive energy and inspiration wherever she goes.

Wendy McCabe (left) looking beautiful in RED!

Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion, and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe our heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women.  Today, they want millions of women across American to take heart disease personally.  

On Friday, February 3^rd celebrate National Wear Red Day.  On this day, wear red, tell women you want them to live and help stop heart disease. For more information about Go Red for Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org , find them on facebook at American Heart Association – Pittsburgh Metro, and follow them on Twitter.

January 5: Leigh-Anne Weiss, Madison Handbags

I am so happy to say that, when I take a look at my relationship with Leigh-Anne Weiss, I can proudly say that she has been a dear friend to me for at least 15 years. Leigh-Anne is one of those people you meet whose energy is intoxicating, and you leave your encounter with the feeling of, "yes! I CAN take over the world!"

Leigh-Anne Weiss

I initially met Leigh-Anne when I was a student at Gateway Senior High School, where she served as the Community Service Director. Leigh-Anne was an inspiration to the entire community, and always had a very full schedule of students ready to volunteer, organize fundraisers, schedule events, put together awareness campaigns...and that really says a lot. She had the ability to inspire a group of kids ages 13 through 18 (and many, many others) to do things for free, on their own time, on an unimaginable scale, that most adults wouldn't do on a six-figure salary. Unfortunately for the Gateway community, Leigh Anne's position at the high school was eliminated due to budget cuts, so she did what was absolutely in character for her to do and started a business of her own. Today and every day since I've met her, I am inspired by every move she makes. I am not an overly-emotional person, but I can honestly say that it brings tears to my eyes when I think of all that she has accomplished, what she has overcome, and how she continues to soar in each and every aspect of her life.

Custom fabric options

Leigh-Anne is excited about Madison Handbags because the bags are unique: her customers customize them. When she was a little girl, Leigh-Anne loved playing fashion designer, and that is what they do at the Madison parties! Her customers get to have a great time hanging out with their girlfriends and, unlike other home parties, get to be creative in putting together their own customized accessory that they can proudly show off. No one else is going to have that same exact bag! What attracted Leigh-Anne to Madison over other direct sales businesses was that they are not only American made but also custom-made...not mass produced! Fabric bags are cruelty-free, and Madison is very conscious about excess waste in making their products so as to be eco-friendly. Madison Handbags provides women with the opportunity to have their own businesses in both hosting the home design parties, but also by employing women to sew the bags in their factory (or even their own homes) under fair conditions which Leigh-Anne feels good about.

Charleston Large Tote

When she first signed up for Madison, Leigh-Anne did plenty of research and found that Madison handbags are very affordable as compared to other designer bags. Sadly, she found too that many popular designers' and celebrity-endorsed products are made overseas, where laborers are not protected as they are here in the USA. Now more than ever, Leigh-Anne believes it is important to support local entrepreneurs and buy American made and handmade goods to stimulate our local economy and be more eco-minded.

Check out Leigh-Anne's Madison Handbags business online, follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and make sure to contact her ASAP to schedule YOUR party before dates are filled up!