{Giveaway} Atiliay Mother's Day Gift Package to Benefit the Women of Freely in Hope

It's time for a very special Mother's Day-themed giveaway from atiliay on Etsy!

Serendipity Handmade is partnering with Olivia Lin, founder of atiliay, to help spread the word and raise funds for Freely in Hope, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for young women in Kenya to reach their educational goals in a safe, secure environment.

When I met Olivia I was very impressed by her commitment to people in need through her work at atiliay (formerly the Yummy Year Project).  In her own words below she explains how she turned her interest in art and fashion into philanthropic work:

Ever since I was little, I was always drawing and coloring, doing little sewing projects, and making all kinds of arts and crafts.  My passion for the arts led me to a career in the corporate fashion world. Several years into my career, I knew I wanted to be more hands and actually make things while contributing something positive into this world. It was perfect timing because a shoe brand called TOMS was just emerging; for every shoe purchased a pair would be donated to a child in need and you could apply to go on a "shoe drop" with them.

I applied and went on a shoe drop to South Africa with TOMS in November 2007.  I met a wonderful group of people from the non-profit Food4Africa who changed my life. Food4Africa's mission is to provide nutritious food for children living in poverty in South Africa.

I knew that after this trip that I had to make a conscious effort to continue to support their cause. From then on I became more and more involved and interested in human rights, animal rights, and different causes within the US and around the world. I continued to support Food4Africa and am proud to be currently serving as the Fundraising Coordinator for the USA.

Over the past several years I have been trying make it easy for people to give to others. This is how the atiliay paper goods shop on Etsy was born!  atiliay products are created to help everyone spread the love.  Each item is paired with a non-profit organization (inspired by each holiday or the design) and with every purchase the customer gets to help that specific cause!

I met Nikole, the founder of Freely In Hope, while visiting the Share and Do Good shop (where I also met Collette!) and was really interested in her work. Freely In Hope gives women in Kenya the opportunity to achieve their goals and create a secure, sustainable future for themselves and their children through a high school and college education.

As young girls transition out of government sponsored primary schools to self-funded higher education, they are often lost in the stark reality of poverty. This leaves them vulnerable to the pressures of prostitution, early marriages and abusive relationships. A high school and college education can cost between $300-$3,000 annually, so Freely in Hope provides scholarships for promising high school and college students who are survivors of or are vulnerable to sexual abuse.  They also provide counseling and help students find a place to live.

As a woman it always strikes a chord with me when I hear about other women being dehumanized and violated.  While the harm these women have experienced is atrocious, their stories are also filled with hope, strength, and inspiration.

 

I want to spread love to other mothers in our world.  This Mother's Day I created the Floral Collection to raise funds through atiliay on Etsy for Freely In Hope.  Forty-nine percent of proceeds from all items in the Floral Collection will be donated to Freely In Hope's Arise Scholarship Fund. The floral watercolor block prints are a Mother's Day card that double as artwork for the home or office:

• 6 prints will provide school supplies and uniforms for a woman in high school
• 100 prints will provide a woman with a high school education for a year
• 200 prints will provide a woman with a college education for a year

Five percent of all other items purchased from the shop will also be donated to Freely In Hope to empower these women with an education. 

Please join me this month in spreading the word about both atiliay and Freely in Hope to benefit women in need.  You might also win a wonderful prize!

{giveaway}

The amazingly talented Olivia has created a lovely Mother's Day Gift Package valued at $40 USD to be delivered to the woman of your choice in time for Mother's Day:

The Mother's Day Gift Package includes:

• One Red Roses Art Print/Card with an option for a personalized message on the back of the print
• One frame with mat for the Art Print / Card
• One set of five blank cards (A2 size) that includes one of  the following designs:  pink peony, pink roses, red roses, green succulents, orange zinnias
• One reusable cotton bag with the Red Roses design
• One Red Roses gift box

  

No purchase is necessary!  Just be a follower of Serendipity Handmade and enter through Rafflecopter below.

 {additional entries}

Although no purchase is necessary please consider purchasing a Raffle Ticket for $2.50 USD that will give you a special mini notecard and TEN (10) extra entries to win the Mother's Day Gift Package!

Olivia created a special mini notecard pictured above especially for this giveaway that you will receive as a thank-you for your purchase/donation!  Forty-five percent ($1.13 USD) of each raffle ticket (after Olivia's production costs) will go directly to Freely in Hope!

Please follow this link to purchase an optional Raffle Ticket via PayPal

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will close on May 3, 2013.  The winner will be announced on this post on May 4, 2013.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please tell your friends about this very special giveaway / fundraiser, and thank you for helping me spread the word about both atiliay and Freely in Hope!