“What could be more fun that spending the evening mixing and mingling with some of New York’s finest while working to improve the lives of those affected by HIV?”

So pick up your phone, click onto your inter-web, or do whatever it is you people do and get your tickets for this years’ Bailey House Annual Auction on February 22nd.

“Snap  Snap.”

In 2012 we will continue to promote our “Do Good” outreach program (after all, life is much more than marketing, business development, web interfaces or social media!). Rather then lay it all out for you, we thought we would tease you with a sneak peak…. and yes… it’s kinda’ a big deal!

When life gives you lemons, make Ketel One Lemon Drop Martinis.

Which is why we decided to pass along this event from the people at Social at SoCo. Go. Be Merry. Do Good.

While it seems lifetimes ago, by chance do you remember our “Do Good 2011” campaign? (If, by chance, you don’t: along with working with our clients on their marketing and business development projects, we here at The Cypress Group worked to raise money benefiting families affected by blood cancers here in Orange County). Well, to bring it all together, this great letter from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) showed up.

Looks like a lot of folks worked to do a lot of good! Bravo to all!

When Summer turns to Fall, we here at The Cypress Group take a moment away from our normal Marketing “stuff” and start looking at what programs and organizations we can work with when the New Year rolls around. (It is a bit advance planning, we must admit!).

Which is why we are asking for you help: Do you know a great organization and/or non profit that could be our partner to “Do Good 2012?”. Please, let us know who they are!!!

Here is how: Simply go to The Cypress Group Page on Facebook. “Like” it, and then post information and/or a link to your nomination for an organization or non-profit focused on improving the quality of life for families and individual faced with challenges. We will look at everything, meet with a bunch of people and put together a plan where we all can “Do Good” in 2012!

“Do Good” = Click + “Like” + Nominate

In an evening that gathered all of this year’s candidates together, offered up a silent auction and had everyone letting their hair down, the event became a tribute to this year’s winner – Daniel Wu – who raised close to $80,000 to fight blood cancers.

In addition to being represented by Team Joseph 2011, we at The Cypress Group are proud to have been a part of an effort that raised almost $250,000  in a mere 10 weeks.  To that end, everyone involved in this endeavor is really deserving of a title!

‘Grats to everyone!!

For those of you who have been following our “Do Good 2011” involvement with the LLS Man and Woman of the Year Campaign, we are pleased to report that this years campaign raised $240,000.

That’s right: $240,000. In ten weeks.

By way of saying “thank you”, everyone on “Team Joseph 2011” is proud to be associated with the following people and companies who worked with us to do good:

Teri Aiken
Stacy & Adam Aldrich
ALL the people who came out to our “Cocktails for a Cause” event!
Kyle & Danielle Anderson
Ellen Baker
Taite Bergin
Peter Blake
Jack Bicer
Craig Chapman
Fred Cooper
Christopher Tracy Interiors
Ann Dennis Designs
Dogma
Mandi Dossin
Eastbluff Medical Aesthetics Center
Emotion Portrait Studios
Chuck Galanti
David Garcia
Synthia Godfrey
Char Gowan
Raymond Grangoff
John Gratian
Bruce Greenberg
Denise Hatch
Janet Hamada
Images Landscaping
Lighting Innovations
International Wine Ventures
Chris Jennings
Mike Kavanaugh
Barbara Keller
Chad Kessler
Kya Bistro
Ed Linck
Lany & Scott Little
Piper Medcalf
Amy Kathleen Moore
Michael Malek
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Austin Neff
Hal Nutter
Yvette Ollada
Pati Pakulis
Kris Patton
Karla & Len Reo
Riviera Magazine/Modern Luxury
David & Leah Sakamoto
Kim Sherman
Kaitlyn Smith
So Cal Fire Protection
Sol Cocina
Eric Stolaski
Paul Strader
Andrew & Marielle Stoermer
The Stonemill Design Center
SUPCore Unlimited, LLC
Matthew Talley
Alexandra Tchong
Claudia Thurston
Laura Watkins
Jeff West

If, by chance, you are looking for a clever place to hang your coat for the evening, might we suggest you join Joseph Aldrich and Team Joseph 2011 along with the Orange County LLS as they wrap up the 2011 Man and Woman of the Year Campaign?

To Learn More About This Event, please call 949.444.8121

Many of you may recall last year I rode a bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds to fight HIV. While I would like to think it was an easy task and that I simply jumped on a bike and rode 545 miles; it was not. It took a small army of people around me, as well as quite a bit of training on my part. It was, in a phrase, a monumental undertaking.

I remember one day when it all seemed very difficult; when the hills seemed too steep and the end of a training ride seemed a million miles away. So difficult, it seemed, I could go no further. For lack of a better phrase, I broke down. I was convinced I could not go on and was mildly insane for even trying a venture of this kind. After all, I was just one person against a coastline much longer and larger than me.

There was, however, a man. He himself had done this ride numerous times before. He spoke to me about how I was not insane at all; merely exhausted. He went on to remind me about all the good I was doing and how the work would all pay off physically and emotionally.  He – this singular man – gave me the strength to literally go to the end of the road Fittingly, his was also the last familiar face I saw as I pulled out of the starting point several months later.  This man gave me courage and strength at a time when I, frankly, had none.

On April 14^th this man passed away after a difficult battle with cancer. The world was a better place because of him and he will be missed forever. He was one man who made a difference in my life.

So here I am today; one man, working to raise funds that go to help families and individuals affected by cancer. One man working to let people know the more we all work to help, the more people will realize there is no “one” person. Together, we can move mountains. Together, we can make a difference in the life of one person who may be trying to make it up a hill of their own. Together we can give people courage, strength and hope.

Please, join me in this goal by contributing to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society via this link.

Thank you.

Joseph N. Aldrich
Principal Consultant
The Cypress Group

Thursday, Team Joseph 2011 is working to combat cancer by tossing a reception and/or silent auction (with some COOL stuff!). That is at 7pm.

Now at 8pm on that same night, without moving your car or your stance, you will be part of Riviera Magazine’s closing night event for “Lido Goes Pop“.

How does that work? (other than clever planning?). It’s yet a simple “event within an event”.

Here is all the information you need for BOTH, but be sure to note the LLS event has an rsvp deadline of, well, today.

Either way, we are sure to see you Thursday!