April 15th, 2008
|
| Hi all!
Being a survivor of rape, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is very important to me. I am a big believer in how important it is to break the silence about this epidemic that no one wants to talk about. That is why Tom and I have spent countless hours helping with the Ann Arbor Take Back the Night (which we are co-coordinating next year - stay tuned for more on that.) It is also why I contributed my story to the Survivor Archives - check it out at http://trauma-survivors.squarespace.com/archives/month/march-2008. It is why I am HUGE supporter of Angela Shelton. And most of all, it is the biggest reason we created Women for Hope.
I know that rape and incest is a hard subject to talk about, think about, admit happens …all that. And I am a realist, I do not think that violence against women, or violence against people in general, will ever go away no matter what we do. Unfortunately, it has been part of human nature since we first walked this earth. But that doesn’t make it right!
What can happen though is women who have been sexually assaulted can get help. They can be aware of the resources that are out there, whether they need to get away from a boyfriend who is being abusive, have been raped by someone they met in a bar, or have been attacked on the street.
Women need to know that they are NOT alone!! That was soooo important to me when I found out about other women going through what I was going through when I first started dealing with being raped. To know I wasn’t crazy or overreacting or being too emotional was so reassuring. It helped me push through and find that inner strength I so needed. It also helped me deal with those around me who told me “to get over it” or “you are being a baby about this” along with other lovely comments I was hearing (and these were from those who loved me…let alone strangers.)
It still amazes me to see people’s reactions just hearing the word rape come out of my mouth when they ask about Women for Hope or why we do it. Most don’t know what to say when I say I am a rape survivor. Some look at me like they wish I would just shut up. Others look at me like - oh, that will never happen to me. Others assume that I must have put myself in that situation. Then there are the ones who get that look in their eyes of complete gratitude that I am sharing my story. Some share maybe a snippet of theirs with me -whether it was something that happened to them or to someone they love. There is an instant bond and it is like I can hear that silence being broke like someone threw a ball through an imaginary cloudy glass window and things for them look a little clearer. The thing is, that connection happens more times than people would like to admit.
So when you hear about the fight against Sexual Assault - don’t turn your head and think - oh who cares - won’t happen to me. Or why are they wasting their time trying to stop something that will never stop. The point is, women who have abused should not feel shame, should not feel lost. There is help out there and there are others who have been there who can help them find their way. That is what the fight is about…breaking the silence
If you or somene you know needs help - contact RAINN toll free at 800-656-HOPE or online at www.rainn.org (they now have on line counselors available 24 hours a day)
‘Til next time - take care and BE SAFE!
Pam |
Posted in Sexual Assault Awareness | No Comments »
February 6th, 2008
We are excited to annouce that we are helping to put on the 2nd Annual Benefit Dinner for Ann Arbor’s Take Back the Night. The dinner will be held on March 1st at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor. Tickets are $35 each or $65 a couple and include a nice dinner and entertainment. We are also going to be hosting a Silent Auction, and 100% of the monies earned will go to fund TBTN - which is being held on April 10th. You can check out more about this on the new website www.tbtnannarbor.org!
We are also going to be exhibiting at the local Vagina Monolouges performance which is benefitting Turning Point of Macomb County (the crisis center I first went to during my recovery.) We will be selling our jewelry and have some Sweet As You Please soy candles for sale too..and the 10% donation will be going to Turning Point. The event is being held at the Emerald Theater in Mt. Clemans. Tickets are $25.00 each and can be bought at Turning Point, at the Emereald Theater Box office and at ticketmaster.com. Here is their myspage page with more details. www.myspace.com/vdaymacombcounty2008
We are excited to be involved with these groups and using our mission to help others. So if you are in the local Metro Detroit/ Ann Arbor area, I hope you check these events out!
’Til next time,
Pam
Posted in Sexual Assault Awareness, Updates, Uncategorized | No Comments »
November 13th, 2007
It is certainly a busy time for us here at Women For Hope. We have been hard at work giving the website a new look and feel. I think you will all like how it will be set up as it will be easier to navigate. We also have set up some new vendors! The official annoucement on those is coming shortly - along with the launch of the new site.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. We will be increasing our donation for all lung cancer awareness jewelry purchases to 15% (from our usualy 10%) We give this donation to CancerCare so they continue their wonderful support work. Check them out at www.cancercare.org. They also have a special site dedicated to lung cancer patients and their loved ones at www.lungcancer.org.
I will be writing more soon…but trying to get the site finished. Until then….
Pam
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
October 1st, 2007
October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence is such a scary thing to me. Being a survivor of rape makes me know what it is like to be affected by violence, but to have that violence come from someone who is supposed love me is something I can’t imagine. To be scared to be in your own home, how awful! I know it must be sheer torture for someone to have to flee their home and run from the person they love or have to protect their children from this person.
Unfortunately, because people don’t want to think about Domestic Violence or Sexual Abuse, it gets pushed under the rug. Victims feel shamed instead of supported and don’t know where to turn. They also tend to blame themselves, because many stand in judgement of people in those situations. I see the reaction when my husband and I talk about what we do with Women For Hope and we say that we work with organizations like RAINN or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We see eyebrows raised, instant uncomfortablility and sometimes a blantent change of subject, as it to say…uh…don’t want to talk about that - time to go - and why do you help those people? And then people wonder why victims in violent households don’t get help. (this isn’t even mentioning the reactions I get when I say I am a rape survivor - but that is for another post.)
That being said, there are those who want to help, but don’t know how. Most areas have a crisis center or shelter who are always in need of items. They house women, men and children who are virtually homeless, because the place they should call home is a place of violence. Of course, you could donate money to help their cause, but dropping off a bag of shampoo, hair brushes, tooth paste, even toliet paper can make a difference. Maybe even send them a teddy bear for a sad boy or girl who has been hurt by one of his or her parents. For a list of crisis centers, check the NCADV site for your state coalition site. Once there, you should be able to find the shelter near you.
And wear a purple ribbon and when some asks you about it, say it is for Domestic Violence Awareness. The more people who talk about it, the more people will be accepting of those in the situation. Then, they might not be afraid to go get help.
‘Till next time….
Pam - www.womenforhope.com - In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness, we will be increasing our normal donation of 10% of the proceeds to NCADV to 15% for any purchase of domestic violence awareness jewelry during October.
Posted in Domestic Violence Awareness | No Comments »
October 1st, 2007
As many know it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. It is a great time to get in to the habit of doing a self-breast exam or reminding your female loved ones to do the same. I do mine the first day of the month…that way it is easy to remember and I know I have done it once a month. Here are some tips on how to breast self-exams:
1) I usually do mine in the shower - it makes it easier with soapy hands.
2) Always check in the mirror to make sure that you don’t see any changes in color or texture of your skin. Hold your arms up in the air to see under your arms. Also, examine your breast while bending at your waist, with your hands on your hips. This allows ou to check for any dimpling of the skin.
3) Either lying down or in your shower, use your three middle fingers of the opposite hand to make small, circular motions in an up and down pattern. Apply different measures of firmness to each area of the breast. Check all areas including your armpit and collarbone area.
4) If you find something that is suspect, make an appointment right away to see your physician or gynecologist. Don’t be scared or ignore it. The faster they check it out, the faster you will be on the road to treatment.
I had a small scare a few years back when I found something that felt funny. Thankfully, it was just some fiberous tissue. And of course it was scary getting a mammogram, but I am thankful that there are medical tests like to help doctors diagnose cancer in its early stages.
So start your self-exam schedule. If it has been a while since you had your last mammogram….then call your doctor and schedule one.
I will be posting other tips through out the month…
’Til next time,
Pam - www.womenforhope.com - In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we have increased our donation to CancerCare from 10% to 15% of the proceeds for all Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry purchased during October.
Posted in Breast Cancer Awareness | No Comments »
August 31st, 2007
Independent Designers Collaborate For Ovarian and Breast Cancer Awareness
10 of the hottest independent designers are launching their second annual campaign to raise funds and promote awareness on these two major diseases affecting women. In recent years society has seen the benefit of joint efforts to educate our Nation about cancer. While the number of women afflicted with ovarian and breast cancer continues to increase, the number of those working in support and awareness of these deadly diseases has also been on the rise. “Indie For Awareness,” a group of 21 talented, cutting-edge designers will impact the fight against cancer for the second consecutive year.
The “Indie For Awareness” campaign began in 2006 under the direction of campaign founders Jennifer Thompson of DivaTribe and Lilie Wells of A Planet 4 Creation. The 2006 campaign achieved its initial goals – raising awareness within the “indie” circuit via press and making substantial contributions to various breast cancer awareness organizations via sales with each individual designer’s product. This year, “indie” designers in various industries are making a footprint in the fight against ovarian and breast cancer. Recognizing a rapid increase in the number of women affected by various forms of gynecological cancers, the designers agreed to start the campaign in September to aid in the awareness of ovarian cancer. While each designer will determine the size and type of donation made on an individual basis, the group is dedicated to creating a unique campaign to raise funds and awareness for breast and ovarian cancer research. With the assistance of the blogger Pam Swider, a listing of every designer participating in this collaboration will be listed on the blog, Women For Hope. Direct links to each designer’s shop, which include handbags, greeting cards, bath and beauty products, and clothing, will provide consumers the opportunity to see signature products exclusively created for this campaign and give shoppers the opportunity to help each designer achieve her goal: providing 10-20% of all sales to the designer’s selected charitable organization.
During this, the second year for “Indie For Awareness,” designers have committed themselves to working in support of organizations provide hope for women afflicted by these deadly diseases. The efforts made by these designers show that collaboration and a passion to make a difference can change the world!
Special thanks go out to Maranda Miller from Zev Creations for writing and releasing this press release! Thanks Maranda!
Check out the designers below and stay tuned for additions…..
Pam - www.womenforhope.com
|
for mama and her little ducklings
Lucky Ducky Designs
http://lddbaby.com
|
Lucky Ducky Designs has everyday accessories with extraordinary style. From bibs and blankets for babies, diaper bags for mom and aprons for girls both big and small, Lucky Ducky Designs has what you need for that special gift or just a treat for yourself.
For the months of September and October, Lucky Ducky Designs will contribute 10% of retail sales to SGK foundation. For details go to http://lddbaby.com/
|
|
J Goode Designs
www.jgoodedesigns.com
|
JGoode Designs is gifts and apparel with a refreshing flare of girly attitude. Doodlie Designer/Illustrator Jennifer Goode combines every day encounters with a whimsical twist to create smile inspiring images; playful penguins, fabulous foodies and peace n love are but a few. Each unique design is available on an assortment of “goodies” appealing to all ages: graphic tees - specialty gifts - home and office décor - cards and prints. Products for the Cause:
http://www.jgoodedesigns.com/Support-Breast_Cancer.html JGoode Designs donates a portion of BCA sale proceeds to the Susan G Komen Foundation year-round. During the entire month of October, 100% of the proceeds from sales of all Breast Cancer specific products will be donated to support Breast Cancer awareness, research and recovery efforts. |
|
Specialty Cards 4 U
www.specialtycards4u.com
|
Think Pink Paper Products: During the months of September and October, Specialty Cards 4U will donate 20% of the sales of their limited edition note cards and bookmarks to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. These products make wonderful gifts; start your holiday shopping early and support a worthy cause at the same time!
For Details go to: http://www.specialtycards4u.com/thinkpink.html
|
|
ZeVIn Creations
www.zevcards.com
|
ZeVin Creations very own Maranda designed a special card just for the awareness of women issues - “The Caring Woman”. We will donate 50% of our Awareness card sales to the Harriett B. Porter Cancer Education and Research Endowment (a local group that encourages screening and prevention for African Americans).
For details: http://www.zevcards.com/celebrateWomen.php
|
|
Women For Hope
www.womenforhope.com
|
For the month of September, in honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, Women For Hope will donate 15% of the gross proceeds from all Ovarian Cancer and Uterine Cancer Awareness Jewelry to CancerCare. We are introducing some new styles including a special limited edition set for Ovarian Cancer. For details see http://www.womenforhope.com/ovariancancerjewelry.html and http://www.womenforhope.com/ucjewelry.html.For the month of October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Women For Hope will donate 15% of the gross proceeds from all Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry to CancerCare. For details see www.womenforhope.com/bcjewelry.html. |
|
Bidwell Botanicals
www.bidwellbotanicals.com
|
Pamper yourself pretty while supporting a worthy cause! Includes one each of our exclusive Spun Sugar Shea Butter Scrub, Shea Butter Body Wash and Hydrating Body Milk. We will donate 50% of our net sales from these gift sets to the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Each set is packaged in a gift box and tied up with a pretty pink ribbon with a silver awareness charm attached. For Details, see
http://www.bidwellbotanicals.com/thinkpink.html
|
|
Fosters Creations
www.fosterscreations.us
|
For the Month of September.Every order will get their choice of a FREE teal or peach ribbon air freshener in the scent of their choosing. Please specify your color and fragrance choice in the comments box at checkout. I will be donating 20% of all of the sales from September to www.cancerschmancer.org which is founded by Fran Drescher, a Uterine Cancer Survior.20% of my October sales will be donated to my local Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program. All orders will receive a FREE Pink Ribbon Air freshener in the scent of their choosing. |
|
Sommer Designs
www.sommerdesigns.com |
Sommer Designs, in Southern California, designs & manufactures a line of handcrafted handbags and women’s accessories, including their exclusive Breast Cancer Awareness Bag in Pink Toile. As an ongoing fundraiser, Sommer Designs donates 20% of the sale price of this bag to the Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Los Angeles Affiliate all year long! For details, please visit:http://www.sommerdesigns.com/pink-toile-bam-malaga.htm - Together, Let’s Bag a Cure!. |
|
Yndigo Designs
www.yndigo.com
|
Unique shells, hand-painted wood, and colorful semi-precious stones are just some of the ingredients used to create the ‘ethno-chic’ goodies over at Yndigo Designs. Whether it’s for work, for play, or a fanciful evening out, you’ll find the perfect handcrafted accent for any occasion in our eye-catching collection of necklaces, chokers, earrings (pierced and clip-on), bracelets, bangles, and more. Throughout the month of October, Yndigo Designs will donate 15% of all online retail sales to CancerCare.
|
|
Anna Bella Fine Stationary
www.annabellastationery.com
|
During the entire month of October, Anna Bella Fine Stationery will donate 50% of all procedes directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation when you buy ANY product with the color pink*. Choose from any of our sassy stationery sets, birth announcements or occasion invitations - if it’s got the color pink absolutely anywhere on the design, you’ll be supporting education and awareness of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Research. Pretty neat!
*does not include wedding-related orders or custom design services
|
Posted in Indie For Awareness, Press Releases | No Comments »
August 28th, 2007
Our Latest Press Release:
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Pamela Swider Women For Hope pamelaswider@womenforhope.com
WOMEN FOR HOPE BRACELETS HELP THE DETROIT TIGERS FOUNDATION August, 2007 – Women For Hope is announcing the addition of baseball bracelets in the colors of Detroit Tigers to its jewelry line. 10% of the proceeds from the baseball bracelets will be donated to the Detroit Tigers Foundation through the Tigers Wives Association. The bracelets are handmade with Swarovski® crystals and sterling silver, including a sterling silver charm in the shape of a baseball bat, glove and ball. They are available in two styles, “Home” which consists of navy and white crystals, and “Away” which consists of navy and orange crystals. The bracelets, which retail for $25.00, are available for purchase on the website, www.womenforhope.com. “We are excited to be offering the bracelets that benefit the Detroit Tigers Foundation.”, says Pamela Swider, owner of Women For Hope. “We are proud of our Detroit roots and of our Tigers. We also fully support the work done by both the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the Tigers Wives Association. The idea of women helping the communities that they live in is very important to Women For Hope.” The Baseball Bracelets are included in the Women For Hope jewelry line which is made up of awareness jewelry supporting 14 different causes including Sexual Assault Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness. Also included in the jewelry line are an assortment of affirmation jewelry pieces and a line of handmade crystal hearts. Women For Hope, in its mission to feature products made by women for women, also carries a line of bath and body products called Backyard Soaps from a women-owned company out of
Port Huron, Michigan. 10% of all proceeds are donated to one of the 9 national charities that they work with including RAINN – Rape, Assault & Incest National Network, CancerCare, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. About the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the Tigers Wives Association: The Detroit Tigers Foundation, a non-profit organization, is the official charity of the Detroit Tigers. The Foundation assists charitable and educational causes in Michigan with an emphasis on programs that benefit children and youth in
Detroit through the game of baseball. The Tigers Wives Association has a long tradition of community involvement. Founded in 1997, the Tigers Wives Association works with the Community Affairs department and Detroit Tigers Foundation to support and coordinate outreach initiatives and fundraisers throughout the greater
Detroit community. For more information on the TigersWives Association, please call 313-471-2135.
About Women For Hope: Women For Hope, www.womenforhope.com, is a place where women can learn, share, shop and give back. Included on the website is educational information on various women-related issues, including resources where visitors can receive additional or professional help. At the heart of Women For Hope is the shopping section that offers fun and special products made by women for women. 10% of the gross proceeds from the shop are donated to one of the non-profit organizations that are featured on the site. For more information, please email info@womenforhope.com or call 866-246-4078.
Posted in Detroit Tigers, Press Releases | No Comments »
August 24th, 2007
Hi all….
Just got an email from our friends at RAINN. They are announcing that Thursday, September 27th is RAINN Day 2007. What is RAINN Day, you ask? RAINN Day is RAINN’s annual campaign that encourages volunteers to raise awareness about sexual assault on college and high school campuses across the country.
If you would like to get involved, there is a sign up on RAINN’s website - www.rainn.org/college. Also on the site is a page with a bunch of resouces, like ideas on how to hold an event, pdfs with posters, brochures and the like to download and all sorts of cool stuff to help raise awareness about sexual assault, especially focused on how college students are affected. http://www.rainn.org/college/materials. You can also download Public Service Announcements like the one we have in our sexual assault section at
http://www.rainn.org/college/public-service-announcements.
Help spread the word about sexual assault. Remember, you never know who you might be helping!
Thanks for reading…until next time…Pam 
Posted in Sexual Assault Awareness | No Comments »
August 15th, 2007
Hopeful Happenings - Women For Hope’s Summer 2007 Newsletter We are excited to announce our latest newsletter is up on the web! We have certainly been busy adding new jewelry to the site and even sprucing up the site a bit.
The newsletter covers some of the happenings of the summer, including meeting with Angela Shelton - she is such an inspiration! It also officially announces the addition of our new jewelry styles and our latest charity - The Detroit Tigers Foundation.
We also talk about September being Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month. Look to both the blog and the information section for articles and such on this topic. We are also going to be donating an additional 5% for a total of 15% of the proceeds from our Ovarian Cancer and Uterine Cancer Awareness Jewelry items to CancerCare during the month of September. Stay tuned for updates.
So check out our latest newsletter…and let us know what you think!
Till next time - Pam
Posted in Updates | No Comments »
August 5th, 2007
Hello all,
We have just added a blog to the site. Please bear with us as we get things situated!
Thanks and hope and love to all!
Pam and Tom
Posted in Updates | No Comments »