Friday, November 21, 2014

At 102 years old, Peggy Lloyd still sees the value of charity!


At our 68th Annual Charity League Christmas Mart, one of our oldest member stopped by for a photo with Santa.  Peggy Lloyd, 102 years old and a resident of Ocean City, NJ, was President of The Charity League in 1955.  That was a crazy year for Ms. Lloyd -- she was a full time kindergarten teacher and going through a divorce.

In interviewing Ms. Lloyd, we asked her about the status of her ex-husband.  "He's dead now!" she said, with a wicked grin.

Ms. Lloyd recalled the year that she was The Christmas Mart Chair, in 1947.  It was only the second year The Charity League had put on the The Mart.  The pin that year was a green wreath that retailed for -- wait for it -- $1.

"It was great," said Ms. Lloyd.  "No one was doing anything like this, we were the first."

This year is the 68th Annual Christmas Mart and the pin price is $25.  The Mart has been held for the past several years at the Greate Bay Country Club, who continues to be a great partner.

This year’s pin is a beautifully sequined Santa’s Workshop Elf.  This little Santa’s helper has traveled down from the North Pole to delight another generation in Atlantic County.

Designed by long time Charity League members and master sequin artists Roberta Barr and Dot Johnson, this year’s pin features over 200 hundred sequins and beads to complete.  Each of these pieces are hand sewn to the pin.  Charity League members made over 6,000 of the Santa’s Workshop pins this year.  Each pin retails for $25, with a lifetime guarantee.  All of the money is distributed to local nonprofits that support women and children.

“We spent the entire year sewing and finishing this pin,” said member Sue McAfee, chairwoman of the pin committee.  “Because it had so much sequining this year, members spent an average of 1 and ½ to 2 hours on each pin.”

Santa’s Workshop Elf wears a green hat with a red and green brim.  His eyes peek out above his pearly white beard and he sports a snowflake from colder climes.  The tip of his hat is adorned with a red Swarovski crystal, dangling down.

Beneficiaries of The Charity League include Atlantic City Day Nursery, Child Federation of Atlantic County, The Donny Fund, The Women’s Center, Family Services Association, Covenant House and The Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

The proceeds from The Annual Christmas Mart and all Charity League events benefit seven local agencies that support women and children in Atlantic County.  Last year, Charity League members and friends worked together to raise over $150,000 that is distributed to these charities.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Bourbon Balls for Everyone!

It was another great party hosted by The Charity League of Atlantic County on Saturday, May 5, 2012, as the Sport of Kings held its version of The World Series at Churchill Downs. Atlantic City Country Club, birthplace of the "birdie," served as the beautiful setting for a party celebrating the racing tradition of The Kentucky Derby. Many women wore beautifully decorated hats and vied for the first, second and third place prizes of "La Belle Dame du Chapeau!" The mint juleps were liberally enjoyed, as well as several margaritas in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Luckily there were no scratches in advance, and the race started off without a hitch. The odds-on favorite, Bodemeister, made a bold start and held his own. However, everyone loves an underdog -- the fastest 5 minutes on grass ended with I'll Have Another making a sweep from behind at the last minute. It doesn't get any better than that. Thanks to our sponsors, Shore Medical Center and Cape Bank, for supporting the event that helps to support women and children throughout Atlantic County. Thanks also to all the volunteers, who without their tireless hours to The Charity League of Atlantic County, nothing would get done. They make the best Bourbon Balls of any organization around.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas Celebration Honoring The Friends of Charity League



On Tuesday, December 13th, The Charity League of Atlantic County honored the hard work and dedication of The Friends of Charity League with a Christmas Luncheon at The Ram’s Head Inn in Absecon. The Friends of Charity League are 25 volunteers who each year support in sewing the famous Christmas pins. The organization’s main fundraiser, each member is required to complete 60 pins. But for The Friends of Charity League, making the sequined pins is a labor of love. These women volunteer their time and master sewing skills throughout the year as a resource to the organization.
Every year The Charity League of Atlantic County raises over $150,000 for Atlantic County non-profits that support women and children. The Charity League has become synonymous with beautifully sequined Christmas pins, tree skirts, table runners and stockings. This year Charity League members and The Friends of Charity made approximately 6,400 green holly leaf pins, all of which will were sold exclusively at The Christmas Mart in November.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Ribbons on the 2011 Pin

The silver ribbon on the 2011 pin is sometimes crumpled by the end of a day of wearing it and show it off. Here's a how-to video so that you can fix it up brand new and not have to worry about the ribbons looking less than perfect.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thank You for Another Great Christmas Mart



It was another great Christmas Mart hosted by The Charity League of Atlantic County and held at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point! Over 22 vendors attended, Santa greeted children and families for pictures, and there was always something wonderful to eat in Gourmet.

Tree Skirts and Stockings produced fabulous sequinned items that were snapped up, and took additional orders for items to be picked up for next year. Those committees work hard throughout the year to create special heirloom items than be passed from generation to generation. The Tree Skirts are legacy designed items that have been favorites for three generations. The Stockings are custom made for each person, and usually includes their name and decorations that are important to them -- a pair of ballet slippers here, a hockey stick there.

Fixings had a banner year, producing beautiful ornaments to deocorate a favorite Christmas tree or give as a gift. Each of the ornaments is specially designed and a limited series of them is created. If you didn't have a chance to buy them this year, you'll have to wait till next year's Mart!

The pin this year is a lovely pair of holly leaves with bright red crystal Swarovski berries, finished off with a silver bow with curled ends. A well received pin, it garnered many ohhs and ahhs. What will next year bring for the 2012 pin? Everyone will just have to wait and see!

Over 22 shops were present for early holiday shopping, and the Greate Bay Country Club again hosted lunch for all attending.

Its never too early to mark your calendars for next year -- the weekend before Thanksgiving, Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!


For members of The Charity League of Atlantic County, its the most wonderful time of the year, and also one of the busiest! Yesterday and today we have hosted The Christmas Mart at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point. There are wonderful shops this year, lots of gourmet items to tempt and try, and of course, the pin!

This year's pin is two beautifully sequinned holly leaves with Swarovski crystal berries. It wouldn't be complete with a silver bow with curled ribbons. It has been very popular, and proves to be another great League pin.

If you haven't visited us yet, please stop by. The Charity League of Atlantic County is a volunteer service organization that annual raises and donates $150,000 to women and children in Atlantic County.

If you haven't yet friended us on Facebook, please check out our page at http://www.facebook.com/charityleagueac. If you are a Twitter fan, please follow us at http://twitter.com/#!/charityleagueac. And of course, check out our website at http://www.charityleagueac.org.

Friday, November 18, 2011

2011 Christmas Mart Under Way!


Yesterday was a busy day as we prepared and set up the 2011 Christmas Mart for The Charity League of Atlantic County. Beautiful tree skirts, stockings, fixings and of course the 2011 pins will all be available today and tomorrow at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point. Check out our Facebook page for more photos, and be sure to follow us on Twitter as we add more details.