Sara Hand Suggests

Raise your glass for education and ORT America.

The Gulf Coast Region of ORT America is hosting a Celebrity Bartending Fundraiser Jan. 12 at the Polo Grill and Bar, 10670 Boardwalk Loop in Lakewood Ranch, from 6-9 p.m.

Sara Hand, co-founder of BarCamp Sarasota, managing partner of SP Hand and Associates and president of the Gulf Coast Venture Forum Sarasota chapter will be an ORT America’s celebrity bartender. Others celebrities include former Sarasota Mayor Lou Ann R. Palmer, Josh Stone, meteorologist for SNN Local News 6, Carol Clark of Signature Sotheby’s International Realty and Manatee County Commissioner Robin DiSabatino.

Currently, ORT, which was founded in 1880 tsarist Russia, helps educate 300,000 individuals in 55 countries annually and has participated in providing humanitarian efforts since 1960. ORT programs include:

·         Kadima Mada — Science Journey – which has transformed how math and science is being taught in the poorer, disadvantaged schools in Israel’s northern and southern regions. ORT brings in the computers, the science equipment and — most importantly — the training for the teachers to make a difference. And what a difference? Matriculation rates are up in just a few years.

·         ORT’s three colleges in the United States have helped students and immigrants from more than 40 countries learn job skills and careers to become productive citizens.

·         Project Kesher, which has helped 11,000 women of all faiths, many of them single moms, learn skills to help them get better paying jobs. When you help a single mom, you are helping their children.

ORT’s humanitarian efforts include several projects in Africa, many of which are operated by ORT International Cooperation in collaboration with the United Nations, the US Agency for International Development, Swiss Aid, the World Bank and other entities. ORT programs include:

·         A multi-year program in Chad to provide technical assistance and training to improve agricultural techniques and animal breeding for a group of Chadian farmers.

·         An extensive range of training courses in South Africa to improve employability in disadvantaged sectors of society. It also works with the Jewish communities to provide teacher training in technology.

·         An HIV/AIDS ORPHANS project in Namibia that focuses on vocational training for orphaned children and is linked with on-the-job skills training via partnership with small- and medium-sized enterprises in a number of cities and towns.

There is no cover charge for the Jan. 12 event. You buy your own food and drinks in the lounge and all the tip money goes to ORT America. It will be a big party for people to have fun and help others. There will be a DJ, raffle and a silent auction, which so far includes jewelry, massage, bio-feedback session, etc. You can support ORT and your favorite celebrity  by coming out to the Polo Grill on Jan. 12 and tipping generously or you can go online to  Ort America.org  -  and scrolling down to click on the red headline that reads, “Click Here to Support Your Celebrity Bartender.”

For more information about the event, you can email Andrew Polin  at apolin@ortamerica.org or call him at 541-501-2090.

Who would have thought that after two years I would still be as enamored of my Xtreme Lashes® eyelash extensions  as I am?

As a community leader with several organizations: BarCamp Sarasota, Gulf Coast Venture Forum and the Suncoast Technology Forum as well as the mother of two active teens; life is busy. Stopping every three weeks for an hour for a fill for my eyelash extensions might seem like a big time commitment to some.

However at the Sarasota Women’s Council of Realtors recent fashion show event, the reason I do this was obvious. Another busy day: getting ready for my conference where I am expecting 300 people, taking care of details for my upcoming move, putting out fires for a client and off to the fashion show. Great dress, great shoes and ready to go? No! Didn’t stop to put the makeup on before I left.

Barefaced and off to one of Sarasota’s fashion events of the year. I have a few items in my bag; I’ll just duck into the restroom at the Polo Grill and freshen up. Forget that. I never make it past the foyer and vendor area. However, I got more comments on how great I look than I can remember.

Sarasota Women's Council of Realtors 2011 Fashion Show photo Cliff Roles

One thing, in addition to extreme colors as one of the fall fashion statements – natural is in. The other is a full new set of eyelash extensions from the day before. AND for conservative me, I am going with not only my black lashes but with one of the hottest trends in fashion – colored lashes. Do blue and black lashes make my eyes stand out? Do I look like I am sporting this natural look in makeup and doing it well? I decided not to worry about touching up. I enjoyed the luncheon, met some great new people, saw some friends and did it barefaced with lip gloss.

If you are in the Sarasota area and wondering if eyelash extensions are the latest weapon in your fashion arsenal, check out A Lash Above  and chat with Beverly Katzenberger, Certified Xtreme Lashes® stylist and RN.

A thank you to Beverly who was a sponsor and also treated two of the models to eyelash extensions.

For more beautiful pictures from the event and photographer Cliff Roles check out the Sarasota Herald Tribune album – Spotted.

I never thought of myself as a perfect candidate for eyelash extensions. Although I had been working with A Lash Above on business expansion and I knew mentally who the market was, I never identified myself as part of that market. I naturally have great nails, so I have only sat through manicures three times in my life. I tend to be very active and involved and the thought of stopping every three weeks for a fill wasn’t something I personally could wrap myself around.

The Eyes Have it!

However, as a business professional I wanted to thoroughly know the service my client was providing so I signed on. Even Beverly said to me, “You know eyelash extensions aren’t for everyone.” Yet, I insisted and persisted, and the first Saturday of February 2010 I opened my eyes to my first set of Xtreme Lash eyelash extensions AND I am not looking back!

I love my eyelashes! Who knew what a big difference they would make? With my active, on the go life; eyelash extensions leave my feeling a little more prepared, a little more glamorous, and a little more put together. As I work to keep up with a growing business, two teenage daughters and community activities…I have become not only a consultant for business growth, but a raving fan for the exceptional eyelash stylist Beverly Katzenberger.

Wonder why you would consider eyelash extensions:

Do you feel as confident in your appearance as you did several years ago?

Do you want a new look?

Have you ever considered non-surgical non-invasive ways to look younger?

Beverly Katzenberger Certified Xtreme Lashes® Stylist and RN

Contact Beverly or visit A Lash Above for more information about Xtreme Lash eyelash extensions.

phone 941-321-9093

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