FRIENDS FOR LIFE FOUNDATION IS THE NON-PROFIT ARM OF THE PHI PHI OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.
Summer 2016
FFL FUNDRAISER TURNS HEADS! AKA Day at Dillard’s raises money and awareness for Foundation
Friends For Life Foundation, the 501(c)3 affiliated with
the Phi Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc., held a fundraiser on Saturday, June 18
– and the event generated more than $3,700 in profit
for the Foundation’s operating fund.
“Hats off to Foundation President Anita Helton and
Vice President Sondra Anderson for spearheading
this event,” said FFL CEO Charmagne Helton. “Their
hard work – and the work of so many others – helped
generate much needed income for FFL operations.”
The event, titled “AKA Day at Dillard’s,” was held at
Perimeter Mall and featured a fashion show, two DJs,
raffles, food and fun. FFL supporters spent more than
$37,000 shopping – and ten percent of those
proceeds were gifted back to the Foundation by
Dillard’s.
“It was the perfect kind of fundraiser,” said VP Sondra
Anderson. “Low risk, high reward.”
FFL members served as models during a fashion
show filled with with pink and green outfits (and black
and white, too) to help get you ready for Boule – or
just ready to look great! CEO Charmagne Helton
served as emcee for the fashion show.
FFL members also worked a tent and passed out
information about FFL to shoppers during the event.
“It was wonderful to see so many sorors attending the
event,” President Anita Helton said. “We appreciate
all the support!”
Vanessa J. Payne is ready for a tea with her hat, gloves and fan.
Kea Westmoreland strikes a pose on the runway.
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More Highlights from FFL Fundraiser and Fashion Show
Linda Crowley works the
runway.
Sondra Anderson struts in pink.
Shevawn Broxton Young uses her selfie stick to get all the models before they hit the runway.
Donna Johnson shows off her one-shoulder summer chic dress.
Traci McDuffie rocks casual cuteness.
Charmagne Helton with DJ Yvonne
Models walking the runway in AKA Day at Dillard’s fashion show
Deidre Cherry takes
the runway.
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More Highlights from FFL Fundraiser and Fashion Show Models for the fashion show included: Sondra Anderson,
Deidre Cherry, Linda Crowley, Anita Helton, Donna
Johnson, Tracie McDuffie, Vanessa Payne, Tangela
Simmons, Kim Slaughter, Kea Westmoreland and
Shevawn Broxton Young. And Linda Crowley won
one of the outfits she modeled! Event attendees
had the opportunity to win prizes, too.
“It was such a wonderful and fun event,” President
Helton said. “We are looking forward to doing a
similar event again and hopefully raising more funds
for our Foundation.”
The Friends For Life Foundation awards thousands
of dollars in grants and scholarships each year. The
Foundation does not charge its members dues. The
funds in the Foundation’s operating account are
used to pay FFL’s taxes, insurances and operating
expenses, including facility rentals, supplies, banking
fees, etc.
Donna Johnson is chairman of FFL Fundraising Committee. Her co-chairmen are Theresa Fisher and Nathalie
Fleming. A second shopping event fundraiser is tentatively scheduled for December, pending Board of
Directors and general body approval.
Congratulations to the Winners of
Raffle Items from Dillard’s!
Nina Swain-Johnson $150 in sunglasses Farrah Fields $250 in luggage Patrice Dawkins-Jackson $150 in ladies accessories Rosilyn Taylor $200 in Kate Spade
Kim Slaughter, pretty in pink. Shevawn Broxton Young,
gorgeous in green. Tangela Simmons shows
off a pink evening gown.
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FFL Looks to the Future President Anita Helton Shares Plans
Recently, Friends For Life Foundation (FFL) completed an incredibly
successful fundraising event in partnership with Dillard’s department
store! It was arguably the most exciting fundraising event held in the
history of Friends For Life Foundation geared toward operations. The
event created a lot of buzz at the Foundation, as well as in the
community.
The following week, the Foundation held its Mid-Year Planning
Session where we began educating our Board and informing our
members regarding the awesome responsibility of being a non-profit,
501(c)3 organization! Consultant Jasper Tanner brought a
compelling amount of information to us on this topic, and advanced
our course for future prosperity as a Foundation. Armed with more
knowledge around 501(c)3s, we turned our attention to setting
“S.M.A.R.T” (Specific, Motivating, Attainable, Relevant, & Trackable)
goals for implementing our 2015 FFL Strategic Plan. Consultant Robert Brown partnered with Strategic
Implementation Committee Chairman Vanessa Henley in an interactive exercise where FFL committees will
begin to lead efforts for achieving our dreams.
Moving forward, Friends For Life plans to develop our own website and enhance our marketing efforts for telling
our story in the community. We look to develop meaningful partnerships in the for-profit, as well as the non-
profit space, and continue our fundraising efforts at FFL, our number one goal as a Foundation.
Further on the horizon, Friends For Life will be recruiting strong, enthusiastic Board members, and fostering
policies that align with our strategic direction. We look to continue educating our members, promoting the
highest ethical standards, and advancing financial stewardship.
If you have an interest in serving on the Foundation, please let us know your interest and where you’d like to
plug in. We look forward to working with you toward a diverse and inclusive Board for Friends For Life
Foundation!
Anita B Helton, MBA
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Upcoming Events Mark your calendars for the upcoming Friends For Life events!
July August
No Meetings No Meetings
*Planning for fundraiser(s); distribute
scholarship funds.
*Approve Heart of Giving grants; continue
fundraising
September October
9/7 FFL Board Meeting – Conference
Call
10/27 FFL Board Meeting – In Person
(Budget)
9/11 3rd Quarter – FFL General Body
Meeting
*Board approves 2017 budget
November December
11/7 Heart of Giving Luncheon 12/3 Breakfast with Santa
11/17 FFL Board Meeting – Conference
Call
12/4** Shopping Event Fundraiser (pending
approval)
*Fundraising 12/11 4th Quarter – FFL General Body
Meeting
*Approval of 2017 Budget by General Body;
Submit End of Year Compliance Report to
PPO President/FFL CEO
Fall Fundraiser: We NEED You! Friends For Life is planning another shopping fundraiser for this fall. We need you help to make it a
success. Can you help us market the event, including inviting shoppers? Can you help work the event?
Whatever your time and talent, Friends For Life needs you! Please contact Donna Johnson, FFL
Fundraising Committee Chairman at [email protected] to help.
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Highlights from Mid-Year Planning Session On Saturday, June 25th, the Friends For Life
Foundation (FFL) held its 2016 Mid-Year
Planning Session at Zion Missionary Baptist
Church. During the planning session, FFL
members heard from two dynamic speakers
about non-profit operations and strategic goal
setting.
Jasper Tanner, the husband of Wanda Tanner,
spoke to FFL members about building a strong
non-profit organization based on his work as a
non-profit consultant. His workshop focused on
several areas including:
Operational success factors
Improving program impact
Resource development
FFL members also learned that by effectively using our
individual skills, talents, and resources, we can increase our
impact as an organization. Finally, Mr. Tanner stressed the
importance of creating diverse revenue streams and
measurable and impactful programs.
Following Mr. Tanner's presentation, Robert Brown, a strategic
planning consultant, helped FFL members build a strategic
fundraising plan for the remainder of the year. Members
enthusiastically discussed our fundraising motivation, set
specific fundraising goals, and established key milestones for
our December fundraiser(s). Committee chairmen from
marketing to fundraising discussed areas for collaboration to
ensure the success of our December fundraiser(s).
As a follow-up to the Mid-Year Planning Session, FFL
Committee Chairs and members will meet to finish the
fundraising plan, plan for the remaining FFL events, and
prepare to reach our fundraising goals!
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Get Involved! One of the best ways to get
engaged is to get involved! Find a
Friends For Life Committee where
you can use your unique talents!
Bylaws Committee Chairman: Vanessa J. Payne
Reviews and recommends revisions to existing FFL bylaws and standing rules as appropriate.
Works with FFL President and legal counsel, if appropriate, to ensure bylaws as amended meet any required guidelines established by state/local law and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Executive Committee Chairman: Anita Helton
With the exception of amending Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, Executive Committee has all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the intervals between meetings of the Board.
Subject to the direction and control of the full FFL Board.
Note: Per FFL Bylaws, the Executive Board and the Executive Committee are NOT the same body. The Executive Committee is made up of the FFL CEO, FFL President, FFL Vice President, FFL Treasurer, FFL Financial Secretary, FFL Secretary, FFL Parliamentarian and FFL Board Liaison.
Finance Committee Chairman: Zelphia Hawkins
Presents a budget in November for the upcoming year.
Reviews all fundraising budgets.
Reviews current finance and accounting procedures to ensure effective operations.
Fundraising Committee Chairman: Donna Johnson; Co-Chairmen: Theresa Fisher and Nathalie Fleming
Reviews the fundraising events from the previous years to determine profitability. Recommends changes as appropriate.
Plans, organizes, creates a budget, and executes a fundraising event.
Chairman serves on Phi Phi Omega Ways & Means Committee.
Governance Chairman: Sondra Anderson
Oversees FFL annual planning session and any required Board training, including orientation sessions, as appropriate.
Ensures FFL operations are in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and processes, as well as compliant with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. guidelines for Foundation operations.
Reviews operating procedures and processes; recommends any appropriate changes to the FFL Bylaws Committee.
Works closely with the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee to ensure effective operations.
Grants Fund Development Chairman: Phyllis Finley; Co-Chairman: Mary Ann Rosemond
Researches and applies for grants that will benefit the Foundation’s programs.
Follows up with grant recipients to see how grants were used and provides documentation to the FFL Chairman and/or co-chairman serves as a member of Phi Phi Omega’s Community Donations Committee/Heart of Giving sub-committee.
Reviews Pearl Investment Initiative Applications for eligibility and submits to Phi Phi Omega Community Donation chairman.
Presents a summary of all grant requests, along with recommendations to the FFL President and Board for approval.
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Marketing & Public Relations Co-Chairmen: Kim Ford and Traci McDuffie
Prepares marketing materials for FFL website: donate button, levels of giving, sponsorships, slideshow of activities, etc. Works with both Phi Phi Omega and FFL Technology Committees on implementation.
Creates plan to market FFL events and fundraisers.
Creates a brochure or other marketing materials to give to potential donors.
Nominating Members: Nathalie Fleming, Carole Henley and Henrietta Snow
Solicits FFL members to serve on the FFL Board of Directors.
Prepares a slate of candidates for open positions to be voted on at the first quarter FFL meeting of the year.
Develops ballots.
Programs and Services Chairman: Kim Slaughter
Reviews and recommends community service programming specifically for FFL.
If approved, plans and executes FFL community service activities.
Reviews applicable areas for FFL bylaws and standing rules; recommends changes as appropriate.
Marketing & Public Relations Co-Chairmen: Henrietta Snow and Lena Pigrom
Committee chairman and/or co-chairman serves as a member of Phi Phi Omega Community Donations and Scholarship Committee.
Prepares and mails letters to institutions of all scholarship awardees.
Reviews and recommends updates, changes to applications and/or awards process, if appropriate.
Strategic Plan Implementation Chairman: Vanessa Henley
Continues to review objectives outlined in strategic plan; recommend process or procedure changes as appropriate.
Recommends bylaw changes to FFL Bylaws Committee, as appropriate.
Technology Chairman: Natasha Ptomey
Researches the cost of a website to host Friends For Life Foundation Information for both the public and private entity.
Receives meeting agenda and committee reports prior to Executive Board meetings; compiles and distributes as a single document to FFL Board members and committee chairman, if appropriate, via email prior to meetings.
Unless and until a separate website is established, works with Phi Phi Omega Technology Committee Chairman to manage and upload information to the FFL page(s) on the website, as appropriate.
Works closely with the Fundraising Committee and the Marketing Committee to ensure appropriate publicity of events and capitalization on donation opportunities.
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Meet the 2016 Friends For Life Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charmagne Helton President Anita Helton Vice President Sondra Anderson Secretary Vera Atkinson Treasurer Zelphia Hawkins Financial Secretary Constance Cromartie Board Liaison Phyllis Finley Board Member Nathalie Fleming Board Member Carolyn Walker Henderson Board Member Vanessa Henley Board Member Patria Mitchell Board Member Sonya Stallings
The Friends For Life Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of professional women with broad and diverse
backgrounds in varying fields of business, industry, education, and human services. Together, their collective
strength yields the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively lead the Foundation in achieving its mission: To
support quality of life improvements for the disadvantaged by assisting individuals and organizations in our
community to enhance education, the family, health, economic
Charmagne Helton, CEO Occupation: Director of Communications
The CEO is responsible for shaping discussion,
providing direction, and ensuring that Friends for
Life Foundation’s policies support the organization’s
mission and vision. She shall be responsible for
setting the Foundation’s fundraising plan and
appointing a Parliamentarian from the Foundation
Board of Directors and appointing committee
chairs. The CEO will serve as an ex-officio member
of all committees except the Nominating
Committee. The President of Phi Omega Chapter
automatically serves as CEO of the Foundation.
Anita Helton, President Occupation: Financial Planner
The President is responsible for convening
regularly scheduled Board meetings and presiding
at each meeting. She is responsible for all day-to-
day operations including, but not limited to, filing all
documentation with federal agencies required to
keep the organization compliant with 501(c )3
guidelines. The President serves as an ex-officio
member of all committees, except the Nominating
Committee and is responsible for implementing the
direction of the CEO. In order to serve as President
of the Foundation, she must have attended a
minimum of half the Board meetings in the year
prior to the election, and must have been on the
Foundation Board for a minimum of one year.
Sondra Anderson, Vice President Occupation: Elementary Educator
The Vice President is responsible for all duties and
exercise all powers of the President when the
President is otherwise unable to act. The Vice
President chairs the Governance Committee, and
performs other duties as prescribed by the Board of
Directors.
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Vera Atkinson, Secretary Occupation: Retired Education Administrator
The Secretary is responsible for keeping records of
Board actions, including taking minutes at both
Executive Board and general body meetings,
sending correspondence, and maintaining
corporate records. She is responsible for notifying
the general body of upcoming Executive Board
and/or general body meetings, distributing and
posting meeting minutes from meetings of the
Executive Board and/or general body.
Zelphia Hawkins, Treasurer Occupation: Director of Global Business
Services
The Treasurer is responsible for all funds of the
Foundation. She keeps and maintains adequate
and correct accounts of Friends For Life
Foundation, Inc.’s properties and business
transactions, makes a report at each meeting and
disburses funds of the Foundation with proper
vouchers for such disbursements. She serves as
chair of the finance committee, prepares the annual
budget, and participates in fundraising plans and
grant writing.
Constance Cromartie, Financial Secretary Occupation: Licensed Professional
Counselor/Entrepreneur
The Financial Secretary is responsible for receiving
and recording all funds of the Foundation. She
provides receipts for all income received, maintains
financial records for the Foundation, submits all
funds received to the Treasurer, and serves on the
Finance Committee.
Phyllis Finley, Board Liaison Occupation: Marketing/Diversity & Inclusion
Executive
The Board Liaison serves as member-at- large and
represents the Foundation’s general membership at
the Foundation Board meetings. She shall make
reports quarterly to the general membership of both
the general bodies of the Foundation and Phi Phi
Omega.
Carolyn Walker Henderson, Director Occupation: Retired Director of Software
Systems Engineering
Vanessa Henley, Director Occupation: Human Resources Executive
Director
Nathalie Fleming, Director Occupation: Sr. Compliance Background
Specialist
Patria Mitchell, Director Occupation: Project Manager
Kim Slaughter, Director Occupation: Human Resources Executive
Sonya Stallings, Director Occupation: Sr. Sales Account Executive
The Friends for Life Directors are responsible for
administering the affairs of the Foundation, which
includes: formulating and carrying out its programs
and policies; exercising authority over the
management, acquisition and disposition of the
property of The Foundation; approving the annual
budget; employing staff; executing additional
powers and duties as are consistent with the
Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation and the laws of the
State of Georgia applying to the Foundation.