Thursday, June 28, 2007

Celebrate Independence Day!

I know many of you are either planning on taking a long weekend or all of next week off to celebrate our nation's birth. For those of you who'll be in the Sarasota area, I've listed some of the celebration's that'll be going on this fourth of July. However if your just planning a family barbecue be sure to add a sense of patriotism with a Beneva Signature Bouquet, or treat the kids with some all American cookies, lollipops, or some gourmet chocolate covered strawberries.

However if you are unable to be with your family and friends, then send them a FREE eCard to show that they are still in your thoughts.


Stars and Stripes Performs
The 15-member Sarasota Star Spangled Band that features singer Michelle Amato honors the armed forces. Tickets are $15 to $20 for the 7:30 p.m. show. The show is at Van Wezel Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Call 941-953-3368 or (800) 826-9303 or go to http://www.vanwezel.org/.

For the Veterans
The American Brass performs at 5:30 p.m. in a veterans tribute to be held at Island Park in Sarasota. It takes place before the annual fireworks display. Veterans and military groups will be there, and seven color guards will participate. Food and beverages will be available. Visit http://www.popsextras.org/ or call 941-362-7632.

Fourth of July Celebration
Gillespie Park in downtown Sarasota at 10th Street Gillespie Avenue, have an event from 9:30-11 a.m. There will be patriotic music, an honor guard and refreshments are part of the program. It's free. Call 941-377-5965.

Pre-Fourth Concert Set at Asolo
On Sunday, July 1, the historic Asolo has a concert with Gloria Musicae. It has an afternoon performance of Sarasota's all-professional chamber vocal ensemble. The theater is at 5401 Bayshore Road. It starts at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call 941-360-7399.

A Tropical Holiday at Selby
Live Zydeco music highlights Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Tropical Fourth of July celebration. It gets under way at 6 p.m. and has children's games, the Gumbo Boogie Band and prizes for the best patriotic costumes. Selby Gardens is at 811 S. Palm Ave. Tickets are $15 for Selby Gardens' members and $18 for nonmembers. Children 12 and younger are free. Call 941-366-5731 or go to http://www.selby.org/.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Earn Money for Having "Fun in the Sun!"


32 Lives Saved!

Last month everyone here at Beneva Flowers learned the real value of giving after teaming with the Suncoast Communities Blood Bank to hold a Blood Drive on May 30th. With the help of Recruitment Specialist Vivian Steidel-Santiago and all our employees here we are pleased to anncounce we helped save 32 lives!

It all started when sales employee, Annie Derry, dropped a note in the suggestion box encouraging a blood drive. The Management Team agreed it was a great idea and contacted the Blood Bank to set a date. On May 30th the Blood Bank bus pulled into the Beneva Flowers parking lot and began taking donations.


For our first Blood drive we focused on a small advertising campaign, which still resulted in many community members giving blood. Each donor received coupons to local restaurants from the Blood Bank and a carnation with a Lucky Stems™ tag from Beneva Flowers. Several donors won prizes from local business when they logged on to http://www.beneva.com/ to check the number on their Lucky Stems™ tags.


The staff here really enjoyed the event and were eager to know how much their efforts had helped the Blood Bank. Needless to say, the employees were blown away to hear the real numbers and how their interest and participation were able to help their communities. Immediately, everyone was asking when they could schedule another Blood Drive.


We have set two dates with the Blood Bank, August 29th and October 31st. Beneva's Marketing Department has already begun working on creative ways to reward community members for donating. You may see free giveaways for Labor Day donors or maybe even costumed contributors on Halloween donating and receiving a free floral arrangement!

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

All about Father's Day

Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first had the idea of a "father's day." She thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.

After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.

This year, Father's Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 17th!