April 2009


Easy Steps to Signing Up with Ralph’s and Using iGive and GoodSearch to Benefit WriteGirl

Signing Up with Ralph’s Community Contribution Program:
Go to http://www.ralphs.com/myralphs/703/Pages/community_contribution.aspx.
Click “Enroll.” You’ll need to register with Ralph’s by providing your email address and a password. If you’ve registered in the past, simply sign in to your account. Next, you’ll need to enter your Ralph’s Rewards number (on the lower left corner of the back of your card). Click “Save Changes” and on the next page, enter your address and phone number. Click “Save Changes.” On the next page, you can search for your organization. Enter WriteGirl. WriteGirl will come up, complete with our address and organization number. It will also say that WriteGirl is a project of Community Partners. Select WriteGirl as your organization by clicking in the circle next to it so that the circle is now green. Save your selection by clicking “Save Changes.” WriteGirl will now receive a portion of your purchases at Ralph’s! You’ll even see some small print at the bottom of your receipt saying as much – it feels good!

Signing Up with iGive:
Go to http://www.igive.com/welcome/ On the left of the page will be two drop down menus asking for your state and cause. You can either choose California and Youth/Children and find WriteGirl (on page 51) or simply type WriteGirl into the keyword search. WriteGirl will come up on the right; click on its name. A description will pop up, and to its right, you can click on “Select this cause!” You’ll then need to fill in some required information (email, name, zip code, password, tax preference) and can fill in optional info if you wish. You can then install the iGive toolbar if you wish and your computer is compatible, since you’ll need to shop through iGive’s portal for donations to follow. Otherwise, simply start off at the iGive Mall and choose your store from there. If you make a purchase within 45 days, an extra $5 will go to WriteGirl. Over 700 stores participate with iGive, including Amazon.com, 1-800-PETMEDS, Barnes & Noble, the Gap, Apple, eLuxury, Drugstore.com, Enterprise Rental Car, FAO Schwartz, J. Jill, Kiehl’s, Kmart, L.L. Bean, Overstock.com, REI, Saks, Sur la Table, Victoria’s Secret, Williams Sonoma, … etc., etc. (donations vary per store, but some give as much as 6% of your purchase back to WriteGirl).

You can also start searching through iSearchiGive, a Yahoo!-powered search engine, which will donate a penny or more every time you search.

Using GoodSearch:
Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and where it asks you to “Choose your cause,” type in WriteGirl. WriteGirl, Los Angeles, CA will come up, and you’ll just complete your search, with a donation going to WriteGirl. Consider installing the GoodSearch toolbar or making it your homepage so you’ll search on it more often and thus raise more money for WriteGirl.

Thank you for donating to WriteGirl in all these ways and for passing along these instructions to your friends & family!

WriteGirl is partnering with the acclaimed Pasadena Playhouse for PlayWriteGirl, which will be held May 3 at the Pasadena Playhouse.
pwgposterFrom 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., more than 65 teen girls from Pasadena and beyond, along with their mentors, will participate in the workshop part of PlayWriteGirl. They will learn about monologue and scene-writing in sessions led by guest writers, including screenwriter Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood (Secret Life of Bees), producer Jennifer Crittenden (The New Adventures of Old Christine, Seinfeld), Martha Williamson and Jule Selbo (Touched by an Angel) and playwrights Laural Meade and Jennie Webb.
The pieces the girls write during the day will be performed on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse during a benefit event that evening at 6pm. The proceeds will go toward bringing the WriteGirl program to Pasadena for the 2009-2010 season.
Keren Taylor, WriteGirl’s executive director, said, “Seeing the actors perform the words that the girls wrote just that day is an amazing, can’t-miss experience. This year, we are incredibly grateful to have such talented writers and actors taking part in PlayWriteGirl.”
The evening event kicks off with a short reception and silent auction on the plaza at 4:30 p.m., followed by a performance of WriteGirl works presented by celebrated actors (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.).
The actors include Melora Hardin and Kate Flannery (The Office), Erin O’Brien, Sprague Grayden (24), Ellyn Stern, Dana Delany and James Denton (Desperate Housewives), JoBeth Williams (Dexter), Annie Potts (Designing Women, Boston Legal), and many more.
There also will be a post-cocktail reception at which guests can mingle with the actors, with catering by Nancy Silverton, Border Grill and Ciudad Catering and Silverlake Wine, among many others.
Tickets are available online at www.pasadenaplayhouse.org or by calling (626) 737 – 2867. Ticket prices are $20 for the performance ($10 for students); $50 for the pre-reception, silent auction and performance; and $100 for the pre- and post-reception and the performance.
“I am tremendously happy that the Playhouse is hosting this collaboration with WriteGirl, especially as part of our year long celebration of WOMEN: The Heart and Soul of Theatre on our stage,” said Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. ”When I heard about their work, I was immediately attracted to the valuable creative opportunities that this organization offers and I wanted the Playhouse to find a connection with this program as part of this special season. I look forward to having the energy and creativity of these young women filling our theatre in early May.”