Giving back.
WINC Buffalo
I’m proud to be a founding member and Vice President of Women Inspired Through Networking Collaboration (WINC Buffalo), a networking group dedicated to uplifting women professionals, supporting women-owned businesses, and giving back to Buffalo since January 2019. We never missed a meeting, even during the covid-19 pandemic. We continue to grow, and are now 34 members strong. Networking and philanthropy for the modern woman!
Sip. Shop. Support.
An idea born after a night chatting with my girlfriends. I imagined an event for women to network and shop from other women-owned businesses, with the proceeds going to a Buffalo-based charity that supports women and girls.
In just 6 weeks, I held the first ever Sip.Shop.Support. was held on a snowy Buffalo evening in December 2018, raising over $600 for Haven House.
The following June, WINC held the 2nd Sip.Shop.Support, and welcomed 46 attendees. Attendees enjoyed complimentary mimosas and a light brunch in additional to 17 different local women-owned business vendors, offering a variety of products and services. In additional to enjoying an amazing performance from our event beneficiary, Buffalo GirlChoir, attendees enjoyed a live panel of successful women business owners moderated by Kelsey of Womankind podcast. Through this incredible event, we were able to SUPPORT Buffalo GirlChoir to the tune (pun intended) of $1188.20! Additionally, my daughter raised and donated $123 through her passion project, Rock Your World!
The 3rd Sip.Shop.Support. held in December 2019 at Buffalo Riverworks was a success, despite another snowstorm. With the partnership between WINC Buffalo and over 20 women business vendors, this event’s beneficiary, WNY Women’s Foundation, received just over $3000! This helps WNYWF continue to remove barriers and create opportunities for women and girls in WNY.
WINC Buffalo presents Girls On The Run Buffalo with a check for $8769 from Sip.Shop.Support. 2022.
The 4th Sip.Shop.Support. was held in November 2021 at BFLO Event Center, after skipping 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event captured the attention of all major news outlets and with that press, we had our biggest event yet. Partnering with 25 women-owned businesses like BraidBabes, Balanced Body Foods, and Spruce on Main, helped us raise over $6200 (over double that of 2019) for our beneficiary, Dress for Success Buffalo. The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Sip.Shop.Support. 2022 benefitted Girls on the Run Buffalo to the tune of $8769. 30 women-owned business and Buffalo’s own DJ Lil Gab were there. Some of the ladies from WINC Buffalo met with the leadership team of Girls on The Run Buffalo in early December 2022 to present the check.
Sip.Shop.Support. 2023 will raise funds for P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative and will take place on Saturday, November 18th from 12-4pm at Events by Sto Lat. P.U.N.T. provides families in Western New York facing pediatric cancer with critical programs that offer financial, practical and emotional support from diagnosis to recovery and bereavement. P.U.N.T. operates with collaboration and guidance from community hospital partners to ensure that every dollar raised gets channeled where it is most needed.