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A Shining Service Update and a BIG THANK YOU!

Shining Service Worldwide is a young organization on the move.  In 2012, we saw amazing progress thanks to your support. You may have bought a bracelet, come to one of our makeover events celebrated with us at our Fleet Week Cocktail. Each one of you is part of a growing, caring family of support for our military women. Inspired by your generosity, we want to bring you up-to-date on the work completed since the celebration and share our vision for the future.

The Shining Beacon House

The Shinning Beacon House drive continues with a "boots on the ground" effort! We are working diligently to find the perfect location for our home that will provide assistance for women veterans and their children.

Frank Amalfitano of United Veterans Beacon House (www.uvbh.com) and I have visited many properties in Brooklyn over the last months, and talked to a myriad of agencies that are required to be involved. We are making good progress. It is my hope that by the end of 2013, we will be open to serve our women. Obtaining the grants and funding, satisfying the demands of the community, plus getting the politicians onboard, is starting to fall into place. I am learning to be patient, and that's not easy for me

Fleet Week Fundraiser

Thanks to our hard working committee, led by our capable chair, Kate Post, generous support from Kahn Architecture and our makeover partner, Scott J Aveda, the event was a huge success, raising over $25,000. Encouraged by your response to our first official fund raiser, we are currently planning our Fleet Week Event 2013.

The photo above tells the story of that evening. Our military women are shining in appreciation of the support you showed them. In the words of one honoree, "I feel pretty for the first time and see a bright future ahead." With your help we can make duplicate this healing experience for many more veterans.

Veterans Day Makeover

Our 2012 Veterans Day Makeover at The W Hotel in Times Square was another heart-to-heart connection. We served a small group of women , who like others in our larger makeovers, were amazing people. Their stories are remarkable, based on the unique challenges they faced during service and returning home. That's why we will continue to do our makeovers. A beauty makeover is a turning point - the beginning of a healing for each military woman we meet. Not only are they re-connected with their strong feminine power, which the military doesn't encourage, they are introduced to new friends who understand and share their experiences.

We plan six more Shining Service Makeover starting in January 2013.  These makeovers help promote our message and grow sponsorship for our organization. Our January makeover will be a joint effort with New York and New Jersey salons to thank all the military women who worked so diligently during the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. If you have a salon that would like to be part of this special week in January let me know.

The 2013 "You Gotta Have Heart" Bracelet 
 

The 2013 edition of our Shining Service Bracelet is tagged "You Gotta Have Heart". This is the newest edition of our fundraising bracelet.  It's a great way to show your support, and at the same time, raise awareness for our cause-- supporting military women.

Purchase a bracelet - it's a wonderful gift for the upcoming holidays for personal or business giving. The bracelets are available on our web site. Money raised will be used for the for The Shining Beacon House project.

Year End Giving to Support our Military Women in Need

Your efforts to assist women in the military have been extraordinary this year. I am touched by your generosity and your desire to wrap your arms around this cause. As more women return home they continue to need your help. Our proud women of military service don't historically reach out for assistance, but as they gain trust in SSW they reveal their invisible wounds and appreciate anything we are able to do to lighten their load.

I am asking for you to continue your generosity and be part of a growing family of support through the year-end giving effort. Your contribution takes us one step closer to our goal of opening "The Shining Beacon House". We hope to thank you on the steps of that special facility in 2013!

There's a long wait list of women veterans who need your help. Thank you for letting them know they are not forgotten and they hold a special place of gratitude in your hearts.

How to Make your Supportive Donation