In June about 120 people gathered together in Houston, Texas for our first Tying Vines fundraising dinner – Cultivating Connections. These people were from several different states, and countries. Several of our Tying Vines partners were present and it was a joy to meet them in person. There was laughter, good food, great stories, and even shopping at our Work of Worth booth and a Silent Auction.
Several reasons led to this fundraiser. Obviously, one reason was to help raise money to support and grow the staff and resources at Tying Vines. Today we work with 22 partners located across 37 countries. In 2022, with our partners, we impacted the lives of over 400,000 people. Tying Vines has a small staff and all are stretched to provide effective support in the work being done. Funding is needed in order for us to support our partners in a sustainable manner. (If you would like to donate to Tying Vines general fund, please see the link below.)
Another reason for this event was to share about the exciting and encouraging ways we are impacting communities around the world and to give others an opportunity to become engaged and celebrate with us. Our president, Mary Kenney, said, “It was as much a friend-raiser as a fund-raiser! We want to help others who share the same passion learn how they can personally have an impact in these communities. We know there are others who would like to share their gifts and talents in a similar manner and we want to get to know them.”
There was a wonderful spirit of community present throughout the evening. Our speakers, Mary Kenney, Melissa Mitchell and Joe Page shared passionately about the mission of Tying Vines. Videos and stories helped those of us present understand more clearly about the global reach of our partnerships and the great need.
We hope to make this an annual event. When we know more we will get the date out for you to put on your calendar. We hope that next year more friends will come and be a part of our celebration. In closing, I’d like to share something that Melissa shared with me.
“We hope that the spirit of community and connection lingers on. Together we have proven that when individuals come together for a common cause, extraordinary things happen. Your presence, contributions, and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on our hearts.“
It was a beautiful night. I look forward to next year, and we hope to see you there!
Thank you so much!
Kyle joined a group coming in from another part of the Middle East who were connected to the Tying Vines Walk With Me Pr
The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually on July 30th.
Building meaningful connections has been a core aspect of my mission from the very beginning.
