(Oct. 15, 2015) Many local groups and organizations raise money for causes, but not many of them do it by taking people on vacation.
Almost every year for the past six years, Jan Patterson, an owner of the CraZy LadyZ clothing stores in Ocean City and Ocean View, Del., has organized a trip and picked a cause and done just that.
This year, the cause is Coastal Hospice, and the check for the donated funds, this year about $7,000, will be presented to the end-of-life care facility next week at an event at Alex’s Italian Restaurant in West Ocean City, Patterson said.
“We’re just a small shop but we like to do things in a big way,” Patterson said. “We’ve grown every year. This year’s trip had almost 100 participants.”
Notably, and unsurprisingly since the participants are drawn from the shops’ clientele, most travelers are women.
“We’re a ladies store and the original idea was for an all-girls trip,” she said. “But everyone loved the concept and — beautifully enough — we had 10 wonderful men join us this year.”
The group traveled to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico this year, and stayed in the all-inclusive Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun Resort. The trip was booked through CraZy LadyZ employee and travel agent Cookie Breitenbach, she said.
“Our first two trips were cruises and we found that too confining. We’re also price conscious because our group is made up of a lot of retirees, but we like to spread out. If someone wants to go shopping or exploring, it has to be in a place where it’s safe to do so,” Patterson said.
Even the late date — the vacationers just recently returned — was intentional.
“We leave when the schools, colleges and universities reopen,” she said.
Early each year, Patterson posts a signup sheet in the stores to gauge interest. Then a destination, donation and charity are identified. Those still on the list as of July 1 are booked to go. Each traveler makes a set donation, and the CraZy LadyZ stores and Breitenbach contribute.
Previous beneficiaries include Worcester GOLD, Women Supporting Women and the American Cancer Society.
Almost every year for the past six years, Jan Patterson, an owner of the CraZy LadyZ clothing stores in Ocean City and Ocean View, Del., has organized a trip and picked a cause and done just that.
This year, the cause is Coastal Hospice, and the check for the donated funds, this year about $7,000, will be presented to the end-of-life care facility next week at an event at Alex’s Italian Restaurant in West Ocean City, Patterson said.
“We’re just a small shop but we like to do things in a big way,” Patterson said. “We’ve grown every year. This year’s trip had almost 100 participants.”
Notably, and unsurprisingly since the participants are drawn from the shops’ clientele, most travelers are women.
“We’re a ladies store and the original idea was for an all-girls trip,” she said. “But everyone loved the concept and — beautifully enough — we had 10 wonderful men join us this year.”
The group traveled to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico this year, and stayed in the all-inclusive Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun Resort. The trip was booked through CraZy LadyZ employee and travel agent Cookie Breitenbach, she said.
“Our first two trips were cruises and we found that too confining. We’re also price conscious because our group is made up of a lot of retirees, but we like to spread out. If someone wants to go shopping or exploring, it has to be in a place where it’s safe to do so,” Patterson said.
Even the late date — the vacationers just recently returned — was intentional.
“We leave when the schools, colleges and universities reopen,” she said.
Early each year, Patterson posts a signup sheet in the stores to gauge interest. Then a destination, donation and charity are identified. Those still on the list as of July 1 are booked to go. Each traveler makes a set donation, and the CraZy LadyZ stores and Breitenbach contribute.
Previous beneficiaries include Worcester GOLD, Women Supporting Women and the American Cancer Society.