You Did It! You Raised Over $55,000.
That's right - together, we exceeded our year-end fundraising goal of $37,800. And, we can't thank you enough for your support this holiday season and throughout our most financially difficult year ever.
You never backed down. In fact, you bravely stepped up to help us make good on our mission over and over again - month after month.
Because of you, the girls we serve at Play Like a Girl will never be the same. They will again have the opportunity to dream big, build their confidence and gain the leadership skills needed to make their dreams a reality.
Thank you for your generosity and continued partnership. We hope you will engage more deeply in our work in 2021. You can see what we're doing and invite your network to join you as a member of our SQUAD.
Together, we will blaze new trails! Ready. Set. Go!
Stay up to date. Sign up for our emails here.
Our Squad Is Our Greatest Gift
Meet One of 1,600 Women Mentors Making a Difference
Sometimes you meet someone like Celeste Bell who is so inspiring that you think she’s Superwoman. She is a passionate, goal-driven leader and athlete who has lived many lives - and doing good for Play Like a Girl is at the top of her agenda.
Celeste is an HR executive for multinational ad agencies, has been a ladder-climbing professional for various sports organizations including the LPGA, NBA & MLB, and is a record-breaking distance runner who has run 66 full marathons -- across all 50 U.S. states and on every continent. And most raised money to benefit girls we serve, by the way!
Celeste is also a dedicated mentor, leader and former chairwoman of the Play Like a Girl Board of Directors. Most importantly, her impact in the lives of girls we serve is unmatched.
In fact, she will tell you that she didn’t get to where she is today without her own tribe of strong women coaches, mentors and role models who have guided her throughout different stages in her life.
[bctt tweet="“It’s so important to have another voice...to have someone to lean on. Throughout all of my different experiences, there was always one person who I identified and leaned on who I felt wanted the best for me, were open and honest, and wanted to see me succeed.”" username="iplaylikeagirl"]
Because of her own life experiences with barrier-breaking women, Celeste recognizes the importance of strong female leadership and mentors for girls and young women -- especially those in their vulnerable adolescent years.
She uses her role as a Play Like a Girl mentor to help middle school girls build confidence, establish goals and learn to identify and strengthen their own superpowers. This year, she also led Play Like a Girl’s first-ever virtual speed networking event in collaboration with one of her own role models, her boss and glass ceiling-breaker, Val DiFebo, CEO of Deutsch New York.
Our greatest gift this year has been the time, support and dedication of women (and a few good men!) like Celeste. Thanks to our partnership with LinkedIn, our girls get to learn from over 1,600 women professionals from across the nation in our free virtual mentoring program, Meet + Mentor.
To the entire Play Like a Girl SQUAD, whether you stepped up as a mentor, donor or partner this year: THANK YOU!
Without you, our programs would not be possible.
Celebrating 16 Years Together, Apart
Nothing can stop a festive dinner party - not even a global pandemic. While COVID-19 has put many in-person events on hold, virtual event technology has made it possible to gather with family, friends, coworkers, and peers from afar.
Play Like a Girl is hosting a chic virtual dinner party to celebrate 16 years championing equality and economic opportunity for girls and women.
Chef Steven Robilio of Amerigo Italian restaurant will headline Play Like a Girl's 16th Anniversary Virtual Dinner Party fundraiser this fall. In years past, the event has involved a meet-and-greet cocktail hour, silent and live auctions and a plated multi-course dinner in a hotel ballroom at beautifully decorated tables.
But this year, it will all take place online because staying in is the new going out—at least for now. And we're taking it up a notch while making the most of your next celebration with us.
The virtual dinner party will be held on November 7. Ingredient boxes will be available for curbside pickup at Amerigo locations in Nashville and Brentwood in advance of the dinner.
A shopping list will be provided to out-of-town guests who wish to cook with us locals. With it, guests will cook a three-course dinner alongside Chef Steven, who will be leading a live cooking lesson on Zoom.
The event will kick off at 5:45 p.m. with our friends Jess & Willow of BarBees who will make the signature cocktail and answer questions from guests during a 15-minute cocktail hour and showcase.
Following the dinner program and online cooking lesson, guests will then eat dinner with family and friends in private Zoom dining rooms.
Guests also will have access to the live cooking lesson to enjoy the experience at their own pace after the event.
A live mini-concert featuring local vocalist Arianna Hume will round out the evening.
“We're excited to produce our biennial Play Like a Girl Honors event in a new and interactive way that allows us to expand our audience and connect with our supporters across the country,” said Dr. Kimberly Clay, Play Like a Girl founder and CEO. “Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy cooking a delicious meal with Chef Steven live in their own kitchen.”
The event will highlight the stories of Play Like a Girl participants and supporters like Maria Villagrana and WKRN News 2 Chief Meteorologist Danielle Breezy who will call donors to action. The focus of this year's fundraising appeal will challenge donors to join our new monthly giving program, The Squad.
The event will also recognize the 2020 Volunteer of the Year honoree, LaPourche White. LaPourche has volunteered with Play Like a Girl since 2016. This summer when programs went online due to coronavirus, she stepped into the role of mentor to girls who developed STEM-centered businesses in a weeklong camp powered by Microsoft.
Ticketing will also be different this year. Each ticket includes a cocktail kit and one ingredient box with enough food for two servings.
Regular dinner tickets are $90, and dinner for four is $150. Premium tickets are $420 (the equivalent of a $35 monthly donation) and includes Play Like a Girl membership for a year.
Tickets are available until November 3rd. To buy tickets, visit iplaylikeagirl.org/events.
U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys, co-host of Stick to Sports on VICE Cari Champion and Country music star Trisha Yearwood headlined the 2018 dinner.