For Immediate Release
Contact:
Megy Karydes
312.560.2715
Megy@KarydesConsulting.com
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs Going Green and Socially Conscious
Chicago, IL (March 10, 2010) – In Judaism, the highest form of charity is helping others help themselves through enabling and energizing them to work toward improving their quality of life. Many young persons are choosing to incorporate green and socially conscious elements into the event planning portion of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah as a way to celebrate this important milestone of entering into adulthood.
Lauri Alpern, a Chicago parent of a son celebrating his Bar Mitzvah wanted to be mindful of the celebration and chose to work with Chicago-based non-profit WomanCraft to develop the invitations. “Working with WomanCraft allowed us to not only celebrate our son’s special occasion with beautiful eco-friendly Bar Mitzvah invitations, but we were able to support an organization that helps women and that was important to our family,” says Alpern.
For the socially conscious Bar and Bat Mitzvah planner, WomanCraft offers unique, sustainable custom invitation options made from recycled, handmade paper and reclaimed flowers. Its products are created by Chicago women overcoming barriers to employment so that they may earn income, improve job skills, build a work history and increase economic self sufficiency. “Young people and their parents are excited about green items from socially responsible businesses,” says Nancy Phillips, WomanCraft Director. “In fact, our recycled Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations are our fastest growing custom item.”
Another enterprising non-profit organization, Chicago-based MayaWorks, is noticing an increase among its Jewish customers through its colorful kippot hand woven by Maya women in Guatemala. In fact, kippot now comprise 1/3 of their sales. “The Maya women’s creative designs and patterns have proven to be a perfect match for the kippot,” says Jeannie Balanda, Executive Director of MayaWorks. “The women understand the religious significance of the kippot. They are a respectful culture and put a great deal of thought and care into the design and quality of the product.”
MayaWorks, founded in 1996 to help Maya families in Guatemala, pours its profits back into the community, enabling them to create better living conditions, buy healthy food, and educate their children. “One reason I chose MayaWorks was because in Judaism the highest form of charity is helping people support themselves. MayaWorks does that through educational scholarships and micro loans to help these families start their own businesses,” says Naomi Subotnick, a young woman who chose MayaWorks for her mitzvah project.
To learn more about WomanCraft or MayaWorks and their offerings, please visit www.womancraft.net or www.mayaworks.org.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Hi-res jpg images of Bar and Bat Mizvah invitations, kippot and artisan photos are available upon request. To schedule interviews with either Nancy Phillips of WomanCraft or Jeannie Balanda of MayaWorks, please contact Megy Karydes at 312-560-2715 or Megy@KarydesConsulting.com.
About WomanCraft
WomanCraft, a social enterprise of Heartland Human Care Services, is located in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. This non-profit organization provides artisan positions and transitional jobs to women overcoming barriers to employment so that they may earn income, improve job skills, build a work history and increase economic self-sufficiency. The women use recycled office paper and reclaimed flowers to create unique, sustainable, handmade paper products. Visit www.womancraft.net, email womancraft@yahoo.com or call Director Nancy Phillips at 773-521-3414 for more information.
About MayaWorks
Headquartered in Chicago, MayaWorks is a 501(c)3 non-profit, fair trade organization that markets the work of Maya artisans who otherwise have no outlet for their handiwork. It pays the women a fair wage and provides them with microloans and scholarships so their daughters can attend school. Visit www.mayaworks.org, email info@mayaworks.org or call Executive Director Jeannie Balanda at 312-243-8050 for more information.
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Contact:
Megy Karydes
312.560.2715
Megy@KarydesConsulting.com
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs Going Green and Socially Conscious
Chicago, IL (March 10, 2010) – In Judaism, the highest form of charity is helping others help themselves through enabling and energizing them to work toward improving their quality of life. Many young persons are choosing to incorporate green and socially conscious elements into the event planning portion of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah as a way to celebrate this important milestone of entering into adulthood.
Lauri Alpern, a Chicago parent of a son celebrating his Bar Mitzvah wanted to be mindful of the celebration and chose to work with Chicago-based non-profit WomanCraft to develop the invitations. “Working with WomanCraft allowed us to not only celebrate our son’s special occasion with beautiful eco-friendly Bar Mitzvah invitations, but we were able to support an organization that helps women and that was important to our family,” says Alpern.
For the socially conscious Bar and Bat Mitzvah planner, WomanCraft offers unique, sustainable custom invitation options made from recycled, handmade paper and reclaimed flowers. Its products are created by Chicago women overcoming barriers to employment so that they may earn income, improve job skills, build a work history and increase economic self sufficiency. “Young people and their parents are excited about green items from socially responsible businesses,” says Nancy Phillips, WomanCraft Director. “In fact, our recycled Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations are our fastest growing custom item.”
Another enterprising non-profit organization, Chicago-based MayaWorks, is noticing an increase among its Jewish customers through its colorful kippot hand woven by Maya women in Guatemala. In fact, kippot now comprise 1/3 of their sales. “The Maya women’s creative designs and patterns have proven to be a perfect match for the kippot,” says Jeannie Balanda, Executive Director of MayaWorks. “The women understand the religious significance of the kippot. They are a respectful culture and put a great deal of thought and care into the design and quality of the product.”
MayaWorks, founded in 1996 to help Maya families in Guatemala, pours its profits back into the community, enabling them to create better living conditions, buy healthy food, and educate their children. “One reason I chose MayaWorks was because in Judaism the highest form of charity is helping people support themselves. MayaWorks does that through educational scholarships and micro loans to help these families start their own businesses,” says Naomi Subotnick, a young woman who chose MayaWorks for her mitzvah project.
To learn more about WomanCraft or MayaWorks and their offerings, please visit www.womancraft.net or www.mayaworks.org.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Hi-res jpg images of Bar and Bat Mizvah invitations, kippot and artisan photos are available upon request. To schedule interviews with either Nancy Phillips of WomanCraft or Jeannie Balanda of MayaWorks, please contact Megy Karydes at 312-560-2715 or Megy@KarydesConsulting.com.
About WomanCraft
WomanCraft, a social enterprise of Heartland Human Care Services, is located in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. This non-profit organization provides artisan positions and transitional jobs to women overcoming barriers to employment so that they may earn income, improve job skills, build a work history and increase economic self-sufficiency. The women use recycled office paper and reclaimed flowers to create unique, sustainable, handmade paper products. Visit www.womancraft.net, email womancraft@yahoo.com or call Director Nancy Phillips at 773-521-3414 for more information.
About MayaWorks
Headquartered in Chicago, MayaWorks is a 501(c)3 non-profit, fair trade organization that markets the work of Maya artisans who otherwise have no outlet for their handiwork. It pays the women a fair wage and provides them with microloans and scholarships so their daughters can attend school. Visit www.mayaworks.org, email info@mayaworks.org or call Executive Director Jeannie Balanda at 312-243-8050 for more information.
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