by Carlee Nilphai | Dec 7, 2023 | Buzz, December 2023/January 2024
Queen’s Club latest event goes all in for local charities.
There’s no need to perfect your poker face when it comes to Queen’s Club. Win or lose, the women-only poker club is contributing to a great cause—with its latest event only upping the ante by giving back to the local community.
The group’s first annual All In Poker Tournament, Nov. 30, was structured so the first-, second- and third-place winners donated their pot to the charity of their choice. The benefiting charities included benevolent pay-what-can cafe A Place at the Table and Diaper Train, which provides access to diapers for Wake County families. By the end of the evening, the event raised a cool $14,000 pot (!).
“Our full dream finally came together through this inaugural tournament—and it was epic!” says co-founder Virgina Parker. “When you bring 70+ women together in one room to play poker with a purpose, it becomes quite the event.” And these ladies are all in.
Since 2016, Queen’s Club, boasting four clubs throughout NC, has been a safe and welcoming space for women to let their hair down and play poker—but the goal has always been beyond the deal. As a 501(c)(3) org, the club leverages the power of women through networking, connecting and playing poker to strengthen the Raleigh community—and the tournament only helps them to further that mission.
“Our intent is to host this tournament every year, along with our regular quarterly poker nights, and we would love to see the number of women coming together for their communities grow larger,” says Parker of the future of Queen’s Club. “The beauty of the women choosing their own nonprofits is it brings a very diverse collective of nonprofits to the table with the chance to win, in addition to the opportunity to be introduced for the first time to others in the club—whether that be a poker player or a dealer or a runner.”
So whether you’re a veteran poker player or just a beginner, you can bet an evening with Queen’s Club and its powerful group of women is going to make a difference. … Even if just for your poker face.
by Alisa Hauser | Sep 5, 2023 | Do, September 2023
Helping change families’ lives one diaper at a time is Diaper Train’s annual Bottoms Up fundraiser.
Seeking a pamper party with purpose? … Unfolding Sept. 15, go Bottoms Up for Diaper Train’s fundraising event featuring BBQ, music and an all-around good time. Proceeds from the soiree will benefit the Raleigh-based nonprofit’s mission to bottle up diaper poverty in our local community. Read: Your attendance will help provide approximately 500,000 diapers annually to Wake County families in need… because no family should have to worry about where their tot’s next diaper will come from.
“We believe a diaper can change a life,” says Diaper Train Executive Director Katie Landi—“and the proceeds from Bottoms Up help us do just that.”
Diaper poverty doesn’t discriminate. It hits families from all walks of life grappling with unexpected financial setbacks—and it’s a crisis with far-reaching consequences. Let’s face it—raising a child is expensive. Diapers may seem like a small expense, but babies go through eight to 12 diapers a day, equalling ~2,800 diapers during their first year of life alone.
Beyond the financial strain, diaper deprivation directly impacts the emotional health of parents and children alike. Babies wearing dirty diapers are at risk of rashes and other health concerns, while their parents experience stress, guilt and a sense of helplessness due to the situation. That’s where Diaper Train comes in. Established in 2011, the diaper bank is the only organization exclusively serving Wake County, operating with an MO of supplying critical basic needs (aka diapers) to help Wake County seniors and babies remain hygienic and in good health. … Ready to wipe out diaper poverty? diapertrain.org
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 4, 2023 | Buzz, July/August 2023
Pull up a chair for The Green Chair Project’s 11th annual Chairity event.
Feeling chairitable? Take a seat with The Green Chair Project for its multiday annual Chairity fundraising event Sept. 20–23. Since its launch in 2010, The Green Chair Project has helped 26,500+ locals begin anew in the face of homelessness, crisis and disaster by reusing essential community-donated furnishings to nurture and sustain those in need of well-furnished homes.
Now back and better than ever, this year’s 11th iteration will feature an auction of reimagined chairs by such top local designers as Anna Applegate Interiors and Design by Tula, plus ~40 designer showrooms touting the works of Susan Tollefsen of Susan Tollefsen Interiors and Lori Moscato of Casual Elegance, among many others. A real draw, the room and furniture displays will also spotlight new and reimagined pieces (all for sale)—think wallpaper, fabrics, rugs, lighting and furniture (natch).
Also on this year’s fun-filled agenda are talks from experts about tablescaping, floral design, home entertaining and customization, with Saturday’s lineup spotlighting DIY experts—including Brittany Bailey, aka “Pretty Handy Girl” on YouTube—spreading the wealth in the form of home-improvement knowledge.
While you shop the latest design trends, enjoy light bites and mingle with artists, home furnishing partners and interior designers like authors Whitney English (A More Beautiful Life) and Carley Summers (Sacred Spaces).
The best part? As you peruse, learn, shop and socialize, you’ll be helping provide Raleigh children with a bed of their own, in addition to essential furnishings for families. Not to mention, all ticket and furniture sales benefit The Green Chair Project. Makes for a pretty chairming weekend, no? Tickets from $35, one.bidpal.net
by Anna Beth Adcock | Mar 21, 2023 | Do, March 2023
A Place at the Table launching its very own run/walk club
Walk—or run—toward good food, fun and meaningful connections via A Place at the Table’s newly launching Run & Walk Club (!).
“We believe that through being active, eating good nutritional food and connection, we can build a healthier and happier community together,” the philanthropic sup spot said in a recent Instagram post. “Come be a part of our family of folks that enjoy loving on others and love spreading our mission of providing community and good food regardless of means!”
The run/walking will commence and conclude at the cafe—looping around the perimeter of Nash and Moore Square—with 3- and 1-mile ops.
Ready to lace up your sneaks and socialize?
Where: 300 West Hargett St., Ste. 50
When: Last Sunday of the month, starting March 26 at 9:30am More info: tableraleigh.org and @tableraleigh
