Designed For Joy Cary Heise

1104 W Cabarrus St. 919-395-2884

Raleigh, NC 27603 learnmore@designedforjoy.com

https://designedforjoy.com

DESIGNED FOR JOY CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY WITH A FUNDRAISING EVENT

RALEIGH, N.C. — Designed For Joy (DFJ) is hosting their first anniversary celebration and fundraising event October 23rd at The Cannon Room in Raleigh. The event will include guest speakers, appetizers and drinks, music by DJ Uniq, a silent auction, raffle items from local businesses and more. Ticket sales will go directly towards fundraising efforts to promote DFJ’s mission of women’s empowerment.

Because of generous donations, this past year Designed For Joy has hired over 20 artisans, hosted 80 workshops, given over 400 meals and paid over 1,300 living wage hours to women that are coming out of emergency situations, generational poverty, homelessness, rehab or jail. DFJ is dedicated to helping artisans rewrite their stories, gain marketable skills, and establish job references for future success in the job market.

“At Designed For Joy we are loved, we are learning, we are encouraged, and we are growing. And I am grateful,” said Jamie Worrells, DFJ artisan.

The first anniversary celebration and fundraiser will last from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 23rd. The event will feature the co-hosts of Red X Podcast, Lance Olive, Mayor of Apex, and Nicole Bernard, Director of Shield North Carolina as special guest speakers. Guests will also hear from a former DFJ artisan, as well as shop DFJ’s new fall line. The event will include a silent auction and raffle items from local businesses including The Mayton Inn, Stella & Dot from Jennifer Cullen, Hand and Stone, Southern Oak Gift Co., Rodan + Fields from Georgi Murray and more. There will be music provided by DJ Uniq, so guests should come dressed for a party.

“Designed For Joy is an excellent example of a community members coming together to solve a problem. We have sincere confidence in their sound business knowledge coupled with their passion to provide empowerment for at-risk women. Designed for Joy has found a model that works and they have been able to fully use their platform to bring community members and leadership together to create awareness and solution to ending exploitation,” said Nicole Bernard, Founder of Shield NC: Defense Against Trafficking.

Tickets should be purchased by October 16th. Buy a single ticket for $60 or a “couples” ticket for $100. DFJ recommends purchasing tickets online at https://designedforjoy.com/anniversary before they sell out. If tickets do not sell out online, they will be available for purchase at the door.

Designed For Joy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Raleigh N.C. that creates living wage artisan jobs for women coming out of emergency situations, food and housing insecurity, rehab or jail. To date, DFJ has paid 1,300 living wage hours, taught 70 skills workshops and provided 410 meals. DFJ believes in second chances and rebuilding futures by giving artisans marketable skills and a solid job reference for successful integration into the job market. DFJ’s vision is for every artisan to find full time work and have confidence doing so. To date, DFJ has helped 40 percent % of their artisans find full time work. Inspired by their rich history of international mission work, DFJ also fosters partnerships with creative co-ops abroad to help support global communities.

For more information or photos of DFJ’s new fall line, please contact Cary Heise at learnmore@designedforjoy.com or call 919-395-2884.

-###-