Beading Divas Bracelets

Tucson Beading Divas raise $20K for animals, Bead Drive Contest 2010/10/20

Got Beads?

Celebrating Beading Divas and Bead Drive Contest to Benefit Animal Charities

Greyhound adopters raise $20,300 for animal charities and need your beads, beads, beads!

Tucson, Ariz—Seven industrious women known as the Beading Divas have raised $20,300 for animal charities in the past 17 months. The Divas depend on the public’s generous gift of beads in order to continue making and selling handmade bracelets where all sales go to designated 501(c)(3) animal charities. So far, money has been donated to 15 different dog, cat, horse, ferret, and wildlife charities in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, and California.

Bracelets cost $20 and are for sale in Tucson at Silver Sea Jewelry & Gifts, 330 N. 4th Avenue and Dirty Dawgs Dog Wash, 2510 N. Campbell Ave, and online (add $3 S&H).

Bead Drive Contest

In order to continue the mission of selling gorgeous eye candy for your wrist while fund-raise for animal charities, a Bead Drive Contest has been launched.

From now until December 31, 2010, when you give a generous gift of beads — your name, contact information, plus the animal charity of your choice will be placed into a  box.  The drawing will be held during the first week of January at Silver Sea Jewelry & Gifts in Tucson.

•    The first place winner’s animal charity will be the recipient of February 2011 bracelet sales.
•    The second place winner’s animal charity will receive six bracelets  to be used for fund-raising or volunteer appreciation.
•    A third place winner will receive a bracelet made from your favorite colors.

Brief History of the Beading Divas

October 20, 2010, marks the second anniversary of a terrible hit-and-run five-car accident that badly injured Diva Lizzie Mead’s two beloved rescued greyhounds.  The accident united seven greyhound adopters to help raise money to pay Mead’s $14,300 veterinarian bill. Amazingly both greyhounds recovered. During it all, Mead inspired hope, caring, creativity and a burning desire to give back to the community.

In six short months, her vet bill was paid off through the generosity of animal-loving friends and strangers locally, nationally, and globally generated by news articles and this blog, insurance money, and the sales of one-of-a-kind beaded bracelets handcrafted by the Beading Divas and friends.

Except for an initial $500 gift to jump start the project which included professionally designed postcards, fliers, beads, and beading supplies; all the beads used so far are have been from word of mouth and the gifts of friends, Craig’s list, and a local bead store going out of business.

How to Help

We accept all gently used beads from existing jewelry (beads need holes for threading), yard sale beads, thrift store beads, never-used-beads from your craft box, old beads, new beads, natural beads, sparkling beads, hand-crafted beads, glass beads, synthetic beads, beautiful beads, ugly beads, funny beads – you get the picture…

Beads can be dropped off at the following locations in Tucson:

•    Silver Sea Jewelry & Gifts, 330 N. 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 (520.624-9954).  Beads can be mailed here as well.
•    Buhrke’s Pet Resort, 8181 W. Tangerine Rd., Marana, AZ 85653
•    Greyt Escape – far eastside – call for directions (520.955-9061)
•    Dirty Dawgs Dog Wash – 2510 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719
•    CataVinos Wine Shoppe – 3063 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712

We can also pick up your beads in most of Pima County, contact karynzoldan@yahoo.com to inquire.

Please do not send cash or checks. We only accept beads. Your beads are not considered tax deductible.

Bead Drive Contest Rules

You must be 21 to enter.

The winning animal charities (1st & 2nd prizes) must provide proof of 501 (c)(3) status prior to receiving prizes, and must be located in the continental United States.

Please include your name, contact info (phone number or email) and the 501 (c)(3) animal charity of your choice included with the envelope, box, or bag of beads.

As beads are received, your name + charity of choice will be listed on the blog.

Winners need not be present to win. You will be contacted within 3 days, as will the winning animal charity of your choice. The winners will also be posted on the blog.

Only one animal charity is permitted per beading donation/entry. You may provide beads for an additional entry either listing the same charity or a different charity.

The original seven Beading Divas are not eligible to win. They are Michelle Caillet, Cynthia David, Loren Dawn, Lizzie Mead, Angy Shearer, Glenda Taylor, and Karyn Zoldan.

The first, second, and third place winners will be drawn at random. By entering, you agree to rules and the decisions of the judges which will be final in all respects, and consent to having your name and the name of the 501 (c)(3) animal charity of choice listed on the blog.

For questions, leave a comment or call 520-624-9954 or email karynzoldan@yahoo.com