Please accept my invitation!

Hi Everyone! 

Here is my latest PR for our event coming up on May 30th! 

What is so great about this event is that the price is $125 but that is it. This is not an auction where you end up spending way more after you get there. In fact, guests at our event get to take home a glassybaby! All proceeds go directly to Family Services. While you are giving back you get to enjoy amazing food and good wine while networking and listening to spectacular music! 

Don't think I don't know about how tough it is in this time of recession. We are all affected, and just think of the struggle those that had nothing to start with are dealing with. Please accept my invitation and help us help Family Services do what they are best at.....helping others move in to a life that is self-sustaining. 

See you there!

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2009


WWISH and glassbaby Host Fundraiser to Benefit Family Services

Seattle, Washington, May 13, 2009 – Did you know that 2,922 parents and children are homeless each night in King County, or that 23,000 children here witness domestic violence in their homes? These aren’t just statistics. These are people – people that Family Services is helping each and every day. 

To help them with that mission, WWISH and glassybaby are partnering to benefit Family Services with a fundraising event – An Evening of Elegance – on Saturday, May 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. The fundraiser will be hosted by WWISH at glassybaby art studio in Madrona and will feature food, wine and entertainment.  

WWISH president Laura Cruikshank created the event because she knows how difficult it can be for families to get help when they need it most, particularly during a recession.

“Family Services has been helping families deal with social issues for over 100 years,” Cruikshank said. “WWISH supports them in their work to create positive change in the lives of women and families every day.”

Billed as an elegant evening of hope and promise, guests will enjoy delicious food and wine by St. Clouds, live music by composer and pianist Jeannette Alexander, an inspirational surprise guest speaker and a glassblowing demonstration. At the end of the evening, guests will receive a special gift from glassybaby to take home.
 
Tickets are $125 each and net proceeds will go directly to Family Services. The nonprofit organization has been strengthening families in King County since 1892, dealing with difficult issues like homelessness, poverty and domestic violence while supporting self-sufficiency. In 2008, Family Services assisted more than 6,000 people, but many more need our help.

Women’s Wellness and Integrated Social Health, WWISH, is an online, interactive magazine for women and about women. We offer support, resources and editorial content pertaining to women’s issues and lifestyles. For more information about our organization and how we help support women, please visit us online at www.wwish-inc.com. WWISH:  Resources. Connection. Empowerment.

To learn more about An Evening of Elegance or to purchase tickets, visit www.wwish-inc.com. For more information about Family Services and its important role in our community, visit www.family-services.org.

Media contact:

Laura Cruikshank, president
WWISH, Inc.
206-605-3736
laura@wwish-inc.com    
www.wwish-inc.com

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A Tribute to Mother's and our children: Hooray for Summer, or Not?

This time of year I always look forward to the end of the school year, when my children can have a break from their busy, regimented schedules, and I get a break from being the homework Nazi and taxi driver. We can all take some time to breath, enjoy unstructured time, relax — that is until the first echoes of “I’m bored” ring through my ears. This happens usually inside a week.

 

Unfortunately, even though the kids are off for summer break, my work doesn’t allow for a three-month summer break. And it’s amazing how far the echo of “I’m bored” rings through the airwaves. While I am working, even if I am there physically, I can’t always direct them toward un-boredom. In fact, the interruptions don’t bring out the best parenting techniques in me, and then the guilt ensues for not being able to meet their needs. I know, I need to work on that.

So, to avoid the inevitable, by Mothers Day, with any luck,  I have the summer schedule buttoned up. 

Our summer vacation takes up about a week, depending on how much time I can take off from WWISH. After we have that planned, I begin by asking them what their idea of summer fun looks like aside from our vacation. My kids (the two living at home, I have a son who flew the coop so to speak, he's a UW engineering student :-)) aren’t close in age: I have a teenager and a 10-year-old, and this presents very different ideas of summer fun. 

My 16-year-old says he wants a job this summer. As any parent knows, this is great news. But, as we also know, the job market isn’t looking so good these days, and even in good times you don’t wait until June to start looking for a summer job. So my role of suggestor takes over: “Have you decided what kind of job you want this summer?” “Would it be a good idea to get their contact info and let them know you are interested?” “Do you want help with a resume?” The result: a few shrugs and a nod once in a while, and he assures me he has it handled.

For my 10-year-old, summer fun is not something he thinks about — he just does. But 

this is not to say he won’t tell me what he won’t do. This is where my director role takes over: “You have a choice of three camps and a few other activities. Which ones would you prefer?” 

He has suggested to me that he would like no plans this summer, except, of course, our family vacation. But when it comes to camps, theater groups, sports clubs, etc., he has an aversion. So this is the tough parenting call.

 

We know we feel so much better when we know our kids are stimulated, learning and safe. And you know what? They do, too. Never have my kids come home after a day in group activities with kids their own age — participating, connecting and sometimes competing — and said, “I hated that! It was horrible.” Instead, they have occasionally cried because they were sad about the fact that they will miss their new friends.

 

So this summer will be the same. I will give him his options, and he will choose what best suits him. And then I have no doubt he will have another memorable childhood summer. 

And, of course, I will sleep much better at night.

*Photo’s are from last years summer fun on Lake Chelan.

The Power of Stories.

I formed an advisory board and last Thursday we met for the first time. There are twelve members in our group. I admit, I was a little nervous, but I had no expectations of the outcome, and I came with an open mind and open heart (I had to open my heart because it feels like my soul is WWISH), and the result was incredibly productive. If I actually knew what I was doing when I chose the board, I could not have done better. What really amazes me with the entire process of forming WWISH, and now building on it, is that it seems so natural. The steps become clear as they present themselves. When I meet people and share my vision for WWISH, men and women get excited about the possibility of a place women can go and feel absolutely supported.

What I learned from the board meeting is that all WWISH women need to be able to add their stories on the website for all to see and comment on. At first, my vision for content was focused on the service providers adding the editorial, but the board suggested that I create a place for all women to write and share their stories. When I heard this it made perfect sense. Through women's stories they gain recognition and support from other WWISH members. What makes us all unique is our stories. Every one of us has a story of experience and overcoming adversity in our lives. That is our journey on this planet. Sharing your experiences on your journey can be extremely healing for someone else who isn't so far along in a similar journey. When I was going through, probably my most intense emotional growth spurt, I read. I read everything I could find about women who became empowered by their struggles. Just knowing that I was not alone and other women survived and thrived from similar adversities I experienced gave me hope and courage to persevere. I found tools and new ways of thinking through stories. In addition, my connection with a women's group I was involved with for four years also helped me grow emotionally and change patterns that no longer served me. Receiving acceptance and support from other women grows amazing opportunities.

Last weekend, I spent a girls weekend at my home in Chelan with two dear friends. In my busy life these days, I don't get to connect with other women on a deeper level very often. We had some really great talks on a heartfelt level. Again, I am reminded how important it is to reach out and create support in our lives to help us grow and feel okay. Sometimes it is not even growing so much as just feeling like you are not alone. Knowing that helps me know I can do this. 

For many of us, we grew up not feeling very empowered. Not only did society not support empowerment of women but our parents didn't give us the space to find our own power. I remember my mother saying to me time and time again "why do you have to be so stubborn and always do it your way, do what I say instead and it will save you lots of heartache." For me, learning never came from someone telling me what to do. I had to experience for myself and many times (probably more often than not) I did not take the easy road.  This is how I became who I am today. Thank God for those friends who didn't tell me what to do and sometimes just cried with me. These are the seeds of empowerment.

Intro to Laura and WWISH blog....

It is Sat. morning and I am sitting in my favorite place, in my favorite chair, in my comfy home in Chelan, looking at the marvelous view from my window, drinking my morning coffee. The sun is almost up over the mountains and it looks like it is going to be a glorious day. I am grateful beyond words! And I am writing my first blog ever! This is TRULY a glorious moment because I have been THINKING about it for way to long. 

Those who know me, know that my company, Women's Wellness and Integrated Social Health, WWISH is my passion. The idea transpired from my own life experience of crisis and adversity. My mission today is to help eliminate stigmas associated with reaching out for help when suffering from poverty, depression, abuse, homelessness, addiction etc... Reaching out and coming out with your problem is a sign of incredible courage and a desire for much needed change. WWISH brings resources together and puts a spotlight on those resources in order for easier accessibility for those who need it. And I am very inspired and excited about the growing community of women who are willing to help with finding solutions to the problems of under represented resources, in all shapes and forms, and shed light on the importance of support. What is equally important is the willingness of these women to offer their expertise and share their own life experience in order to help empower other women.

Last week, I met with two powerful advocates for women and families from Family Services, Patricia Gray and Kelly Pearson. These women are passionately committed to eradicating homelessness and helping families heal. Family Services is a non profit organization that has been around since the 1800's. They offer early education classes for homeless children, counseling for parents, housing options, as well as many other services that help move families out of adversity and into stability and consistency. In over 100 years, Family Services has never had a permanent home and this June they will open the doors to their brand new beautiful home! They have worked tirelessly to raise money for this cause and are on the last push to raise money for the last leg of this project.

I am thrilled to announce that WWISH is hosting a benefit to help Family Services raise money for this important cause on May 23rd! I will keep you all informed about our progress planning the event but get ready for a great party and be sure and save the date. For those of you who attended our last benefit you know that it will be a blast! And for such an important mission!

In closing, on my first blog ever, I want to say that none of what I have accomplished in my life would have been possible without the support and resources that were offered me in my darkest days. Through resources and connection grows empowerment. Today I am hopeful for all women and look forward to helping with change!