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KR Jewelry's #FridayFallFundraisers

posted by The Princess Shop    |   November 25, 2020 19:19

Those of you who follow us on Instagram know that KR Jewelry has been running the #FallFridayFundraiser in support of The Princess Shop since September 18th, 2020. The hashtag really explains most of it - each Friday, Karen Robson, owner, jewelry-maker extraordinaire, and past Princess Shop Executive Director, posts a new piece that people can bid on all day in her Instagram comments. 100% of the auction sale is donated to our organization and if Karen's commitment to The Princess Shop wasn't magical enough, her jewelry featuring gemstones such as Rainbow Moonstone, Labradorite, Pyrite, Onyx, and so much more take the cake. So far, the auction fundraiser has raised $1126.00 with one week left! We (virtually) interviewed her to feature the business that has been giving back since it was formed and running this specific fundraiser for three years now!

 All photos from KR Jewelry's Instagram.

All photos are from KR Jewelry's Instagram.


The Princess Shop has been shortened to TPS in the following questions:

 

TPS: Tell us more about the KR Jewelry brand  - what inspired you to start making jewelry?

Karen: It started as a gift in 2011! I had a budgie named Tookey who would drop beautiful feathers and my mom commented how they would make beautiful earrings. Knowing that she loved earrings and that Mothers’ Day was coming up, I quietly gathered feathers until I had a nice pair, searched up a video tutorial, went to the craft store and back home, and immediately made a pair of earrings. I had so much fun (and my mom loved them), that I started to take apart whatever jewelry I had and started making new pieces. I was hooked! From there I continued to make jewelry as gifts or donations, and did that for 3.5 years until I decided I wanted to market my jewelry.

So it started with a gift, continued with giving – that is a major part of the KR Jewelry brand, and what it was founded upon. Selling it only provides me more opportunities to continue to give (I have never said no to a raffle/auction) and support our community and the volunteers/staff that are pouring so much into it.

 

TPS: How does #FridayFallFundraiser fit into your mission?

Karen: While I haven’t coined a phrase for a mission, I know that I want to make jewelry because it is a creative outlet, and that because it has the power to make a positive impact. 

I started #FridayFallFundraiser in 2018 because I wanted to initiate my own fundraiser. While I will always donate to raffles and auctions, I had an itch to take initiative and be a leader in the business community by creating my own fundraiser. I did not want to sit and wait to be asked to contribute to something, I wanted to do something myself. 

 

TPS: What’s your creative process like? It felt like that first giveaway piece you made to kick off the fundraiser was designed so perfectly for TPS!

Karen: I am completely inspired by the materials. The gemstones, the textures, the shine… the shapes. It is kind of hard to explain, but I like to figure out new ways to put all these materials together in a way that is unique, one-of-a-kind, and beautiful! Some have described my pieces as “from another time” which I really love.

 

 

TPS: What’s the importance of businesses like yours continuing to donate and fundraise on behalf of charitable organizations, especially in these uncertain times?

Karen: Having worked in Community for so long outside of the jewelry business, I saw firsthand how challenging it can be to fundraise, even in non-pandemic times. With a community full of many worthy nonprofits and charities, fundraising has to be creative even in a regular year. I also simply and truly believe in the concept of Community - taking care of one another, looking out for one another, and reaching out to offer a helping hand - and businesses like KR Jewelry benefit from a strong community, so it is in a way giving back.

2020 has been tough on fundraising, but 2021 might be even worse as the organizations that provide funding will likely be looking at reduced budgets for philanthropy and sponsorship. So now, more than ever, it is so important to support our nonprofit organizations that really do provide vibrancy to our community - something we all benefit from! I encourage and welcome any small creative business to take the #FridayFallFundraiser model, pick an organization to support, and get fundraising with their following - that is an amazing gift to the community.

 

TPS: How can people best support both KR Jewelry and The Princess Shop during this pandemic, even if they can’t afford to purchase items or donate?

Karen: Both of us are quite active on social media, so following, liking, commenting, sharing (this one especially), to help spread the word. And not even just on social media. Be a vocal advocate in your day-to-day life with coworkers and friends – tell them about The Princess Shop. The more people know about organizations like The Princess Shop, the quicker they will be able to step up and support when they can, because they are keeping their community front of mind. I believe that it is not just up to non-profit organizations to spread their own word and gain awareness, I believe it should be a community effort. I urge citizens to meet community organizations half way, pay attention to the amazing initiatives and programs happening right here in our backyard, learn about them, get involved if you can, and simply be a community advocate.

 

TPS: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to businesses and non-profits during this time of covid-19?

Karen: This is not the time to dwell on what once was, or wait on things to return to “normal”... even as we establish the “new normal”. I’ve watched businesses adapt with a growth mindset and those businesses have been successful. I have also seen some businesses that took this time to work on wish-list items (e.g. renovations, restructuring) to improve their current offering or customer experience, and they were able to because they had saved financially. There is a lot to learn from that as well.

 

Thank you Karen, for all that you do for the community! KR Jewelry can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

MMIWG - Red Dress Day May 5, 2019

posted by The Princess Shop    |   May 5, 2019 10:48

Today, May 5th, is a day to recognize and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls across our nation. It is Red Dress Day.

At the 12th Annual Glass Slipper Benefit for Princesses presented by K+S Potash Canada on April 10, 2019, not only did we celebrate our success and positive impact on the community, but we took the opportunity to address this national tragedy. 

For the past number of years, we have hung chandeliers of dresses donated by generous community members as a unique way to provide aesthetic and appeal to the room. This is something no other organization can accomplish with such meaning, as each dress is indeed #morethanadress.

This year, our Executive Director Karen Robson wanted to use that room centerpiece to bring attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, due to the connection The Princess Shop has with Indigenous populations beyond providing our programs and services on Treaty 6 Territory. So we hung a red dress in the center of the chandelier that hung over the stage in the middle of the room.

During her speech, Karen took a moment and a deep breath to deliver this message:

“This red dress is to honour the women and girls who do not get to reach the milestone of graduation, celebrate their accomplishments, and continue to pursue success due to systemic violence and the national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. 

This is important to us because over the past decade, 74% of our Princess Graduates have self-identified as Indigenous and have represented 57 First Nations Communities in Saskatchewan. Knowing this, we ask you to give your attention to the challenges that Indigenous women and youth face – there are many. 

The mandate of the national inquiry also highlights the interconnectedness of all forms of violence and trauma Indigenous women and girls suffer from at an alarmingly high rate. According to several advocates, there are over 4,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. That is too many families that don’t get to celebrate the accomplishments of their daughters, sisters, and mothers.

At The Princess Shop, we know that addressing these systemic issues includes us and is much bigger than us. Our work, as you will see here tonight, continues to positively impact indigenous women and students on graduation day and beyond.”

The national inquiry is set to conclude on June 30, 2019, but this is just the beginning. The stories will still need to be shared, and advocacy and action to improve systems to provide inclusivity but also respect culture will require continued support. 

At The Princess Shop, we encourage our community to learn about these issues, and be a voice to support organizations and individuals. Here are a few websites to start:

National Inqiuiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Native Women's Association of Canada

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

The REDress Project by Jaime Black

 

 

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$15,000 in Scholarships Raised Beyond Fundraising Goals at the 12th Annual Glass Slipper Benefit for Princesses

posted by The Princess Shop    |   April 18, 2019 20:11

On Wedneday, April 10, 2019, the community came together to support our province's at-risk female-identified students for their graduation day and beyond by attending The 12th Annual Glass Slipper Benefit for Princesses presented by K+S Potash Canada at TCU Place in Saskatoon.

The Glass Slipper Benefit is our biggest fundraiser and one of the most important nights of the year to provide a significant portion of funding for our programs. This is just one of the reasons why we have such gratitude for our amazing list of sponsors. Without the help of these sponsors, this evening wouldn't be possible. Without further ado, we'd like to take a minute to thank the following: To our Title Sponsor, K + S Potash Canada, our Dinner Sponsor Orano Canada, Entertainment Sponsor Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, and to all of our Supporting Sponsors Loraas Disposal, MLT Aikins, MNP, and Strata Development... THANK YOU!

For the second year in a row, we held a live auction to raise scholarship funds for Princess Graduates continuing on to post-secondary education. Last year, we raised $9,300 in scholarship funds (three separate donations), and this year, we raised $15,000 for scholarships from eight donors! This is beyond our fundraising goals for programs so we are ecstatic that we can provide more support to our graduates, many of whom are single mothers! Stay tuned on this blog for a closer look at these scholarships in the near future.

The Glass Slipper also provided guests with an opportunity to play Hillberg & Berk Plinko (or, Blingko as we like to call it), that consisted of winning prizes from Sparkle Ball Earrings, to Pen Sets, gift cards, and jewelry cases! It was a fun and fabulous addition to our event! 

Entertainment was provided by Scott's Flyers and sponsored by Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation. Scott's Flyers performed Acro Yoga under a chandelier of dresses on a stage set in the centre of the room among a sea of guest tables. 

A lot of work and donations go into the event as well. The Princess Shop would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and appreciation to all of the following sponsors for their generous support of the 12th Annual Glass Slipper Benefit for Princesses:

26 Lentils

A Head of Time

ah girl by Allie Kell

Airline Hotels

Amy Thiessen - Younique

Ashryla Boutique

Aurora Houseboats

Awasis Boutique

Basic Bleach

Beneath It All Lingerie

BioMechanics Personal Training & Massage Therapy

Black Fox Distillery

Blossoms Florals

Broadway Shoe Repair

Build-A-Bear

Byond the looking glass gems

CAKe. hair design

Calistaprints

Candle Lake Golf Course

Carver's Steakhouse

Checks n Balances

Cindy Moleski Photography and Framing

City Perks Coffeehouse

Congress Beer House

Conrad Devine DJ

Cravings Maternity & Baby Boutique

Cuelenaere LLP

Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation

DancEgypt Dance Co.

Darlene McGrath, B.ED. CRA-RT

Delta Bessborough

Delta Hotels by Marriott

Details at home

Dino Box YXE

Divide N Conquer Paintball

elizabethLyn Jewelry

End of the Roll

Enterprise Rent-a-Car

Etceteras

Fitness Focus

Float Now

Foreverly Yours Baby Boutique

Freba Pottery

Fresh Living

Galon Insurance

Garden Four Seasons

Gerald Murray Photography

Green Tree Beauty

Gregg Bamford

Handy Special Events

Hawood Inn

Hillberg & Berk

Honey Bun Cafe

Hudson's Canadian Tap House

Hugo Alvarado, Artist

Huskie Athletics

Icon Shoes

Ilovekickboxing

Impact Marketing

Impact Marketing

Infinity Management

Inland AV

Janella Hamilton

Joi Photography

K+S Potash Canada

Karie Kazakoff

Karma Cafe & Conscious Eatery

Kayla Goshulak - Seacret

Kayleigh Cole Designs

Kelly Block MP

King me Boardgamery

KR Jewelry

Lauren Ethridge - Artist

Laurie Brown

Lead Pilates

Leopold's Tavern

Living Sky Studios

Long & McQuade

Loraas Disposal

Mar's Mini Golf

Metric Design Centre

Midtown

Midtown

MLT Aikins LLP

MNP

Modo Yoga Saskatoon

Ness Creek Music Festival

Newborn Feathers

Nipawin Evergreen Golf Course

North Prairie Magazine

North Ridge Development

Novo Esthetics

Oakwood Nissan

Om Improvements

Orano Canada Inc.

Panago Pizza

Paramount Day Spa

Patricia Katz

Paw Shots

PCL Construction

Peach Poppy Designs

PersephoneTheatre

PickNics Catering

Pizza Hut (Concorde Food Services)

Pop and Tot Cloth Diaper Service

Primal Pasta

proACTIVE Fitness

Quinn & Kim's Grower Direct

Rachael Meckling

Rawlco Radio

Rayacom Printing

Rebecca King Designs

Recreation Supply Co

Redline Harley Davidson

Remai Modern

Remnant Steel

Revamp Hair Salon

Rider Store

Riverbend Plantation

Rock Ridge Paintball and Laser Tag Games

Rosie & the Riveters

Ryde YXE Cycle Studio

Saboroso Brazilian Steakhouse

Saskatchewan Rattlers

Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club Inc.

Saskatoon Blades

Saskatoon Home Magazine

Saskatoon Inn

Saskatoon Loves Pilates

Saskatoon Pilates

Saskatoon Residential

SaskPower

SaskTel

Scoles Fine Arts & Framing

Scott's Flyers

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan

Sheila's State of the Art Flowers

Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon

Shift Development Inc.

Silvers Local Market

Simply Restored Furniture

Sokyrka, Theresa

SoulPower Fitness

Stan Garchinski

Steeped Tea- Marea Olafson

Strata Development

Summit Sports + Health

Sunsera Salon & Spa (Grey Ave)

TCU Place

The Centre Mall

The Hollows

The Loft Hair Studio

The Sandbox in the City Clothing Co.

The Spot Restaurant and Lounge

The Whimsy Store

Those Girls at the Market

Three Farmers

TimberJaxe Throwing

Tonic

Trail Appliances

Travelodge Hotel

Tunnels of Moose Jaw

Twisted Goods (Centre Mall)

Two Fifty Two Boutique

UNA Pizza + Wine

Viahera Canada

Visions Salon & Spa

W Bridals

Wiegers Financial

Winston's English Pub

Wyant Group Raceway

Our event wouldn't have the same impact without the generous donations from organizations like this in our community. We are proud to be located in Saskatoon where the people are as kind as they are generous, allowing us to spread the impact throughout our wonderful province. Thanks to these sponsors, The Princess Shop has helped 1,030 students in our community!

Special thanks to Janella Hamilton of CTV Saskatoon for emceeing the evening. A huge thank you is also well-deserved by our Keynote speakers Alyshia and Jessica, who moved us to tears and spoke beautifully about their experiences and challenges; thank you for sharing them with us. 

Stay tuned on our social media for the End of the Roll Pink Carpet Photos courtesy of Gerald Murray Photography and event photos by Joi Photography!

Once again, from our community of volunteers and Princesses past, present, and future..... from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU. Our community thrives because of your generosity.

 

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The Princess Shop Sponsors
The Princess Shop Sponsors
The Princess Shop Sponsors
The Princess Shop Sponsors
The Princess Shop
our location
12 - 1622 Ontario Avenue
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1S8
t: 306-222-3311

Store Hours for Dress Returns & Donations:
Monday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Wednesday: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 3:00pm

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