Dem Dats Doin

Toronto, Ontario, Canada -

Wear White 4 Windfall: a public awareness and fundraising initiative in support of Windfall Clothing Service, Canada’s only NEW clothing bank.

Who: with 96 partner agencies Windfall provides new clothing and other basic needs items to more than 64,000 underprivileged people in the GTA. Steven Sabados (r) and Chris Hyndman (l) are the campaign’s official spokespeople.

What: every year, on the last Thursday of January, Torontonians are asked to commit a fashion faux-pas by wearing something white after Labour Day and making a $4 charitable contribution to support WW4W in raising awareness about the issue of poverty and homelessness in Toronto, while also raising money for Windfall. One hundred per cent of the proceeds raised support Windfall’s operations and programs.

Where: any individual, business, organization or office in the Greater Toronto Area can get involved! Also, watch for a list of great events across the city.

When: Thursday, January 31, 2008.

Why: Windfall receives donations of new clothing and other basic-needs items from manufacturers and retailers and distributes them to 96 social service agencies working with people who are homeless, living in poverty or in crisis. Last year Windfall collected and distributed over $10 million (retail) worth of new items!

Windfall doesn’t receive any government funding. Operating funds are raised through foundation grants, corporate donations, individual donations, special events and campaigns.

Why white: the colour white is associated with snow, cold and freezing temperatures, so it reminds us that some people are freezing on our streets due to poverty, mental health issues and other life crises. It also starts with “w” and it is, traditionally, not worn after Labour Day making it a fashion faux-pas to wear it in January.

How: to sign up, simply give us a call at 416.703.8435.

Benefits: by participating in WW4W, not only will you help those who are less fortunate in a fun yet meaningful way, but you will also promote your business through the campaign’s official website visited by thousands annually. In addition, every donation over $20 is entitled to a charitable tax receipt.

BECOME A FASHION REBEL - WAYS TO SUPPORT WW4W

1. Get your workplace involved! Become an official WW4W office crusader and get your co-workers involved in a Wear White to Work Day. Go to the Forms & Material to find out what you need to do to sign your company up before January 10, 2008. What a great tembuilding activity to kick off your company's new year!
   
   
2. If you own a retail store, a bar or restaurant or any other type of business, go to the Forms & Materials page on this website to find out about the many ways of getting your company involved and have fun while doing it!
   
   
3. Attend an official WHITE party! On the evening of January 31, 2008, our popular WW4W spokespeople, Chris Hyndman and Steven Sabados, will host a white-hot party at Yorkville’s renowned Amber Lounge. Our thanks to Amber owner and trend-setter Toufik Sarwa for his on-going support!
   
   
4. Surrender and go white solo. Not up for a night on the town? Work from home? You can still join in the fight against poverty by simply wearing something white on WW4W Day, January 31, 2008, and making a personal donation of $4 or more online using the button below or at any Alterna Savings location. Or maybe you are thinking of hosting a white party for us? Call us at 416.703.8435 for more ideas on how to get involved.

Hartford, Conneticut -

Co-hosted by the Connecticut Lodging & Restaurant Associations, Thursday, February 7, 2008, A Taste of Hope event features fine wines and sumptuous cuisine prepared by some of Connecticut’s most renowned chefs all to benefit the Greater Connecticut Chapter Care Management Program.

The 2006 event, attended by a sold-out crowd of 200, included culinary delicacies prepared by chefs from Connecticut’s premier restaurants, including MAX Restaurant Group, Carbone’s, Carmen Anthony, Vivo, Octagon Steakhouse, Seasons Restaurant & Pub, Morty and Ming’s Restaurant and others.

More than 6,000 Connecticut residents live with the unpredictable effects of multiple sclerosis. For many, the effects can be devastating and even debilitating. Oftentimes, when the need is greatest, some with MS find themselves without adequate homecare support. The proceeds from the wine tasting event benefit the Greater Connecticut Chapter Care Management Program. This program was established to help the most needy and vulnerable those with MS struggling to care for themselves. The chapter provides caregivers with information and support to help loved ones live as independently as possible, preventing costly and premature placement in long-term living facilities.

Tickets to A Taste of Hope are available for $75. For more information or to purchase multiple tickets, please contact Kristen Mauro, Development Specialist, at 860.714.2300, ext. 224.

Friends & Family passes are available for $50 per ticket when purchased in quantities of four or more and must be purchased by calling the chapter at 860.714.2300.

Catalina Island, California -

Reservations for the 35th Annual New Year's Eve Gala in the world-famous Casino Ballroom are now being accepted by the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce. The Yachtsmen, a 17-piece "big band" will take guests back to the heyday of big bands, performing music from the 30s, 40, 50s & 60s. The Gala includes a buffet dinner, one 5 x 7 photograph per couple, one bottle of wine in a specially engraved bottle (#7 in a series), and party favors. A trio from the band will play during the dinner hour, and the full band will perform from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am. Coat & Tie are required; Black Tie is optional.

Reservations for this year's Gala are $150.00 per person if purchased on or before October 31, 2007; $165.00 per person after October 31, 2007.

Dinner reservations will be accepted for 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, or 8:30 pm. Guests will be admitted into the Ballroom no more than 15 minutes before their reservation time. Guests arriving early may wait in the Marine Bar on the Mezzanine, where seating and beverages will be available. The buffet dinner will be available until approximately 9:15 pm.

Regardless of the time of the reservation, tables are reserved for the entire evening. Parties of from 3 to 10 will be seated at individual tables. Parties of 11 or more will be seated at two or more tables next to each other. In order to keep the dance floor as large as possible, parties of 2 will be seated with one or more other parties of two. A limited number of private tables for 2 are available on a first come, first served basis, at an additional charge of $50 per couple. When requesting reservations, please indicate your 1st and 2nd choices for both dinner time and seating location. Your requests will be honored as long as seating for your requested time and/or location are available. Just as with restaurants, theater and sporting events, reservations must include everyone who is to be seated with you. Reservations will be accepted under one name, for the total number of guests in the party. Should there be a change in the size of your party, please contact the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce to see if the change can be accommodated. The closer to New Year's Eve, the more difficult (or impossible) it will be to accommodate change.

Reservations may be made online, in person at the Chamber office in Avalon, by mail or by phone. Mail and phone requests may be made to the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704; 310-510-1520. All reservation requests must be accompanied with full payment, and reservations will be confirmed by letter. Payment may be made by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, or American Express.

Cancellation Policy: A full refund will be issued on cancelled reservations so long as the event is not sold out and no one has been turned away. Once the event sells out, refunds will only be made if the reservation is resold to another party or parties. No refunds will be made after December 14, 2007 unless the reservation is resold to another party or parties, regardless of whether the event is sold out or not.

This event is a fundraiser for the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce.