Okay, okay.  If I were you, I’d probably be thinking, “Okay, Anittah.  We get it.  PowerPlay is a great organization that helps empower New York City girls by introducing them to competitive sports and other physical activities as a platform to build their self-esteem and teach them other great skills for life.  But sheesh; aren’t there other great causes out there too?”

Why yes, of course there are other great causes (BTW: you should totally suggest some not-for-profits worth investigating in the comments section below).  But until late September (when we switch our attentions to The Teak Fellowship), our affections are exclusively focused on PowerPlay.  Not only was the founder kind enough to be a guest speaker for us way back in our infancy (for which we are forever grateful), but we’ve seen up close and personal their work in action and can vouch for their efficiency, efficacy, and effin’ fantastic girls!

A couple of weeks ago, fellow DinnerGrrls Maritza Seda and Tamara Leacock volunteered with me at the all-day PowerPlay NYC Symposium held at Baruch College.  (Other volunteers included real estate entrepreneur and Miami Social / The Apprentice star Katrina Campins, Justin Tuck of the New York Giants, and NY1 reporter Lindley Pless.)  Symposium attendees enjoyed various break-outs ranging from basketball, soccer, and yoga to financial management, time management, and healthy living.  (I taught a Networking For Success workshop.)  They also enjoyed a mentoring lunch highlighted by a panel of fantastic women (including Campins) and a “Dress For Success” fashion show — whose theme explored workplace fashion dos and don’ts — organized by the PowerPlay SuperSTARS.

“It was an inspiring day not only for high school aged women, but also for recent college grads like myself,” said Tamara about her day volunteering.  “It was wonderful to observe the interactions amongst various generations of women — from age fifteen to fifty — on the subjects of empowerment, professionalism, and personal development.”

Yay!

Our dinner next week also hopes to raise a few bucks for this great organization, while also supporting a woman-owned restaurant.  You can learn more about next week’s dinner and/or RSVP by clicking here.

(Thanks again to Maritza and Tamara!)