“1,000 Strong:” Mothers, daughters and best girlfriends join forces to raise $100,000

Well, THIS was an invitation I couldn’t pass up!

Hostess Mary Ellen Brewington pulls her favorite beverages from a cooler to serve guests.

Mary Ellen and Nell Brewington and Sheryl and Lauren Sampson decided to invite 50 women over for a very special cocktail party at the Brewingtons’ Sequoyah Hills home on the lake.

The goal: kick off an effort to raise $100,000 in 10 (more or less) days to benefit the YWCA. The idea of the campaign, called “1,000 Strong,” is to use social media to spread the message and get 1,000 people to each donate $100 to the YWCA so the YW can continue to fund its transitional housing program for women who are recovering from crisis.

There are few things I love more than Mary Ellen Brewington, a cocktail party, and social media. And all for a good cause! Score!

Marigail Mullins, the executive director of the YW, said her organization provides the only program of its kind in the Eastern half of the state. The 58 women enrolled in the program are recovering from domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse or mental illness. Some have just gotten out of jail. But all have made a commitment to work hard and change their lives. They must commit to being in charge of themselves and independent in order to be accepted and they must enroll in various programs under the supervision of the YW. The program is always full.

Jabette Carlson, left, and her daughter Kathleen. (Jabette is my husband's niece.)

“Everyone must pay rent,” Mullins explained. “But they only pay $55 per month and it takes much more than that to operate the program and cover expenses.” Thus the fundraiser.

It was Mary Ellen’s idea to invite her own friends and friends of her daughter to have a mixed-age crowd. There were several mothers and daughters in attendance. We all had wine, beer (from Mary Ellen’s company, Cherokee Distributing, of course!) or iced tea and fabulous food before hearing the YWCA message. Laptops were on hand to get the process started.

Here’s the deal. Click here to go to the YWCA’s website. Then click on “1,000 Strong.” Easy directions are there to help you donate to the cause and to spread the word by using Facebook, Twitter or e-mail. Those of us at the party started that last night. (You may have heard from me!) So don’t waste any more time. Jump on-line and start spreading the message. It’s fun. It’s easy. And it’s important.

Click here to see a WBIR public service announcement about the project.

Thanks in advance.

From left, hostess Nell Brewington, Hailey McLaughlin, and Jane Granju

Lynne Fugate, left, and Nancy Young

From left, Jennifer Goswitz with hostesses Sheryl and Lauren Sampson

YWCA staff members LaKenya Middlebrook, left, and Lisa Higginbotham

Another mother-daughter duo: Stephanie, left, and Abbey Bean

From left, Danielle Benson, Annette Beebe and Marigail Mullins gather around a laptop to try out the "spread the message" process.

Allie Carey with Steve Brewington, the only guy there who wasn't with the caterer! Brave.

Everyone got a YWCA mug as a parting gift.