With the theme of Soaring to Greater Heights, the Motherless Daughters Foundation will hold its 3rd Annual Fundraiser Gala and Silent Auction on Friday, July 31, 2015. The semi-formal affair will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center at 2000 Convention Center Concourse in Atlanta.

Riverdale Mayor Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon will serve as keynote speaker. Special guests will include Atlanta First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed, an affordable housing developer who serves as brand ambassador for Motherless Daughters, along with Motherless Daughters honorary mother Xernona Clayton, CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.

WALR KISS 104.1 FM’s Public Affairs Director Twanda Black — host of “Business in the Black” and “Good News Gospel” — will emcee the gala, which is sponsored by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The event that serves as the nonprofit’s major fundraiser will kick off with a walk down the red carpet and include a seated dinner, entertainment, and silent auction of exciting items such as travel, cultural and dining experiences, autographed memorabilia and unique treasures.

Celebrating its third anniversary this spring, the Motherless Daughters Foundation provides a mentoring program for girls ages nine to 15 living without support of their natural mothers as a result of unforeseen circumstances. Through Motherless Daughters, girls are paired with relatable mentors, and also have an opportunity to participate in summer camps plus year-round educational and enrichment experiences. Girls receive scholarships and donations of clothing and school supplies and more. President/executive director Rassalyn Willis — a community activist, entrepreneur (owner of Xclusive Hair Studio and Spa in historic College Park), wife and mother of four — founded Motherless Daughters. “Motherless Daughters is dedicated to the self-empowerment of our young ladies,” says Willis. “Our life skills and educational development programs develop girls into confident young women through education and exposure, giving them endless opportunities.”

Individual gala tickets are $65; tables of eight are $500. The 2015 goal is $50,000 to go toward providing scholarships, career development programs, school supplies and clothing, computer purchases, housing for homeless individuals participating in the programs and transportation to personal enrichment events. For tickets, go to eventbrite.com. For more information, go to motherlessdaughtersfoundation.org or call (404) 957-4300.

Any thoughts?

The post Atlanta First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed Partners with the Motherless Daughters Foundation for its Fundraiser Gala and Silent Auction appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Me and my lovely assistant at my first book signing at Lifeway Christian Store...

Wow. I got to thank God.

My book is out (as of Feb. 14), and it ranked as an Amazon Best Seller and was listed as an Amazon Hot New Release!!! My Facebook Fam (friends) are blowing up my page telling me they are buying my book! My folk at church who came to my release party are telling me how much they are enjoying the book! And I’m having book signings and what not!

I planted a lot of seeds (WORKED HARD), and God took care of the increase as only HE can do!!! Since I started writing these posts back in July when I started my marketing and promotion campaign (Check out the first one “I’m Bout It Bout It aka Marketing & Promotion Month 1…”), I had the goal of sharing what I have done to help authors behind me as they prepared to launch their babies aka books into the world, and I hope that some author who Googles marketing & promotion will read these posts and be encouraged…

Let me share some of God’s blessings as I’ve worked to get the word out about my book via my marketing & promotion campaign…(in no particular order as all were important accomplishments for me

1. I’ve been featured on six radio programs! If you would like to hear me on “The Business of Wisdom” with Dr. Alvin Jones, please listen here! And I thank Shandra Hill Smith of Pullen Press for being an excellent publicist, and helping me with my radio exposure!!! At my first book signing at Lifeway Christian store, one of the ladies who came said she first heard about me on “Business in the Black” with Twanda Black on WALR KISS 104.1 FM. That was my second radio interview, and I think I sounded a bit rough – but thankfully, someone got the message I was trying to convey!
2. I had over a 100 people at my book release celebration!!! To see the pics from that awesome night of support and love, please go here! Thanks Dwan Abrams for planning the party and spreading the word about it! And I am sooo very grateful for Sofn’free GroHealthy for sponsoring my book release celebration!!!
3. Various author friends/bloggers featured my book on their blog!!! Thank you to Kathi Macias (kathimacias.com) who featured me on her blog on the day of my book release. To read the post, please go here. And Tayari Jones (yes, the one and only at tayarijones.com) featured me on her blog as well! To read the post, please go here. And other authors including Victoria Christopher Murray (my soror), Tiffany L. Warren (who is featured in my book), & Tia McCollors shouted me out on their Facebook pages! Tia & author Kendra Norman-Bellamy provided endorsement quotes for my book! Author love is a must!!! And I’m soo grateful (I hope I’m not forgetting anyone…if so, charge it to my head and not my heart…)
4. During October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Blayne Alexander of 11 Alive for The Grio.com interviewed Lola Brown, who is featured in my book, about her two-time victory over breast cancer at 36 years old. To read the story or watch the interview, please go to thegrio.com.
5. I was really encouraged when just as I started my marketing and promotion campaign, I was featured on SORMAG’s blog – sormag.blogspot.com, which is an important website for authors! To see that post, please go here. Thanks again LaShaunda Hoffman!!!
6. I’ve also been featured in various print media outlets including UPSCALE magazine as well as local newspapers the Clayton News Daily and the Clayton Neighbor!!!
7. And last but certainly not least, I want to thank Lifeway Christian Store for hosting my very first official book signing last Saturday! I hope, wish & PRAY it’s the beginning of more to come!

NOTE: This roundup mainly includes the media coverage piece of my marketing & promotion campaign….there were other things that I’ve done which are too numerous to name right now…but I will say this…I revamped my website (thanks Tess), passed out postcards just about everywhere I went, networked at various events in the city and throughout the nation, posted like a fiend on my Facebook page and on Twitter and more…trust me…been hustling…stay hustling…

Again, I gotta thank God…And I gotta thank R., who has listened to me talk about this EREday since July…He is the mostest!!!

Ain’ gon lie…I’m tired…but…it.don’t.stop…

Any thoughts?

This song is apropos today….dreams.come.true…

The post I’m Bout It Bout It aka Marketing & Promotion Month 7 (And It.Don’t.Stop.) appeared first on After the Altar Call.