- May 2, 2024
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This year’s Power of the Purse theme is Masquerade. Courtesy photos by United Way Woman’s Initiative
Volunteers of the United Way Woman’s Initiative putting together the donated auction items. Courtesy photos by United Way Woman’s Initiative
An amethyst and silver chain necklace courtesy of Southeast Jewelry. Courtesy photos by United Way Woman’s Initiative
A gift basket full of delicious treats, courtesy of Kermit's Key Lime Shoppe. Courtesy photos by United Way Woman’s Initiative
As she prepares for this year's Power of the Purse fundraising event, Jamie Brown reflects on the struggles of Flagler County families. Her passion to help others began at an early age, as she experienced poverty herself.
Her mother always kept the family’s financial woes a secret, and it wasn't until later in life that Brown realized that, despite working four jobs, her mother would never had been able to raise the family by herself. She had gotten assistance from the government, local churches, family and friends. Now, as the president of the Flagler County United Way Woman’s Initiative, she is now on the providing end, helping families much like the one she had been raised in.
“I learned from my mom to never give up, family comes first, and you must do whatever it takes,” said Brown, who is also marketing director for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
The seventh-annual Power of the Purse, held 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at the Hammock Dunes Club, will raise money to help children and women in need of food, shelter and counseling services. Around 85% of the Women's Initiative's fundraising comes from the Power of the Purse event every year.
This year’s event will benefit Reading Pals in Flagler County. This organization connects passionate volunteers with preschoolers who need a little extra help in reading. The same volunteers read one-on-one with the same child for one hour every week. A book drop will be arranged at the Power of the Purse, for lightly used and new books to be donated to children in need.
The Power of the Purse started in 2009, with Brown as one of the founders of the organization. The fundraiser was started by six women, and the first event was held at European Village and raised $60. Since that time, almost $200,000 has been raised with over $60,000 given back to the community. Last year’s Power of the Purse event raised nearly $20,000, with 200 women attending.
A packaging party is held once a year before the Power of the Purse event to create themed baskets out of the donated auction items. The party usually consist of, “three-and-a-half hours of a bunch of women running around ... laughing and having a good time," Brown said. "There's laughter, there's crying, theres, 'Oh my gosh, can you believe someone donated this brand new Coach bag and matching wallet that's worth $600?' ... It's tons of emotion."
For more information about this event and ways to help support the cause, visit thepowerofthepurse.org.
