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.