DELISH!

Hi Friends of Inland Agency!

I am finally posting a photo of the much awaited Pink Ribbon Cupcake (flavor is Red Velvet cake) that debutted today at Phood on Main. I already taste-tested and it's pure deliciousness!!! Here is a photo and all the details on the pink cupcakes at Phood:

Where? Phood on Main, 3737 Main Street, Suite 100, Downtown Riverside
When? Starting today through end of October
Cost is $3.50 and $1.00 will go to Inland Agency's new breast cancer resource center "The Pink Ribbon Place"
Can you pre-order? Yes, you can (hint hint, treat your entire office!!!)
Email your pre-order to: chefcohen@hotmail.com
Please include the date/time you want to pick up, note that between 8 am - 11 am you need to call once you arrive, Phood's number is 951-276-7111

Also, here is the Brunch for Breasts Menu for this coming Sunday at Restaurant Omakase, 3720 Mission Inn Ave, Downtown Riverside
$40 per person, $10 for specialty drinks

Sunday, October 11th
9:00am - 2:00pm

eggs benedict
soft poached eggs, apple bacon, hollaindaise

breakfast sandwich
brioche, arugula, tomato, apple bacon

pumpkin pancakes
maple crème fraîche

polenta brûlée
polenta cooked with fontina cheese
all served with assorted fruit & our breakfast potatoes

our grilled cheese
brioche, gruyere

lobster salad 'on a roll'
maine lobster, tarragon, lemon, crusty roll

chicken apple sausages
smothered in apple & onion

omakase burger
brandt beef, garlic aioli, onion, tomato
all served with assorted fruit & duck fat fries

chocolate 'gooey' cake
ginger - sea salt ice cream

apple croustade
whipped marscarpone

pumpkin pound cake
cream cheese ice cream

pain perdu
french toast with caramelized quince

Can you say deliciousness once more? Cupcakes, brunch... see you there!

- Rina

So you're AWARE...

Hello friends!

It has been a while since I made a post to my blog. Here are some fun dates that I wanted you to be "Aware" of ... after all, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Starting Monday, October 5th and all month long
Cupcakes for a Cause

Where? Phood on Main, 3737 Main Street, Suite 100, Downtown Riverside
What? A pink ribbon cupcake, cost is $3.50 with $1.00 to Inland Agency's new breast cancer resource center "The Pink Ribbon Place"
Can you pre-order? Yes, you can (hint hint, treat your entire office!!!)
Email your pre-order to: chefcohen@hotmail.com
Please include the date/time you want to pick up, note that between 8 am - 11 am you need to call once you arrive, Phood's number is 951-276-7111
A photo of the Chef Cohen creation will be posted early next week, so stay tuned!!!

Sunday, October 11th (9 am - 2 pm)
Brunch for Breasts at Restaurant Omakase
See Details on this oh too cute pink postcard with The Pink Ribbon Place logo...


And, there will be more to come!!! Including pink lights illuminating on top of City Hall!

I'll be back with MORE good stuff, but these 2 items are a great start for October.

Tomorrow it will already be October, so mark your calendars now, pre-order at Phood and make your reservations at Restaurant Omakase. I'll see YOU there!

- Rina

A new development...

I am so happy to report that Inland Agency will soon be the home of a Breast Cancer Resource Center. Inland Agency's Executive Director, Becky Foreman, gave me a preview of the initial plans for the Center...

"The Center will have information about breast cancer, a library, a "meditation room" a space for support group meetings and other activities. Right now we are working on setting up volunteer job descriptions and when that is done we will be recruiting volunteers (we have two already and haven't even moved in yet!) We are also working on requesting donations of new wigs, scarves, hats and bras for women in treatment."

This is EXCITING! When I learn more I will let you know!
- Rina

Save the Date for 2010

Inland Agency's Shop to Stop Breast Cancer
will be held on
Monday, March 15, 2010
at the Marriott Riverside

And, remember - we take donations year round! Email me at rina.gonzales (at) sbcglobal.net if you want to donate!

THE RESULTS ARE IN...

I am very very very happy to announce the results from this year's Shop to Stop Breast Cancer.

The results are OUTSTANDING!!!

Net Total Raised: $48,363 (if you meant to donate you can still help get us to $50K... go to http://www.inlandagency.org/Donatebreasthealth.html)
--- Mammogram donations: 108
--- Cash Donors: 203
--- Inventory/business donations: Over 142 donations amounting to $52,741
--- Volunteers: 7 board members, 16 from Kappa Kappa Gamma, 5 from Van Horn Youth Cadets and 50 other family and friends throughout the entire event.
--- It took 1 huge 26' Uhaul Truck and 4 other trucks to get the inventory to the Marriott Riverside.
--- Overhead costs were very low - which means over 90% of all donations went directly to Inland Agency's Breast Health Programs.
--- The happy surprise boost to our total raised was a Kaiser Grant that timely arrived within days of the event!!!!


I have personally received many wonderful comments and compliments on the event this year. Thank you to all who made an effort to get comments (and the event planner in me appreciates constructive criticism) to me.

One thing is for sure, this event cannot happen without tremendous community support.

So, again, THANK YOU - your generousity makes all the difference...
- Rina

MY PERSONAL THANKS

My thanks goes out to the following individuals (re-gifters) and businesses who said "YES" when I made my annual request to donate to Inland Agency's Shop to Stop Breast Cancer.

This list is not a comprehensive list, it's only the people who know me and donated after I made contact with them. I am sure there are many many more people who donated to other Board Members, or even anonymously. And, if I forgot you - I profusely apologize.

We cannot have the grand event we pull off without these many re-gift/business donations!!!

So, my personal thanks go to:

RE-GIFTERS
Quynh & Sean Adrean
Steve & Laura Anderson
Phil & Cathy Gonzales
Laura Robles
Haviva Shane
Eleanor & Julian Ramirez
Viola Ramirez
Kristi Smith
Raychele Sterling
Mark Parsons
Patricia Reynolds
Michelle Ouellette
Queenie Ng
Kimberly Oehlert
Lorinda Lind
Maggie Wetherbee
Janet Rendall
Joy Budnovich
Jamie Hickman

BUSINESS DONATIONS
Kathy Cocker, Stampin' Up Consultant
Gladis Contreras, Great Hair Day at Victorian Day Salon
Michael Elderman, Photographer
Riverside Public Utilities
Christal Pennington, Creative Memories Consultant
Barbara Ermert, The Spa at Canyon Crest
Rita Norton, ARC Riverside
Chef Cohen & Lyn, Phood on Main
Beth Wright, Manager of The Coffee Bean on Mission Inn Ave
Steve Counelis, Massage Envy of Orangecrest
Jennifer O'Farrell, WhiteWave Photography
Kristin Tillquist, Author of book Capitalizing on Kindness

And last, this photo is just for fun... We sold the BULL HORNS!!!


- Rina

SHOPPER SMILES GALORE!!!

Yep, you guessed it -- the Kodak moments from the Shop are now posted!!!
Go to Inland Agency's website to check them out.

If you're a member of the Facebook cause you can see Board Member Lynne Whinnem's album, if you're not a Facebook cause member - please join by clicking here.

Thanks again for your support...the totals are still being finalized. I will report back with the total $$ raised soon!!! - Rina

WOW! I'M SO IMPRESSED...

Why am I impressed???

The sheer outpour of support and strength in our community demonstrated on March 30 at the Shop - that's why. I expected a crowd, but I guess I did not anticipate the Marriott Grand Ballroom to be packed with a HUGE crowd that was so very excited to hear about the clients served through Inland Agency's Breast Health Progams. Thank you - all of you - for coming out to shop.

Thank you for your inventory donations (lots of high quality re-gift items) and cash donations.

Like I told the Shoppers, Inland Agency has raised over $100,000 with this event in the last 3 years. Your support is amazing and makes me so happy to be a part of this fun event.

For those who did not make it, the OPPORTUNITY DRAWING WINNERS are:

Kathy Wright: She won the much coveted Breakfast at Tiffany's Basket
Ann Gore: She will enjoy the Brunch for 2 at the Mission Inn

Thanks to all of you!!! You make fundraising FUN!!!
- Rina

$24,065 - Only $15,935 To Go...

Yes, that's right all of YOU have helped Inland Agency to raise $24,065 that will save lives. As a reminder, here is a photo of the Shop from last year - I hope you're getting as EXCITED as me!!!

I know that over the past few weeks I have continually indicated our stats - well here are new stats that are of vital importance.

Over 45 Mammograms have been donated. What a wonderful gift! In the first two months of this year Inland Agency has screened 120 young women, and 5 cancers were detected among them. Without our program, chances are these women would not have been screened until they reached the age of 40, at which point their odds of survival would have been slim.

What does this mean? Your donations are crucial, they help to SAVE LIVES through Inland Agency's awesome Breast Health Programs.

We set our GOAL of raising $40,000, we can still do this!!! If you know of any generous individuals/companies/foundations, please encourage them to come and enjoy the event and if they have money to donate to a very worthy cause all the better.

Thank you and have a terrific weekend. I'll see you at the Shop on Monday!

- Rina

What's in the Shop & Brunch!!!

Good news - today we cleared $20,000.00 of donations to the Shop. We are over half way to our goal of raising $40,000.00 this year. We still have room for more shoppers, so register now at www.inlandagency.org

Here is a preview of a cool item - Kitchen Time - in the Shop!

We have another OPPORTUNITY!!!

The second prize to our fabulous opportunity drawing will be...
BRUNCH FOR 2 AT THE MISSION INN

Tickets are: 1 for $10 or 5 for $25
Email me if you want to buy tickets.

Ready to Shop? Here's an OPPORTUNITY...

We couldn't resist - we have the most tempting OPPORTUNITY DRAWING that will be on display and the winner will be picked during the Shop ceremony (however, the winner need NOT be present to win)!!!

What you ask?

A Splendid & Luxurious Tiffany's Basket (Value $360) including:
- Return to Tiffany Heart Tag Charm Bracelet
- Breakfast at Tiffany's DVD
- Perrier Jouet handpainted flower glasses & bottle of Perrier Jouet Champagne

BUY TICKETS TODAY!!!

Opportunity Tickets: 1 for $10 or 5 for $25

There are still a few Shopper Spots left!!! Register today!
- Rina

Save the Ta Tas - T-Shirts are BACK!!!

Back by popular demand... our "Save the Ta Tas" t-shirts will be available for sale next Monday, March 30th at Inland Agency's Shop to Stop Breast Cancer. We also have some incredibly fashionable key chains that will be on sale too!!! Make sure to come and Shop til you drop - and do a great thing - raise $$ for Inland Agency's Breast Health Programs - now that's a DEAL you cannot pass up!!!

Here are our GOALS stats:

Inventory: $46,437.23 (as of 3/20), Goal is $60,000
Donations to Shop: $15,940 (as of 3/20), Goal is $40,000
Mammograms(new this year!): 44 donations, thank you!!!



Remember how beautiful the room looked!!! The countdown is on... only 7 more days til we Shop!

- Rina

Did someone say TIFFANY & CO.?

I did.

Yes, this year the Shop will feature Tiffany & Co. products, including:

Tiffany Bamboo Bowl (6 inch diameter): Retail Value $75
Tiffany Lidded Glass Box: Retail Value $125

You may be asking yourself what other high quality items and services the Shop will feature on Monday, March 30th - well, stay tuned as I will be emailing you with more exciting details.

What can you do NOW?

Register to Shop at www.inlandagency.org

Interested to hear how we're doing on our GOALS???

1. Donations from registrations: $14,315 (as of 3/17/09), GOAL is $40,000
2. Inventory for Shop: $44,475 (as of today), GOAL is $60,000
3. Mammograms donated: 39 so far, Thank You if you donated!!!

Like I said... I'll be back in a few days with more exciting news on Shop items!!!
- Rina

MORE "COOL" STUFF

Yes, you read right MORE "COOL" STUFF is being added to the Shop Inventory everyday.

A lot of people are talking about the Shop and how they plan to attend, at this time I am asking you to please send in your registrations asap because the Shop is going to sell out soon!!!

Here are some "COOL" details about the status of this event:
1. Amount raised to date: $11,635 (well on our way to our Goal of $40,000 in donations!!!)
2. Inventory to date: $42,000 (we still need $18,000 more); thanks to all of you who have/will drop off (sites listed below)
3. Mammogram donations (New this year!!!): 27 donations, again thank you!!!

"COOL" new Shop inventory...
- Magic Castle tickets
- Beautiful fully decorated Christmas Trees (from ornaments to tree skirt, Value $300)
- Scrapbook Gift Certificates & Scrapbook Day Admission from Creative Memories Consultant Christal Pennington
- Adorable Baby Gift Baskets
- For the Cure Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf basket incl. $50 Gift Card from Beth Wright, Manager of Coffee Bean on Mission Ave
- Donation from Riverside Mission Florist
- Freshly handmade candles
and many more "COOL" things, too numerous to list...

Looking forward to seeing you soon... only 2 weeks away now!!! - Rina

FREE, FREE, FREE!!!

That's right - Inland Agency's Shop to Stop Breast Cancer is Riverside's FREE FUNDRAISER!!!

How so? Purchase your shop entry (minimum $50 entry) and we give you ALL of your money back!!! If you donate more than $100 you get more than your donation back.

Why donate/register today? This event is going to SELL OUT FAST. Most of you know we got the front page of the Press Enterprise Local Plus this past Monday (3/9/09) - the response has been amazing. Tune in to KOLA 99.9 and you'll hear the DJ encourage you that this is a MUST ATTEND EVENT, we're also on their website!

So, ACT NOW... We still need your help to reach our goals!!!

- Register online at http://www.inlandagency.org/our_missionSTSBC.html

- Donate your re-gift items (click here for donor form) ASAP
-- Our Goal is $60,000, currently we have $41,210.23. Help us meet this GOAL!!!

- If you can't attend, please donate a mammogram!!! We have 27 donated so far!!!

Thanks for your attention and support.
You make all the difference to our community!

- Rina

Are you ready to Shop?

Dear Friends:

I'm excited! We are getting closer to Monday, March 30th and you will finally see the many fabulous items the Inland Agency Board has been collecting over the past few months.

Today, I'm really proud to announce that we are up to 22 donated mammograms. To those who have selected this option THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

As for our Inventory - we still need your re-gift donations (donation form is attached). As of today (3/10) we have $39,621.23 in Inventory items, our Goal is $60,000.

Please drop off your re-gift items to any of our drop off sites at your earliest convenience.

As for a Preview, here are some items recently added to the Shop...

- Tiffany & Co. items - 2 beautiful glass pieces
- Photography Session (incl. Framed 11x14) from Jenny McMasters Photography
- 1/2 hour massage(s) from Massage Envy - Riv. Orangecrest
- Haircut & Deep Condition from Great Hair Day by Gladis Contreras
- Gift certificates to Palms Day Spa
- Lladro pieces
- Hilmer's Luggage donated over $1,000 in products
- Starbucks (3rd and Market Sts) donated $750 in products
- An evening at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

So, now are you excited? Are you ready to Shop til you Drop?
I hope so... stay tuned for further updates. - Rina

Ready, set, shop (for charity)

10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, March 8, 2009

By JENNIFER DEAN
The Press-Enterprise


What if you could do something you love and benefit a good cause?

Inland Agency will be hosting an event that does just that. Shop to Stop Breast Cancer takes donation dollars and turns them into "shopping bucks" that can be spent on merchandise, with money raised going to breast health programs.

The fund-raising event, which includes a happy hour with wine and appetizers before the shopping begins, will take place March 30 at the Marriott Riverside in the Main Ballroom. RSVP by March 25; last year's event sold out.

"This is our third year doing this ... we've had such a great response in the past, so we're really optimistic about it," said Becky Foreman, executive director at Inland Agency. "It's kind of a re-gifting concept ... we all have a lot of stuff we don't need or use, or haven't even taken out of the box. People are donating that stuff to sell at the event."

Businesses and restaurants have donated gift certificates for outlets and vacations. Original art pieces will be included in the sale.

"We set our goal at $60,000 for the event, which would match what we did last year," Foreman said. The minimum donation is $50, which gets a person $50 in shopping bucks. People who give $100 and up get more to spend.

"This is for women who have some type of breast health concern," she said. Inland Agency partners with the Riverside Community Health Foundation and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to provide free mammograms, particularly for women ages 39 and younger.

"Fundraisers like this help raise the additional funds needed so we don't have to turn anyone away," Foreman said. "We've already gotten a lot of donations, but we are still accepting more. We've been happily surprised by the turnout so far. People know it's going to support our breast cancer program, so someone will be getting a mammogram that normally wouldn't be able to get one."

Shop to Stop Breast Cancer

Participants can preview the merchandise online at www.inlandagency.org during the wine and appetizers happy hour from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.

Where: Marriott Riverside, 3400 Market St., Riverside

When: 5:30-7:30 p.m., March 30

Cost: Minimum donation of $50

RSVP: 951-697-6565 Ext. 224



Original art work and sports memorabilia are some of the items that will go on sale.
Many insurance programs will not cover mammograms for women under 40.

24 days til we Shop!

Only a few more weeks and you will be there with me at the Riverside Marriott Grand Ballroom for Inland Agency's Shop to Stop Breast Cancer on Monday, March 30.

Here are the newest "stats" on our progress:
Inventory for the Shop: $37,000 as of 3/5/09, our goal is $60,000
Sponsorships: $19,896.50, our goal is $20,000
Again, thank you for helping us to reach these goals - WE CAN DO IT!!!

We already have many many of you sending in your RSVPs - THANK YOU for that as we do expect this event to SELL OUT.

For those who cannot make it, please consider sending a donation ($50) to sponsor a mammogram. Many are selecting that option and as of today we have 18 sponsored mammograms!!!

Please keep your re-gift donations coming (be sure to use the donation form) to our drop off points, send in those RSVPs and/or mammogram donations!!! See you soon.

- Rina

The Shop Inventory...

Well friends, we are well on our way to stocking the Shop so that you will have the same amazing selection of gift baskets and other items that you did last year.

We are HALF WAY THERE with $30,230.72 in inventory. THANK YOU for those of you who have already taken the time to clear out your unwanted re-gifts and turn them into Inland Agency's Drop Off sites. For those who have not dropped off yet, there's still plenty of time and we still need approx. $30,000 more in inventory - so please get any re-gifts you are holding onto to the Inland Agency Drop Off sites.

I know you are interested to hear of new inventory items...
Glen Ivy Hot Springs - Passes for 2
Kings Hockey Tickets - 4 VIP tickets and parking
Gucci Sunglasses
Beautiful Photography Pieces from Star Foreman & Andrea Price
Brookstone Wine Chiller
and this is only an inkling of the many items we will have at the Shop on Monday, March 30.

The invitations are printed now - many kudos to Frye/Wiles and Crown Printing for their significant contributions towards the invitation design and printing!!! Inland Agency could not make this anticipated SOLD OUT EVENT happen again without support such as this.

I hope you're excited to attend, I can't wait to see you there!

- Rina

YES! We're still collecting for the SHOP!!!

A few people have been asking me:
Can I still donate items to the Shop?
The answer is:
Absolutely, we still need lots of inventory for the Shop.

Currently, here is the status of how we are doing on our GOALS:
Shop Inventory: $26,228, our goal is $60,000
Sponsors: $14,675, our goal is $20,000
YOU CAN HELP US TO REACH THESE GOALS!!!

Thank you in advance for you support and "heart" for Inland Agency!

Best,
Rina

As a reminder, here are the DROP OFF points:
Inland Agency's Office
6296 River Crest Drive, Suite L
Riverside, CA 92507

PFF Bank & Trust, a division of US Bank
3590 Central Ave, Suite 100
*Right by the Riverside Plaza , intersection is Central and San Diego

Riverside Personnel
3590 Central Ave, Suite 200
*Right by the Riverside Plaza , intersection is Central and San Diego
THERE IS NO ELEVATOR…

PFF Bank & Trust, a division of US Bank
19059 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92508
*Corner of Van Buren Blvd. and Wood St .

OR

CALL or EMAIL me (rina.gonzales@sbcglobal.net) and I’ll coordinate a pick up or drop off from you!!!

Cutest Cure Baby!!!

This photo was sent to me in an email from Ann McDonnell - the extraordinary woman who helps put the "Shop" together. She has been an integral part of STSBC since its inception, she helps to assemble the many many beautiful baskets for the Shop. We are so lucky that she is committed to helping Inland Agency put on a fabulous event!!! As you can tell Ann has a great sense of humor and I am so excited she is returning this year to help us. Can't wait to see how spectacular the Shop will look on March 30th!!! You won't want to miss it...
- Rina

Fun Pink Postcards!!!

Hello Friends!

By now you should have received your SAVE THE DATE for this year’s Shop to Stop Breast Cancer on Monday, March 30th at the Marriott Riverside. For those who have never attended I wanted to clue you in on a “preview” of the inventory we already have…

Designer Handbags (think Coach, Dooney & Bourke)
Nordstrom Gift Cards
Chick-Fil-A (Corona): All you can eat for a party of 10
Lots of very nice art pieces
Ipod Shuffle
Many many wonderful re-gifts (shoes, housewares, jewelry)
And this is just naming a few things!!!

We still need your inventory – clean up and clear out – gives us your re-gift items!!!

As a reminder, here are the DROP OFF POINTS:
Inland Agency's Office
6296 River Crest Drive, Suite L
Riverside, CA 92507

PFF Bank & Trust, a division of US Bank
3590 Central Ave, Suite 100
*Right by the Riverside Plaza, intersection is Central and San Diego

Riverside Personnel
3590 Central Ave, Suite 200
*Right by the Riverside Plaza, intersection is Central and San Diego
THERE IS NO ELEVATOR…

PFF Bank & Trust, a division of US Bank
19059 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92508
*Corner of Van Buren Blvd. and Wood St .

OR

CALL ME or REPLY to this email and I’ll coordinate a pick up or drop off from you.


Thanks much!!!

Rina

Save the Dates have been mailed!!!

Happy 2009 - Now it's time to Clean Out!!!

I’m helping Inland Agency with their 3rd Annual “Shop to Stop Breast Cancer” event on Monday, March 30, 2009 and we have a perfect plan to help you achieve your New Year resolution to clean out. (information and pictures about the event can be found at www.inlandagency.org )

You know the gifts from well-intentioned friends/family that are just, shall we say, “Not you”? Last year, the LA Times (1/13/08) reported that “83% of American adults received unwanted gifts this holiday season and that 47% will (guiltily) foist the ill-suited presents along to someone else.”

We’re offering you GUILT FREE RE-GIFTING...not the old, stigmatized type, but the new good-karma type. Moreover, even if you love your new gift…where do you put it??? Clean out those kitchen cabinets, tabletops and jewelry boxes to make room for the new. Now you have a support group who will embrace your regifting…as donations to the Inland Agency’s Shop to Stop Breast Cancer boutique. You can get a write-off and get us closer to the $60,000 worth of items we need for our boutique. We’ll take anything new (old if it’s an antique or an original piece of art.) We are there for you!

So please, grab some shopping bags and walk around your home collecting all those never to be used items and drop the bags by Riverside Personnel; 3590 Central Ave, and 2 other drop off points will be available early next week (stay tuned) OR CALL ME and you can just give directly to me!!!! I am happy to help you keep your 2009 resolution to clean out and regift!!!

Thank you to everyone who helped last year and welcome to our first time regifters …Rina