We’ve all had the awesome experience of donning a hospital gown. You know–the faded, one-size-fits-none, breezy-in-all-the-wrong-places garments (loose use of that term) of choice for hospitals. Delightful, are they not?

We think otherwise. And so does Miss Emmy, the precious little girl with sickle cell anemia whose uncanny sense of style inspired the launch of Emmy’s Got Style: a nonprofit organization that makes (and donates) stylish, sized-to-fit, unbreezy hospital gowns to children who need them. The girls’ styles even have bloomers and a bow to match; the boys’ have a detachable superhero cape. Rock on. Ingenious.

help emmy give others style…and get some for yourself!

Through the month of November, if you purchase a gown for Emmy’s Got Style to donate to a child who would love some style (and a smile) during their hospital stay, you’ll get 50% off a tutu of your choice from Miss Priss Tutus. It’s a win-win: you give, you get.

here’s how:

• Visit www.emmysgotstyle.com.
• Order a hospital gown to donate or click “make a donation” to give. All gowns are being donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and a portion of proceeds also go toward Children’s.
• Then, leave a message or send an e-mail to courtney@emmysgotstyle.com that you’re from Miss Priss Tutus, and you’ll get 50% off a tutu from Miss Priss!!!!

the guide:

• Emmy’s Got Style: www.emmysgotstyle.com
• Miss Priss Tutus: missprisstutus.com
• Meet Emmy: emmysgotstyle.com/meet-emmy

When you think cutting edge medicine in Georgia, you may be tempted to think Atlanta is where it’s at. Not always so, my friend.

Two physicians right up the road in Cartersville are quickly becoming some of the state’s leading experts when it comes to women’s health. So, if you’re a woman, listen up. And if you’re a man, I’m not sure exactly why you’re on this site, but you’d do well to listen and learn from these two docs.

the impressive rundown:

Dr. Malcolm Barfield and Dr. Hugo Ribot of Cartersville OB/GYN founded the Georgia Advanced Surgery Center for Women (GASC) to provide the absolute latest medical options for women. At this gleaming state-of-the-art surgery center, they offer the most current techniques, least invasive surgical methods, shortest recovery time, most up-to-date equipment. All the best. Think: the Louis Vuitton of women’s health.

And while that’s feature-worthy in and of itself, what caught our attention about these two physicians is their heart for helping women both in–and out–of the office. They’ve been providing some rather significant girl power in the community this fall through their contributions to nonprofit events and charity functions galore. Here’s a rundown of where we’ve spied GASC in action.

the gigs:

• March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction: GASC sponsored this cocktail
  

  March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction: Karen Ribot and Dr. Hugo Ribot, Elizabeth and Graham Cossick (LBD/LRW Magazine), Drs. Kitti and Malcolm Barfield.

  evening on September 29, 2011, dedicated to raising funds to promote healthy pregnancies and thriving babies.

• “It’s All About the Bag” Fourth Annual Purse Auction: GASC was a major player in this fun auction, held on November 10, 2011, to benefit the Etowah Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to Bartow County college students.
• Christmas Stocking Fund: This year, Drs. Ribot and Barfield are launching a Christmas Stocking Fund through Cartersville Ob/Gyn where voluntary contributions from the staff will be collected and matched by the practice to benefit a needy family that is either expecting a baby or has an infant. So sweet!
• Community Involvement Galore: And…they offer pro-bono medical services via the Bartow County and Gordon County Health Departments, in addition to working with the Cartersville Rotary Club, Bartow Executive Women, Mom’s Club, Bartow County Senior Center, Empowered Women, Women’s International Zionist Organization of Atlanta. Dr. Ribot also serves on the board of the Christian League for Battered Women—Tranquility House.

So, Drs. Ribot and Barfield, to you we say: Atta boy! Thank you for all you do to say, “Atta girl!”

the guide:

The Georgia Advanced Surgery Center for Women was named an AAGL Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology™ by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Visit http://www.ga-advancedsurgerycenter.com for more information, or call 678-605-9399. The center is located at 958-A Joe Frank Harris Parkway, Suite 107, in Cartersville, Georgia, 30120–just north of Acworth.

It’s a nightmarish moment when you first discover that your child has cancer.

The mothers of these children must hold it all together, continuing to guide their families despite the rocky road they now face. Such women are strong, courageous…and all-too-often unsung.  CURE Childhood Cancer wants to honor these mothers and praise the dedication and never-ending love they provide to their families.

This year, CURE is hosting their 7th Annual “A Tribute to Quiet Heroes” Luncheon to award the courageous mothers who demonstrate acts of selflessness and strength through the journey of their cancer child’s life.

“The ‘Quiet Heroes’ luncheon is our way of honoring and providing a day of respite to the women who take care of their children with cancer so quietly and selflessly through the year,” said Kristin Connor, CURE’s Executive Director.

the gig:

7th Annual “A Tribute to Quiet Heroes” Luncheon

date: Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2010 "Quiet Heroes" Luncheon

location: Grand Hyatt in Buckhead, 3300 Peachtree Road in Atlanta

registration: Tickets are $125; Purchase tickets online at www.QuietHeroes.org.

event details: Jilly Becker, an Emmy-award winning news anchor of 11 Alive and a mother of a childhood cancer survivor will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event; Lauren Gearon, a childhood cancer survivor, CURE board member and former international fashion model will be the featured speaker for the event.

There will be a silent auction featuring items like a Zac Brown Autographed Guitar; a week-long vacation to a luxurious home in Telluride, Colorado; V.I.P. tickets to a Taylor Swift concert; a trip to New York City; courtside seat tickets for the 2012 U.S. Open and an once-in-a-lifetime baseball experience with future Hall of Famer, Tom Glavine.

more information: The event is hosted by Chris Glavine, wife of former baseball player Tom Glavine.

Since the event developed in 2005, they have raised more than $2 million for pediatric cancer research and have honored over 1,000 mothers of childhood cancer victims.

the guide:

CURE Childhood Cancer, www.curechildhoodcancer.org.

For more information, contact Kristin Connor, Executive Director, at (770) 986-0035.

To learn more about how your business can help, contact Lisa Branch, lisa@curechildhoodcancer.org.

about CURE Childhood Cancer:

Since its birth in 1975, Atlanta-based non-profit CURE Childhood Cancer has raised millions for research and education of pediatric cancer. They are focused on supporting childhood cancer experts, locally and nationally, who continuously work to discover a cure for cancer. CURE funds two pediatric oncology professionals at the Emory University School of Medicine and offers programs that help the critical needs of patients and their families.

the gig:

Everyone loves a satisfying and inspiring story, don’t they? Well I’ve got one for ya!

Primrose School at Brookstone in Kennesaw heard that MUST Ministies’s pantry was beginning to collect some dust, so they took immediate action. First, the children collected a busload of canned goods (literally), and then the Primrose Explorer Class visited MUST Ministries in person to deliver the goods.

These helpful volunteer cuties unloaded the bus, offering a much-needed replenishment to the center, which provides food, clothing, financial aid, education and employment assistance to families and individuals in crisis.

And oh, the joy of helping out! After all the hard work, Ms. Annette at MUST gave the kids a tour and shared some valuable info about MUST Ministries.

Primrose kids helping out!

“Collecting the food during the week has been humbling and wonderful,” says Marcie Ostiguy, director of Primrose at Brookstone. “We’ve had parents share stories of personal hardship they had growing up, and we all felt fantastic knowing that we were helping others. We’ve all really enjoyed this experience!”

Seems like everyone had a fantastic day—one they won’t soon forget! So, have you been inspired to help, too? Excellent! MUST Ministries can use your support. Each year, they provide aid to more than 23,000 people in need. Here’s how to get involved~

the giving:

Donation cans for MUST Ministries are open!

The following goods are in desperate demand:

• Canned meats (tuna, salmon) and canned fruits
• Disposable razors and deodorants
• Boxed and canned meals (SpaghettiOs, ravioli)
• Rice and pasta
• Breakfast items
• Large size diapers

Your donations can be taken to the MUST Ministries Donation Center at 1210B Kennestone Circle in Marietta.

Or, if you’re a bolder sort, head down to Glover Park on the Marietta Square on Saturday, August 6, at 6:00 p.m. to take part in (or watch) a not-so-secret FLASH MOB. Over 500 people will be bringing canned goods for MUST to the Square and then participating in a choreographed dance to “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (as in, “We’re not gonna take hunger”). For info, check out the event page on Facebook. Love this zany idea!

the guide:

Primrose at Brookstone

5250 Stilesboro Road, Kennesaw, GA 30152, 770-794-1651

MUST Ministries

55 Elizabeth Church Road, Marietta, GA, 770-427-9862

the gig

Point, set, match! Tighten that racket and break out a new can of Wilsons. It’s time for the 3rd annual GTC Gives Back Play for Pink Tennis Tournament, on Friday and Saturday, August 12 – 13, at Governors Towne Club. Tennis…for the cure!

That’s right…you can play a great game of tennis AND support a wonderful cause. Bring on the heat! Matches include mixed and regular doubles, junior play, and just-for-fun competitions. And, even if you’re not much of a player, there will be a slew of activities to enjoy on the sidelines: a fashion show, silent auction, merchant booths and food, food, FOOD! In addition to Governors Towne Club, sponsors include T2Tennis, Prince, Fireside Natural Gas, Mellow Mushroom, La Parrilla Mexican Restaurants.

I know what you’re saying: “Sign me up!” Here’s how to get in on the pink action:

the guide

date: Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13, 2011

event activities:

• Friday pool-side fashion show by Matilda Jane Clothing, little flirt clothing, Trends by Stiles and Serious Tennis
  

  GTC Event Chairs Julie Henry, Debbie Uhler, Jennifer Everett and Gwen Buller

• Two-day tennis tournament
• Friday and Saturday silent auction with items including a trip to the US Open for Two, a signed tennis ball by famous player Rafael Nadal, and a memento from USA Davis Cup member Sam Querrey
• Saturday shopping with local merchants and designers’ booths
• Lunches and dinners sponsored by T2Tennis and Kroger, Mellow Mushroom and La Parrilla

benefit:

GTC Gives Back has raised and donated more than $80,000 towards the fight against breast cancer in the event’s two-year history. Proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for The Cure, a worldwide leader in the breast cancer movement, as well as to GTC Gives Back Community Outreach.

participation:

Players can participate in the tournament for a donation of $40 for one day or $60 for both days. Junior players can participate for $20 per day.

Spectators can enjoy the festivities, food and fundraisers for only $20 per day.

to register:

Visit www.GTCgivesback.com or call Governors Towne Club Tennis Center (678-402-5356) to purchase tickets and register. Registration deadline is August 5th!

more information:

Visit www.GTCgivesback.com for information on the event and also to view the weekend’s schedule.

Visit www.komen.org for more on Susan G. Komen for The Cure.

Show your passion for pink!

Hellooo, ladies! I know what you’re thinking right this minute…new shoes, new dress, new HAT! And I know just where to send you.

Pixie’s Fashion Closet in Town Center at Cobb. Have you visited this new chic boutique, yet? Well, let me just tell you that this closet is stylin’ with contemporary ladies’ clothing, shoes and accessories inspired by top designers in the world’s fashion capitals.

Thin Strap Top, $48

Where else in Cobb can you find a handcrafted ostrich bag displayed alongside Miss Me Jeans? Or over-the-top hats created in New York but perfect for Steeplechase in the South? Or (my personal fave) one-of-a-kind Italian leather belts that are awesome enough to be passed down to (and wanted by) your one-day grandchildren? Yes…all this IN COBB.

but who is Pixie?

Pixie is an adorable blue-point Himalayan cat (pictured above). Kelly Mitchell, owner of Pixie’s Fashion Closet and cat-mommy, adopted this little ball of fur in November 2008. Due to her small figure and her light walking (she is missing her two front feet–that’s one tough girl!), she received the name Pixie. Now, she lives the perfect life—sitting on the top of Shoe Box Mountain and checking out all the latest styles in her mom’s closet. If you’re lucky, you may just see Pixie on your next visit!

Every time you shop at Pixie’s Fashion Closet, part of the proceeds will be donated to Good Mews, a nonprofit organization and no-kill, cage-free feline shelter in Marietta.

so how did Good Mews and Pixie’s Fashion Closet become intertwined?

Royal wedding-approved! $140

Given Kelly’s dedication toward her little Pixie, it was only natural that a place with a big heart toward felines would land in her philanthropic radar. She and Robbin Yeager, shelter manager and treasurer of Good Mews, now collaborate to fund H.A.L.O. (“Home At Last Outreach”)– a program that provides financial aid toward the medical treatment of cats with preexisting medical conditions, with the ultimate goal of finding them a forever home.

how can you help?

Valentino-inspired flip flop, $25

So, whether you love fashion, felines, or both, set your sights on Pixie’s Fashion Closet for your next new outfit or accessory. (Their super-affordable, Valentino-inspired, bow-adorned flip-flops are a summer must!) And check out Pixie’s Fashion Closet in the upcoming summer issue of Little Black Dress | Little Red Wagon, too. It’s all for the kitty cause.

the guide:

Pixie’s Fashion Closet

Pixie’s Fashion Closet is located in Town Center Mall at Cobb:

400 Barrett Parkway

The entrance to the fashion boutique "Pixie's Fashion Closet"

Suite 238 (park at the Ruby Tuesday entrance, take a left at Swarovski inside, near Sephora)

Kennesaw, GA 30144

Phone: (770) 429 1107

Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00am to 9:00pm. Sunday 12:00pm to 6:00pm.

the gig:

On June 18, Kennesaw resident Malena Hankins will dive into the Morse Reservoir in Indiana and swim 15 miles alongside competitors from around the world as part of the 2011 U.S. Masters Swimming 25K National Championships. For this open water race, there are “no lines, no lanes, no walls.”

Malena isn’t new to such challenges; she’s been swimming competitively since she was 11, breaking national records and representing the U.S. in World Championships. But, for the upcoming 25K National Championships, one thing is different for Malena. This time, she’s swimming for a cause: the March of Dimes.

USMS 25K National Championships

“The March of Dimes is a worldwide organization that works to promote full-term pregnancies and combat health issues in babies,” says Malena. Research and campaigns funded by the March of Dimes, like developing the polio vaccine and promoting folic acid, are responsible for the health of thousands of babies worldwide. “Including your own, even if you didn’t realize it!” she adds.

get involved:

So…if you’ve been wanting a great cause to support, a way to give back, an opportunity to make an impact, here’s a two-for-one for you:

Sponsor Malena as she swims 15.5 miles. You’ll be supporting a local Georgian in the National Championships. Go, Malena; we are proud of you! And…every dollar you sponsor will go directly to the March of Dimes, for healthy babies.

Here are four tax-deductible ideas you could consider:

• $30 per mile: a dollar for every core newborn test performed on every baby.
• $8 per mile: 1 in 8 babies are born premature (37 weeks).
• $4.50 per mile: every 4½ minutes a baby is born with a birth defect.
• $1 per mile: because every dollar makes a difference to a premature baby.

how to give:

Malena Hankins, photo by Jennifer Harris

If this cause tugs at your heart, you could mail a check (made out to March of Dimes) along with a printout of this pdf indicating your pledge level to: Attn: Kathryn Harper, 1776 Peachtree Street, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30339.

Or, you can donate online by visiting http://bit.ly/SponsorMalena.

For more details, contact Kathryn Harper at kharper@marchofdimes.com.

get snazzy for a cause:

The March of Dimes is also partnering with Malena to offer a “Swimmer’s Special” for their 23rd annual Cobb Signature Chefs Auction at the Marietta Country Club on September 29. This elegant evening features samplings from some of Cobb’s most accomplished chefs and is one of the largest fundraisers for the March of Dimes. Anyone who sponsors her for $1500 or higher by June 30 will receive a table of 10 at the event and a half-page ad in the event program. Table sponsorship is tax-deductible up to $1000.

“My hope is that what I do when I swim, when I teach swimming, and when I race can be a light of hope in our world,” she concludes. You go, Malena! You’re an inspiration.

When Malena is not in the water training, she’s teaching kids to swim at one of her swim schools: Aqua-Tots Swim Schools of Georgia.

The forecast was glum for the Make-A-Wish Festival on May 14 in Acworth, but the sun came through! Just like those welcomed rays of sunshine, the Make-A-Wish foundation provides unexpected blessings in the midst of storms to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Saturday’s festival raised over $6,000, which will be used to grant the wish of a child in the Georgia-Alabama chapter of Make-A-Wish.

The event was organized by Kim Cooper, Cindy Tallman and Kelly Wilson. The Make-A-Wish cause is near and dear to Kim, whose 10-year-old daughter Taylor was a Wish recipient herself. At the age of 5, Taylor was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, a form of kidney cancer. During the course of her treatments, Make-A-Wish granted Taylor’s wish for a playhouse in her backyard. No detail was left incomplete: from window boxes to a fireplace, Taylor’s house was a little girl’s dream realized. Today, Taylor is healthy, bright-spirited, and devoted to raising money to grant the wishes of other children with cancer.

The Festivities:

The festival included a children’s clothing fashion show, performances by dancers from CK DanceWorks, live music, games, jumpies, and a slew of top-notch vendors. If you didn’t get to attend but would still like to support the cause, visit Walk For Wishes online at walkforwishes.kintera.org.

Little Black Dress | Little Red Wagon Magazine was a proud sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Festival. We think you guys ROCK, Kim, Cindy, Kelly and Taylor!

Here’s a recap of the day, in photos: