On Monday, June 13th, Blossoms of Hope held their fifth annual Power of the Purse silent auction and sale. This wonderful event was held in support of the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center at Howard County General Hospital. For the past five years this event has courteously been held at the Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom by Fretz, located in Columbia.
In 2015 over 1,400 gently used and vintage purses were generously donated from individuals all over the state. As 2016 approached, goals and ambitions of collecting more bags were higher than ever. With great pride, I am able to say this year over 2,900 purses were donated and the event received more than $50,000 in donations from local businesses for the Silent Auction! This event is largely remarkable in the way it brings the community together.
There is no better person to bring camaraderie and resources to events than Michelle Wildman, owner of MW Events, a 16-year old business that specializes in Galas, fundraisers, and uniquely entertaining parties. Michelle was this year’s Chairperson for the Power of the Purse and worked countless hours for the past year preparing for this successful fundraiser. You’ve heard the expression, “if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person”? Michelle surrounded herself with busy, organized and helpful volunteers that she guided throughout the process with informative and detailed emails, ensuring great communication. Michelle organized meetings, luncheons, and creative get togethers throughout the year to continually keep everyone informed and excited. These get togethers weren’t opportunities to only mingle, Michelle had a purpose for each scheduled date, checking items off her major list each month! The words AMAZING, TREMENDOUS, RESOURCEFUL, CONVINCING ;-), INCREDIBLE only begin to describe Michelle and her giving heart and brilliant mind!
Below, Michelle is pictured with her awesome and supportive family. 🙂
Michelle is not one to bring attention to herself, she lifts everyone up around her, “Last year we had 16 volunteers, and this year the team grew to 50 wonderfully hard-working women! The success of Power of the Purse directly correlates to the enthusiasm and dedication of these ladies, who took time away from their families to support such an important cause. I enjoyed hosting fun activities and outings in addition to our meetings, and it was a pleasure to watch new friendships form while we learned about one another’s businesses and passions.
Thanks to such a fabulous team, our 5th anniversary event welcomed more than 500 attendees, and not only beat our fundraising goal, but nearly doubled it, bringing in $36,000 to benefit Blossoms of Hope! Over the past 11 years, Blossoms has donated over $275,000 to the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center, and we look forward to adding to that total after this year’s success.” 
Working hand in hand with this event for the fifth year in a row is The Iron Bridge Wine Co. who provided the attendees with a tasteful assortment of both red and white wines. Alongside the wines, this years event had a tasty signature cocktail called the “Purse-onalitini” made of a special and tasty secret recipe, provided by Clever Container. Following drinks, Carrabba’s Italian Grill filled the air with delicious aromas featuring shrimp lightly drizzled in a lemon butter sauce, penne pasta with fresh tomato red sauce, Chicken Marsala and many other mouth watering treats. Not only did Carrabba’s have a counter full of these amazing dishes, but throughout the event servers made their way around the room to serve hors d’oeuvres, appetizers and then desserts.
As a board member for Blossoms of Hope, Sherri Collins-Witzke’s funeral business Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. generously donated to become the Platinum Sponsor for Power of the Purse, as well as all of the other Blossoms of Hope events.
Brenda von Rautenkranz is always entertaining and makes a great emcee! She is pictured below with Joe Barbera of AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar, located in Columbia, Maryland.
Stacy and Glenna show us how comfortable the 26-person limo bus is, provided by An Extraordinar Limousine, Inc. This generous company provided attendees luxurious rides to and from the satellite parking area and the event venue.
Her Mind/Custom Media Options hosts this event each year and deserves a lot of accolades, bringing this fabulous event to Howard County 5 years ago. I’d like to personally thank the ladies of this awesome company: Beth Ditman, Pam Moss, Dotty Doub, Emiko Danielian, Bethanne Smith, Linda Boyle, and Jackie Panowicz for all of your hard work and we thank you!
Following are lists of sponsors, drop off locations (that, for several months, graciously allowed us to place collection boxes at their locations for people to drop off their donated purses), companies that donated time and resources, and businesses that donated items for the silent auction. Please consider patronizing these very generous and giving companies when considering your shopping needs. #shoplocal
SPONSORS:
Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. (Platinum Sponsor) – Sherri Collins-Witzke
The Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom by Fretz – Beth Korwek
Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Ellicott City – Greg Alkire
Pam Long Photography – Pam Long
The Iron Bridge Wine Co. – Steve Wecker (WINE!)
The Business Monthly – Becky Mangus (advertising and promotion)
DellaBlooms – Dana O’Sullivan (gorgeous bouquets of flowers and props)
The Decorating Therapist – Carol Weil (designed the space)
Wendy Slaughter Team at RE/MAX 100 – Wendy Slaughter (tote bags)
Clever Container – Amanda Bill (Signature Cocktail Sponsor, the “Purse-onalitini”)
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Brenda von Rautenkranz – POTP MC
An Extraordinar Limousine, Inc., Ruth Toomey – 26-person Limo Bus
Freestate Self Storage, Donna McManus – 6 mo. FREE storage space + boxes
KGZ Graphics, Matt Zuiderhof – printing fliers
Blossoms of Hope
Custom Media Options
Her Mind Magazine
(38) DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
A Diva’z Boutique ♥ A Journey from Junk ♥ Aida Bistro & Wine ♥ Bode Floors, Ellicott City ♥ Bode Floors, Columbia ♥ Columbia Association: Athletic Club, Supreme Sports Club & Swim Center ♥ Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage ♥ Crafton Dental ♥ HoCo Chamber of Commerce ♥ HoCo Library: East Columbia Branch, Elkridge Branch, Glenwood Branch, Miller Branch & Savage Branch ♥ HoCo Welcome Center ♥ It Works! Global ♥ Jewish Federation of Howard County ♥ Jolles Insurance ♥ Keller Williams Realty Centre ♥ Kids Time Out ♥ Leido’s ♥ Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. ♥ Macy’s ♥ Maryland Primary Care Physicians ♥ Medical Skin Therapeutics ♥ Nordstrom ♥ Pam Long Photography ♥ Quest Fitness ♥ River Hill Garden Center ♥ Simply Divine Boutique ♥ St. John’s Jewelers ♥ The Cellar at Chef Paolino Cafe ♥ The Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center ♥ The Wendy Slaughter Team RE/MAX 100 ♥ Together Couples Counseling ♥ Vertical Connection
(101) POTP BUSINESS DONORS:
40 West Beam / Schubert Team ♥ Adventure Park USA ♥ Amy Abell Wellness ♥ Artistic Edge Salon & Spa in Waverly Woods ♥ Basignani Winery ♥ Bra-La-La ♥ Cascade Lake ♥ Champps ♥ Cheesecake Factory ♥ Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum ♥ Chesapeake Beach Water Park ♥ Clark’s Elioak Farm ♥ Clyde’s ♥ Columbia MD Chapter, the Links Inc. ♥ Covered Bridge Farm ♥ Crazy Ladyz ♥ Dakota Salon ♥ Danielle DiFerdinando ♥ Denee Barr Photographic ♥ Elegant Style Boutique & Design ♥ Elk Run Vineyard ♥ Eyre Bus Service ♥ Fitness Evolution ♥ Ford’s Theatre ♥ Friends of Maggie & Olivia Ballman ♥ Frisco Tap House ♥ Gramophone ♥ Great Frogs Winery ♥ Great Shoals Winery ♥ Harris Teeter, Columbia ♥ Harris Teeter, Ellicott City ♥ HCYP 12U Raiders White Team ♥ Historic Ships of Baltimore ♥ Homewood Interiors ♥ HorseSpirit Arts Gallery ♥ International Spy Museum ♥ K & D Nails ♥ Kelsey’s Kloset Boutique ♥ Kids Time Out ♥ Ladew Gardens ♥ Leah Tucker Art & Design ♥ Liberty Mountain Resort ♥ Live Happy ♥ Long & Foster, Ellicott City Office ♥ Looks Salon ♥ Lord & Taylor ♥ Luray Caverns ♥ Maggiano’s Little Italy ♥ Manor Hill Brewing ♥ Medieval Times ♥ Merry Maids of Columbia, MD ♥ Mike Gordon, Personal Trainer ♥ Mindgrub Technologies ♥ Monster Mini Golf ♥ Northridge Wine & Spirits ♥ Old Westminster Winery ♥ Ourisman Chrysler ♥ Paintings by Kate ♥ Pam Long Photography ♥ Panera Bread ♥ Park Lane Jewelery ♥ Positive Touch Therapy ♥ POTP Committee ♥ Princeton Sports ♥ Pub Dog Pizza & Drafthouse ♥ Pure Romance ♥ Renata’s Tasty Bites ♥ Robinson Nature Center ♥ Rolling Road Golf Club ♥ SAC ♥ Sandra Paetow Photography ♥ Sapphire Salon ♥ Seasons 52 ♥ Secolari ♥ Sergios Jewelers ♥ Signature Hair Design ♥ Simply Organized ♥ Smokin’ Hot Bar & Grille ♥ Still Point Spa @ Haven on the Lake ♥ Structural Integrity ♥ The Brewer’s Art ♥ The Dog Wash ♥ The Enchanted Envelope on Etsy ♥ The Murn Family ♥ The Olney Winery ♥ The Pearl Spa ♥ The Shelton Family ♥ The Swellness Center ♥ The Teachers & PA of St. John’s Parish Day School ♥ The Wildman Family ♥ Time Saver Advantage ♥ Tino’s Italian Bistro ♥ Total Wine & More ♥ Turf Valley Resort ♥ Uno Pizzeria and Grill ♥ Walters Art Museum ♥ Washington Capitals ♥ Weis Woodstock ♥ Whitetail Ski Resort ♥ Williams Asset Management ♥ Wisdomwell ♥ Your Style IQ
The ladies are ready for a fantastic evening!
Ready, set….
GO….
Three incredible women….Beth Ditman, owner of Custom Media Options, Michelle Wildman, and Pam Moss of Custom Media Options.
Anita Broccolino, centered with Joe Barbera of AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar and Steve Wecker of Iron Bridge Wine Co.
Danielle Nicole unique and stylish handbags and purses were sold, the company generously donated 20% of their sales to Power of the Purse!
These lovely ladies are not only showcasing some of their favorite handbags, but the delicious signature drink, the “Purse-onalitini”, provided by Clever Container.
woot! I had my picture taken by Vic Broccolino! 😀
♥ A huge thank you to everyone involved. To those of you involved in organizing the event, to the vendors, volunteers, sponsors, attendees, to all that donated purses…THANK YOU! ♥
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Visitors – thank you for checking out images and information about the Power of the Purse. If you are ever in need of photography services, I’d love the chance to chat with you. Here’s a little more info about us…..Whether you choose to be photographed in our studio, on location or along the quaint streets of our own beautiful historic town of Ellicott City, MD, you will truly enjoy your experience with Pam Long Photography. Clients enjoy a variety of portraiture, from maternity and babies, to children and families, high school seniors, pets, business headshots and special events. Whatever occasion life blesses you with, we will help you capture and document those moments to cherish for generations to come. To receive information about what we offer and how we can meet your needs, please contact us at
410.988.5563 or
email us at pam@pamlongphotography.com to set up a complimentary consultation.
We look forward to transforming your memories into your favorite works of art!
Pam Long Photography 
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