October 2020 Azalea Blossom Newsletter
Dear family and friends,
October is Domestic Violence Awarness and Bullying Prevention month. There are simple things you can do this month to make a difference without even spending a penny including honoring Bullying Prevention Day and Purple Thursday. During our turbulent times and COVID, both domestic violence and all forms of social violence, including bullying, are on the rise. We at Azalea Blossom know and understand the importance of both bullying prevention and domestic violence awareness. This is why we take our work so seriously. We have been working diligently behind the scenes to make sure that our programs, SAFE through the arts bullying prevention program and the Bricks in the Wall Domestic Violence Awareness Project, reach as many people as possible.
Purple Thursday, October 15th
Thursday, October 15th is Purple Thursday, otherwise known as Domestic Violence Awareness day. Please could you remember to wear something purple in honor of Domestic Violence victims.
Also in honor of Domestic Awareness Month
Azalea Blossom’s Bricks in the Wall music video and project brings awareness to the lesser known aspects of domestic violence. Click here
Wear Orange for Bullying Prevention Day, October 22
Halloween is not the only reason to wear orange this month! Please show your support for bullying prevention by wearing orange on Thursday, October 22nd.
News from Safe through the Arts
SAFE through the Arts is our arts based bullying prevention program empowering youth from diverse backgrounds. Due to COVID preventing our program from taking place in schools this fall, our Azalea Blossom team has been creating content for online and television programming so that children still receive the positive messages of SAFE through the arts during this crucial time when they most greatly need encouragement, compassion and love. Click here to learn more and to watch a puppet segment from our program.
Welcome to the new ABC Donor Circle
In September, we launched the new Azalea Blossom Donor Circle. Some of our most loyal donors from the last several years have signed up to make monthly contributions of any amount between $10 and $250 a month in order to help create a sustaninable income stream. This intiative will help to provide us with the necessary resources to expand our vital programming. We would like to introduce you to our ABC Donor Circle Founding Members! You can also join the ABC Donor Circle by clicking here and choosing the monthly giving option. Thank you, in advance, for your consideration.
Mother/Daughter Team – Heather Gee & Gwen Marable
Heather Gee has worked in the nonprofit field for her entire career, serving as a fundraiser for large and small nonprofits and for Community Foundations helping donors create impactful giving and creating a charitable legacy for their families. Currently serving as the Development Director with Azalea Blossom, Ms. Gee is also the initiating member of the ABC Donors Circle.
Gwen Marable is a professional storyteller who has also worked as an elementary school teacher on Long Island, New York and as a Kripalu certified yoga teacher. Ms. Marable knows from experience the effectiveness of using the creative and performing Arts as a teaching tool for children.
Melisa M
Melisa M is a working lawyer and avid equestrian in New York’s Capital District. She enjoys giving back to the community and by doing so, making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Cynthia Shepard
Cynthia Shepard is a retired medical book editor and environmental planner currently residing in Spain. She has chosen to donate to Azalea Blossom because she believes that “bullying is the manifestation of kids in pain- the ones in pain doing the bullying, creating pain in the ones they are bullying. Time for that to stop, and make some space for love.”
With Gratitude
Our Azalea Blossom team would like to extend our gratitude to all of you who make a positive change in this world through your daily acts of kindness, compassion and generoisty. Together we can make a profound difference in the lives of our children and in the world. With abundant gratitude and all best wishes,
Margaret Jean Bernstein, Founder and Director
Azalea Blossom, Inc. and the SAFE through the Arts program
www.Azaleablossom.com
