Lend a Hand Uganda Fundraiser

One of the reasons that people (including myself) pursue careers as event and wedding planners is because they enjoy helping people and take great pleasure in being able to make others happy. As an attorney, I did as much pro bono legal work as I could get my hands on, and I want to take that same approach as an event planner. So when I saw that Amy Noelle (founder of Sugar Flower Cake Shop) needed help putting together a fundraiser for an organization with which she is heavily involved, Lend a Hand Uganda-USA, I immediately volunteered my services.

Photo by JC Lemon Photography

For those unfamiliar with Lend a Hand Uganda-USA, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the over three million orphaned and at-risk children in Uganda by promoting education, proper nutrition, safe environments and stability in their communities. The money raised by LAHU-USA goes to fund community projects and educational programs that aim to provide residents with life-long skills in order to foster permanent change, rather than a one-time influx of resources. LAHU-USA’s current projects include teaching bricklaying and tailoring skills and other programs for raising livestock and rabbits and growing mushrooms.

Photo by Eileen Meny Photography

With the help of a tremendous number of volunteers and generous donors (including celebrity ambassador Betsey Johnson), LAHU-USA’s inaugural annual fundraising gala went off without a hitch at Hudson Terrace on March 9, 2015. It was a beautiful evening filled with live music, delicious food, and more alcohol than the attendees could possibly consume. And the event raised enough money to fund LAHU-USA’s rabbit project for an entire year. If you’re interested in supporting LAHU-USA, you can visit the organization’s website for more information, and if you happen to be looking for something to do this Thursday night, it just so happens that LAHU-USA will be throwing its Summer Soiree that evening.

Photo by Kamila Harris Photography