Alexandria Women Mean Business!

Today I’m using my blog to tout a wonderful group of women and the silent auction event that they hold each year.  Women Mean Business of Alexandria is a group of nine businesswomen who either work or live in Alexandria, VA.  When they created the group ten years ago, their initial purpose was to network.  However, after several years, they determined that they wanted to do more for their community.  Thus began a six year liaison with the Alexandria Office on Women’s Walk to Fight Breast Cancer, the purpose of which is to raise funds to provide breast cancer diagnostics for uninsured or underinsured women who live in Alexandria.  Each year  they hold a silent auction event.  This event has grown from being held in the lobby of a small office building to the main ballroom of the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Old Town.  In 2008, the auction raised $20,000.  In 2009, in the height of the recession, it raised $19,000.

This year, the proceeds from this event will go to a new Breast Cancer Surgical fund created by the City.  The monies will assist that  handful of women who, each year are diagnosed with breast cancer, and don’t have the insurance or funds to pay for the surgical procedures necessary to save their lives.

The Silent Auction is being held this Thursday, September 16th, from 6-9 PM.  in their spare time, these women have solicited donations, obtained the venue, handed out posters, mailed invitations, sold advertising, created the event program, and yes, will even do set-up for the event.  I only joined this group three years ago, but I am so proud of what they have accomplished.

So, kudos and loud applause to Victoria Almquist,  Mary Breiner, Carla Clarke,  Rose Gentile, Jennifer Harchick, Sally Hitchcock, Donna McIntyre, and Donna Udvari, my fellow women who mean business!!!  We’re professional businesswomen, but we’ve also become friends and supporters for each other.  Definitely a win-win for all!

If you live in the Northern Virginia area and would like to attend the Silent Auction Event, tickets will be sold at the door for $35 which includes beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres.  The Holiday Inn is located at 625 First Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.