Mckinney Courier-gazette > News
A few good shoppers: Foster care group holds tournament fundraiser
Photo courtesy of City of McKinney – Shoppers looking to give a little back are signing up for Shopanthropy, a shopping tournament taking place Nov. 10 at the historic downtown square. Proceeds from the competition will go to Embrace Waiting Children, a nonprofit providing foster parent support groups and services for children who age out of the foster care system.
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com, @KelleyChambers7 on Twitter
Women throughout Collin County are marking their calendars next month for a shopping day on the square like none other.
This is no ordinary spree where window-shopping and two-hour-long lunches are allowed. It is a competition that begins at the starting line and ends with a hearty handoff to charity.
Shops, restaurants and salons in and around historic downtown will offer special discounts Nov. 10 to shopping teams signed up for Shopanthropy, a shopping tournament benefitting Embrace Waiting Children, Inc., a foster family support group based in Collin County.
"It's like a golf tournament, but for women," said Tiffany Savage, transition coordinator for Embrace. "But instead of playing golf, you shop."
A majority of the shops on the square have signed on in exchange for a minimum $200 donation and a percentage discount for registered participants, anywhere from 15 to 40 percent.
Teams will receive a map of the area highlighting participating stores and their discounts the day of the competition. The team that spends the most money that day will receive a "Ladies Weekend" thansk to McKinney Bed & Breakfast and Spa Esoteric, which consists of a free weekend stay and spa treatment. Shoppers can also bid on fanciful chairs refurbished by local artists as they stroll from store to store.
A Frisco resident and foster mom of 17 years, Savage joined Embrace Waiting Children two years ago and brought up the idea of holding the nonprofit's first fundraiser to help support its demand. However, traditional food drives, bake sales and golf tournaments simply wouldn't do, she said.
"It's just grown so fast," said Savage of Embrace. "We were tossing out ideas [and] I said I wanted to do a shopping tournament. They were like, 'that's ridiculous.'"
Savage got the idea from the Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg, who has had wide success with it for 13 years. Her hope is that the event sparks similar popularity in McKinney and other Collin County cities.
"We would love to see the money raised stay in Collin County and Collin County businesses benefit from it, as well as us," Savage said. "That's why we're encouraging [people] to do their Christmas shopping here and shop local."
Since it grew out of the walls of a small church in Prosper five years ago, Embrace's goal has been to surround each child with a safe and loving home by providing support, encouragement and education to foster parents, as well as transitional services for teens who "age-out" or emancipate from foster care without a family. The group also provides guidance to churches working to provide orphan care ministries.
There are about 3,200 foster children in Embrace's 12-county service region, which focuses primarily on Collin, Denton, Dallas and Tarrant counties. A child spends an average 30 months waiting to be adopted; however, 400 children here will age out of the system without ever getting adopted, Savage said.
"I quickly found out that this is [about] an unseen population of our area and kids that no one really wants to talk about around here," Savage said. "We just have a great reputation now and are leading support groups all over the area. They're all full, too. Without support, a foster family just can't make it."
Despite the fact that Embrace consists of just four staff members and one volunteer who work out of their homes, the group has gained national notoriety. It was recently named Child Advocates of the Year by the North American Council of Adoptable Children. Embrace staff traveled to Washington, D.C. in August to receive the prestigious award for their efforts advocating for foster and adoptive children at the state and federal level.
With Texas leading the nation in the number of child abuse and neglect death cases, Savage said the need for loving foster homes is stronger than ever. But such homes cannot be created or sustained without a strong support system, she said.
"Our Number One goal is to just raise awareness for what we do and what's out there," she said. "I've found in talking to people they just had no idea we were around or that there was a even need."
The shopping tournament has garnered support from more than just shops on the square. Local restaurants will be on the ready that day, helping fuel the competition with quick stop-and-go lunches and bottled water. The Grand Hotel and McKinney Bed & Breakfast are offering special rates for out of town participants.
All "Sitting Pretty" silent auction winners and grand prize recipients will be announced at an after-party at Rick's Chophouse that evening, which will also consist of more than $1,000 in door prizes.
Jenny Honea, owner of Primp Salon Boutique on Tennessee Street, was one of the first merchants to sign her business on for the tournament. Honea, who has known Savage personally for quite some time, said she did not have to hear much about the event before jumping on board.
"I think it's a great cause and also a good opportunity to get a little bit publicity for me, as well," she said. "I really wanted to support what they're doing. There's always extra to give if you can look past some of our own self needs and [Tiffany] definitely does that. I admire her for being able to do that kind of thing."
Registration fee for teams of four is $200. Shoppers may also register on a solo basis for $50. For registration information about Shopanthropy, visit shopanthropy.org. Click on "Our Partners" for a list of all participating stores and restaurants.
For information about Embrace Waiting Children, visit embracetexas.org.
This is no ordinary spree where window-shopping and two-hour-long lunches are allowed. It is a competition that begins at the starting line and ends with a hearty handoff to charity.
Shops, restaurants and salons in and around historic downtown will offer special discounts Nov. 10 to shopping teams signed up for Shopanthropy, a shopping tournament benefitting Embrace Waiting Children, Inc., a foster family support group based in Collin County.
"It's like a golf tournament, but for women," said Tiffany Savage, transition coordinator for Embrace. "But instead of playing golf, you shop."
A majority of the shops on the square have signed on in exchange for a minimum $200 donation and a percentage discount for registered participants, anywhere from 15 to 40 percent.
Teams will receive a map of the area highlighting participating stores and their discounts the day of the competition. The team that spends the most money that day will receive a "Ladies Weekend" thansk to McKinney Bed & Breakfast and Spa Esoteric, which consists of a free weekend stay and spa treatment. Shoppers can also bid on fanciful chairs refurbished by local artists as they stroll from store to store.
A Frisco resident and foster mom of 17 years, Savage joined Embrace Waiting Children two years ago and brought up the idea of holding the nonprofit's first fundraiser to help support its demand. However, traditional food drives, bake sales and golf tournaments simply wouldn't do, she said.
"It's just grown so fast," said Savage of Embrace. "We were tossing out ideas [and] I said I wanted to do a shopping tournament. They were like, 'that's ridiculous.'"
Savage got the idea from the Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg, who has had wide success with it for 13 years. Her hope is that the event sparks similar popularity in McKinney and other Collin County cities.
"We would love to see the money raised stay in Collin County and Collin County businesses benefit from it, as well as us," Savage said. "That's why we're encouraging [people] to do their Christmas shopping here and shop local."
Since it grew out of the walls of a small church in Prosper five years ago, Embrace's goal has been to surround each child with a safe and loving home by providing support, encouragement and education to foster parents, as well as transitional services for teens who "age-out" or emancipate from foster care without a family. The group also provides guidance to churches working to provide orphan care ministries.
There are about 3,200 foster children in Embrace's 12-county service region, which focuses primarily on Collin, Denton, Dallas and Tarrant counties. A child spends an average 30 months waiting to be adopted; however, 400 children here will age out of the system without ever getting adopted, Savage said.
"I quickly found out that this is [about] an unseen population of our area and kids that no one really wants to talk about around here," Savage said. "We just have a great reputation now and are leading support groups all over the area. They're all full, too. Without support, a foster family just can't make it."
Despite the fact that Embrace consists of just four staff members and one volunteer who work out of their homes, the group has gained national notoriety. It was recently named Child Advocates of the Year by the North American Council of Adoptable Children. Embrace staff traveled to Washington, D.C. in August to receive the prestigious award for their efforts advocating for foster and adoptive children at the state and federal level.
With Texas leading the nation in the number of child abuse and neglect death cases, Savage said the need for loving foster homes is stronger than ever. But such homes cannot be created or sustained without a strong support system, she said.
"Our Number One goal is to just raise awareness for what we do and what's out there," she said. "I've found in talking to people they just had no idea we were around or that there was a even need."
The shopping tournament has garnered support from more than just shops on the square. Local restaurants will be on the ready that day, helping fuel the competition with quick stop-and-go lunches and bottled water. The Grand Hotel and McKinney Bed & Breakfast are offering special rates for out of town participants.
All "Sitting Pretty" silent auction winners and grand prize recipients will be announced at an after-party at Rick's Chophouse that evening, which will also consist of more than $1,000 in door prizes.
Jenny Honea, owner of Primp Salon Boutique on Tennessee Street, was one of the first merchants to sign her business on for the tournament. Honea, who has known Savage personally for quite some time, said she did not have to hear much about the event before jumping on board.
"I think it's a great cause and also a good opportunity to get a little bit publicity for me, as well," she said. "I really wanted to support what they're doing. There's always extra to give if you can look past some of our own self needs and [Tiffany] definitely does that. I admire her for being able to do that kind of thing."
Registration fee for teams of four is $200. Shoppers may also register on a solo basis for $50. For registration information about Shopanthropy, visit shopanthropy.org. Click on "Our Partners" for a list of all participating stores and restaurants.
For information about Embrace Waiting Children, visit embracetexas.org.
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