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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