Smart Circle Employees Spread Hope, Happiness to Cancer Warriors through Efforts with DWBH Shirts

10 employees participated in brain cancer walk in Fountain Valley last September

Smart Circle employees are helping make the future a bit brighter, happier and hopeful for cancer warriors. Smart Circle is proud to announce that 10 of its employees from its corporate office in Foothill Ranch have united together to support the Don’t Worry, Be Happy (DWBH) Shirts Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on helping struggling cancer warriors pay their medical bills. Smart Circle commends the extensive volunteer efforts of its dedicated employees, who participated in a variety of events through the foundation over the past year to help struggling cancer patients afford the treatment they need and deserve.

Notably, 10 Smart Circle employees served as members of the DWBH team at the Brain Tumor Walk on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley. The Smart Circle team walked in support of Smart Circle employee Erika Larios and her family, who lost her father to cancer last year. Smart Circle is proud to recognize Erika Larios, Josie Yerenas, Lindsey Garrison, Gina Gannon, Laura McLoud, Michelle Morales, Ivan Scherer, Brandy Jones, Banh Hy and Wendy Gonzales for their efforts at the event.

The Don’t Worry, Be Happy Foundation and shirts were inspired by Kevin Carlberg, a successful musician who was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was 26, and miraculously survived six years longer than expected. Throughout his struggle with cancer, he held the mantra “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The foundation was launched to carry his message of hope and happiness to individuals facing life threatening diseases and their families. Currently, the foundation’s mission is two-fold: to spread the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” philosophy to children struggling with cancer at camps and hospitals, and to pay the bills of financially-struggling cancer warriors.

Employees will continue to support the organization, cancer warriors and their families throughout the upcoming year through events and/or donations. For more information about the DWBH Shirts Foundation, please visit http://dwbhshirts.com/.

Smart Circle Employees Help Make Local OC High School Seniors Prom Dreams Come True

Employees donate prom attire, accessories to dress drive to bring young adults from low-income families an unforgettable prom experience 
 
Prom is going to be much brighter for 150 local high school seniors, thanks in part to the efforts of employees at Smart Circle’s headquarters in Foothill Ranch. Smart Circle employees recently wrapped up a “100 Dresses” drive to collect donations for Working Wardrobes’ annual “Dream Girls and Distinguished Gentlemen” Prom Event. Together, Smart Circle employees brought in more than 60 donations of prom attire and accessories for the students.

The dress drive, which was organized by Smart Circle employee Josie Yerenas, ran from February 2-17, 2012. The majority of the donations were prom dresses and men’s dress pants, which accounted for more than 50% of the donations. Employees also brought in men’s suits, dress shirts, ties, vests, heels/shoes and jewelry. Smart Circle commends Wendy Gonzalez, Sharon Celis, Erika Larios, Marisa Cirrincione, Gina Gannon and Suzie Arabpour for their generous donations.

Yerenas brought the donations to the Working Wardrobes donation location last weekend. In two weeks, Yerenas will serve as a Community Volunteer at the “Dream Girls and Distinguished Gentlemen” Prom Event. The event, which will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Hilton Irvine, will provide 150 at-risk high school seniors with a series of workshops and the opportunity to select their dream attire for prom night.

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Smart Circle Donates to OC Fire Services Association to Give 10 Children the Opportunity to Attend Annual Summer Benefit

Proceeds will support local burn centers and OCFSA’s “Big John” fire safety program

Smart Circle announced today it has donated to the OC Fire Services Association (OCFSA) to provide 10 children the opportunity to attend the organization’s 32^nd annual Summer Show. The show, which will be held July 8, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, will benefit local burn centers and fire safety programs. 

Families attending the Summer Show will enjoy watching five variety acts from Los Angeles and Las Vegas performers. Of the performers, the most notable is Chuck Jones the Magician. Jones, a Los Angeles-based performer, starred in his own local children’s television show for three years, and is a member of The Academy of Magical Arts Awards Hall of Fame. 

The proceeds from the show will support local centers that assist burn victims, especially children. The funds raised will also benefit the “Big John the Talking Fire Engine” fire safety program. This program, which is held by firefighters at the OCFSA, teaches grade school children how to stay fire safe. During the program, children are able to explore “Big John,” a 1967 Crown Fire Engine, put on fire equipment, and ask questions. The OCFSA hosts this program at local daycares, offices, preschools, neighborhoods and homes. 

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Smart Circle Employee Organizes Team to Participate in Brain Tumor Walk in San Francisco, CA

Smart Circle supports employee raising funds for brain tumor research and patient services

FOOTHILL RANCH, California – February 22, 2012 – Smart Circle is proud to announce its employee, Erika Larios, will participate in the Bay Area Brain Tumor Walk to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society (NBS) on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Larios and her team, “W4M: Walking for Max,” will walk the 5K through Golden Gate Park at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco, CA in honor of her father, Max, who lost his life to brain cancer. Smart Circle supported its employee by donating $1,000 towards her team, which covered her registration and will benefit the NBS Foundation.

“My father inspired so many throughout his life, and I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory and the memory of many others who have lost their battles against brain cancer than through this walk,” said Larios. “I am blessed to be surrounded by such supportive coworkers, and look forward to working with them to raise money and walk for such a worthy cause.”

The Bay Area Tumor Walk is one of nine walks held by the National Brain Tumor Society throughout the year to raise brain tumor awareness and funds for research and patient services. Smart Circle commends Larios and the rest of the W4M team, who will fly all the way to San Francisco to unite with other individuals whose lives have been touched by brain tumors to celebrate life and honor the memory of those lost. In addition to the scenic 5K walk, Larios and her team will participate in a Community Day for the cause, which will feature fun family activities, food, prizes and more.

The proceeds raised by Larios will support research studies to accelerate the discovery of new therapies for adult and pediatric brain cancers, as well as support services for brain tumor patients and their families through the National Brain Tumor Society, the leader in the brain tumor community. The foundation strives to find a cure and to improve the quality of life for those affected by brain tumors, and is the largest comprehensive resource for patients, families, caregivers, researchers and healthcare professionals. The foundation has raised more than $10 million in brain tumor research in North America over the past three years.

Smart Circle employees have contributed to several foundations for cancer over the past year, including the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (DWBH) Shirts foundation, which raises funds to provide medical services to financially struggling cancer patients. The upcoming walk marks the second walk for brain cancer that employees from Smart Circle have participated in over the past six months.

To learn more about the brain tumor walk, please visit www.BrainTumorWalk.org/BayArea. Also, visit the Smart Circle Gives Back blog to learn more about the company’s latest charitable contributions and initiatives (http://smartcirclegivesback.blogspot.com/).

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Smart Circle® International Employees Partner with Working Wardrobes to Bring Memorable Prom to Local High School Seniors

Marketing Leader to host dress drive to provide prom dresses, tuxedos for 150 young adults from low-income families

FOOTHILL RANCH, California – February 15, 2012 – Smart Circle® International, the leader in referral-based marketing, announced today it will be hosting a “100 Dresses” drive from February 2-17, 2012 to collect donations for Working Wardrobes’ annual “Dream Girls and Distinguished Gentlemen” Prom Event. The dress drive will aim to collect 100 prom dresses and suits to bring 150 young adults from local low-income families a memorable prom experience. Smart Circle employee Josie Yerenas will also serve as a Community Volunteer at the annual event, which will be held on March 10^th at the Hilton Irvine. 

“Prom is a right of passage for all high school students,” said Josie Yerenas, who is organizing the event for Smart Circle. “When I was in high school, particularly my senior year, there were only two events I thought about all day, everyday: graduation and my senior prom. I can’t even imagine these girls and boys sharing the same excitement I had for such a significant event and not being able to look the way they want to because they can’t afford something as simple as a dress or tux.  For many of us, a prom dress may be something we just have tucked away in our closets collecting dust, but for some of these seniors, that simple dress or tux can make their night.” 

The dress drive will be held at Smart Circle’s corporate headquarters in Foothill Ranch. Employees will bring in an array of attire essentials for a prom celebration, including formal wear (e.g. tuxedos, prom dresses, dress shirts and heels) and accessories (e.g. purses, jewelry, bowties and cumber buns). Several employees have already donated dresses and shoes to the drive.  

Following the drive, Yerenas will join 300 volunteers at Working Wardrobe’s Prom Event, which will provide 150 at-risk high-school seniors with a series of workshops and the opportunity to select their own dresses, tuxes, shoes and accessories for prom night. The workshops will cover topics such as etiquette and empowerment. Yerenas also volunteered at this event last year, where she served as a personal shopper, helping three girls select dresses, shoes and jewelry. 

“Working Wardrobes not only allows seniors to find their dream gown or tux, but also provides these young adults with an event that both empowers and equips them with life and career development skills that they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Erin Selawski, HR Manager at Smart Circle. “I am so excited to support such an impactful, life-changing event with these graduating seniors.”

Throughout the year, Smart Circle employees are actively involved in local charitable and community events. Smart Circle also provides generous donations to local, national and global organizations and foundations for a variety of causes, including medical, education, homelessness, and humanitarian concerns. This past December, Smart Circle adopted 17 local families in the Orange County area and held an in-house toy drive. By hosting toy and food drives and offering matching contributions to donations, the company hopes to inspire its employees to give back to the communities they serve, and foster a work environment where charity is encouraged and admired. 

“I am constantly amazed by the generosity and giving spirit of our employees here at Smart Circle,” said Sharon Celis, HR Manager at Smart Circle. “We hope that this dress drive will both inspire involvement in future charitable initiatives and serve as memorable, life-changing experiences for our employees and the families they are serving.” 

For the past 21 years, Working Wardrobes, based in Costa Mesa, CA, has provided career development and wardrobe services for men, women and young adults overcoming life’s most difficult challenges. The nonprofit organization supports individuals from Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire facing hardships such as homelessness, catastrophic illness, alcohol and substance abuse, traumatic financial losses, and more. 

The Prom Event and Dress Drive program is now in its 12^th year. In addition to this event, the organization offers and hosts a variety of resources and events throughout the year, including a career development center, classroom training programs, “Day of Self Esteem” workshops, Success Events and a variety of fundraising activities to help increase its clients’ confidence and success in the workplace.  Through its programs and events, Working Wardrobes has transformed more than 50,000 lives. 

About Smart Circle® International
Since 1989, Smart Circle has been the dominant force in referral marketing worldwide. Major companies across a number of industries, including consumer products, electronics, gourmet and specialty foods, home improvement, salons and spas, professional and independent sports teams, restaurants and area attractions, turn to Smart Circle International to build traffic, enhance brand loyalty, fill unused capacity and generate new customers. Smart Circle International reaches consumers face-to-face through its retail, event and community marketing networks. Smart Circle® International and The Smart Circle® are trademarks of Smart Circle International, LLC.

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Smart Circle® International Brightens Holidays for 17 Adopted Families

Marketing Leader Donates Toys, Necessities to Local Families Through Laguna Resource Center’s Adopt-A-Family Program

FOOTHILL RANCH, California – January 3, 2012 – As part of its ongoing commitment to give back to the communities and families it serves, Smart Circle® International is pleased to announce it has donated food, toys and clothing to 17 needy families in the Orange County area. Earlier this month, the referral-based marketing leader teamed up with the Laguna Relief and Resource Center to adopt 17 of the estimated 100 families in the center’s Annual Adopt-A-Family program. The company hosted an in-house toy drive and supplemented employee contributions to bring each family a brighter holiday season.

“The kindness and generosity of Smart Circle and its employees has brought holiday cheer to many children and struggling families,” said Andy Siegenfeld, Chairman of The Laguna Relief and Resource Center. “They were so warm and gracious, and the anticipation and joy of the families they adopted could be seen by all. I hope to collaborate again next year to bring more joy to our less fortunate friends and neighbors.”

Smart Circle collected dozens of toys and gifts from employee contributions to the in-house toy drive at its headquarters in Foothill Ranch. Contributions ranged from necessities such as school supplies, pots and pans, and clothing, to remote control Hummer cars and helicopters. The company supplemented the employee donations to fulfill the remaining wish lists, purchasing everything from train sets, jewelry and digital cameras, to clothing, Razor scooters and an ExerSaucer for one of the youngest family members. In addition to the toy and gift requests, Smart Circle provided each family with a $75 gift card to purchase groceries, and a $125 gift card to purchase new clothing and personal items from Target.

“In these challenging economic times, we wanted to able to provide families with everything they needed for a holiday celebration – from necessities for the New Year to toys from Santa” said Brooke Tyson, a project manager at Smart Circle who organized the event. “Seeing the gratitude and excitement on the families’ faces when we delivered their gifts made it all worthwhile.”

The company delivered presents for the majority of families directly to the Laguna Food Pantry in Laguna Canyon, which provides food, clothing and referral services for families who live and work in the South Orange Country area. For families who were unable to make the trip to the Pantry or lived a significant proximity away from the Center, Smart Circle employees delivered the presents personally to their houses.

Since delivering the presents, Smart Circle has received several cards and notes expressing gratitude from the children and families. Jesus Jr., 11, handed a Smart Circle employee a card that read, “Thank you for making this Christmas one of the best ones, and for the Christmas presents.” Another child, Vanessa, 9, wrote, “Thank you for making my Christmas special.” Siegenfeld reported that many of the families brought in homemade tamales for Smart Circle and the employees at the Food Pantry to show their appreciation.

The holiday “Season of Giving” may be coming to a close, but Smart Circle’s charitable efforts will continue far into the New Year. The company provides generous donations and matching employee contributions to local and national foundations and non-profits throughout the year. By hosting toy and food drives and offering matching contributions to donations, the company hopes to inspire the spirit of giving and community involvement in its employees, and foster an environment where charity is encouraged and admired.

“This is a time of year when we should think about giving and of others who are less fortunate,” said Erica Manthey, Compliance Manager at Smart Circle. “I am proud to work with an organization that was able to bring Christmas joy to 17 families who would have otherwise done without this year, and I look forward to helping with any of the other community reach programs that Smart Circle anticipates being involved in throughout 2012.”

Since 1993, the Laguna Relief and Resource Center, also known as The Laguna Food Pantry, has provided support services and emergency need to low-income and homeless families in Laguna Beach in a way that encourages self-sufficiency and inspires independence. The Center annually sponsors and supports an Adopt-A-Family program for local families who live or work in Laguna Beach, as well as a year round Food Pantry and Resource Center five days a week. The families matched with Smart Circle all resided close to the company’s headquarters in communities such as Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo.

To learn more about Smart Circle’s Adopt-A-Family initiative, see Barbara Diamond’s article “Christmas Cheer Comes to Adopted Families” in the Coastline Pilot. Smart Circle was also featured in Laguna Food Pantry’s “Thank You” ad in Stu News Laguna (http://stunewslaguna.com/), a local Laguna Beach newspaper.

About Smart Circle® International
Since 1989, Smart Circle has been the dominant force in referral marketing worldwide. Major companies across a number of industries, including consumer products, electronics, gourmet and specialty foods, home improvement, salons and spas, professional and independent sports teams, restaurants and area attractions, turn to Smart Circle International to build traffic, enhance brand loyalty, fill unused capacity and generate new customers. Smart Circle International reaches consumers face-to-face through its retail, event and community marketing networks. Smart Circle® International and The Smart Circle® are trademarks of Smart Circle International, LLC.
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Smart Circle Celebrates a Year of Giving Back

Smart Circle International, the leader in referral based marketing, celebrates another year of giving back to the communities it serves. Throughout the year, the company provided charitable contributions to numerous organizations, foundations, schools and hospitals. These local and national charities raise funds for a variety of causes, including medical, education, homelessness, humanitarian concerns, and much more.

For instance, Smart Circle donates to organizations such as the Make the Wish Foundation, Give Kids the World, and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which help support children facing life-threatening medical conditions/diseases. Additionally, the company contributes to organizations such as the Jimmy Hale Mission, Family Place, and Alameda Homeless Network, which provide support for homeless individuals and families. The company even contributes to global organizations, such as Engineers Without Borders (humanitarian organization devoted to developing communities worldwide) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (global organization focused on type 1 diabetes research).

For a full list of organizations Smart Circle contributed to in 2011, please see below:

• American Cancer Society
• American Red Cross
• American Heart Association
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• American Diabetes Association
• The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Be the Match Foundation
• Children’s Memorial Hospital
• Children’s Memorial Foundation
• Operation Smile
• Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Engineers Without Borders USA
• Starlight Children’s Foundation
• Laguna Beach SchoolPower
• Laguna Relief and Resource Center
• AIDS Project Los Angeles
• The Jimmy Hale Mission
• Hillside, Inc.
• Police Officer Assistance Trust
• Orange County Fire Services Association
• The Columbus Foundation
• Alameda Homeless Network
• NuStar Foundation
• The Family Place
• Water for People
• State of Michigan Family Independence Agency
• State of Michigan Department of Human Services, Family and Adult Services
• California Association of Highway Patrolmen Widows and Orphans’ Trust Fund
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
• Resurrection Development Foundation
• United Negro College Fund
• Warren Hospital Auxiliary
• Helen and Michael Schaffer Extended Care Center
• Georgia Perimeter College
• Bridges Safehouse, Inc.
• Give Kids the World
• Colfax Charter Elementary School
• Inglewood Unified School District
• Women’s Fund
• Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc.
• Corona del Mar High School Grad Night
• Annville Township Police Department
• Californians for Alternatives to Toxics
• Ecological Rights Foundation
• Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund
• Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance