Atlanta Nonprofit Kicks Off the Year With Make a Difference Mixer - MLK Day of Service Event

ATLANTA - Jan. 20, 2014 - PRLog -- The Enchanted Closet kicked off its 11th year as a nonprofit and 12th Prom Dress Giveaway season with a Make a Difference Mixer that brought tweens, teens, and adults to East Atlanta's HodgePodge Coffee House and Gallery to discuss issues of concern and learn how they can serve with the organization to make a difference in the community.

After guests feasted on brunch, which included: chicken, beef, spinach and veggie patties, turkey sausage and grits, and french toast prepared by the coffee house, the nonprofit provided information regarding its mission, programs and opportunities, and Kim Conley, a yoga instructor that has led Enchanted Closet's GIRL$ MOVE!: Health and Wellness programs, got everyone up on their feet to learn a few breathing and yoga exercises.

Donors Emanuel Balams, Personal Injury Attorney and Founder of the Balams Law Group; Torrance Hill, CEO of C.T. Hill and Associates; and George Street, CEO of GRS Solutions, were recognized for their contributions to the organization and for serving as sponsors for the Enchanted Closet's 10th Anniversary Gala held in December 2013. They each received theatre tickets compliments of the Serenbe Playhouse.

Guests were seated in a world cafe setting and discussed issues of concern, how they can help, and how Enchanted Closet can help make a difference. The organization will use the information to coordinate programs to meet the needs of girls, parents, and the community.

The organization fielded questions from the guests and registered girls for the GIRL$ Serving-Learning Program which is designed to increase the self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency of girls. The organization also accepted applications for volunteers and board members, and donations of dresses, shoes, jewelry, purses for the Enchanted Closet's 12th Annual Prom Dress Giveaway. A surprise donation of dresses was made by Bella Bridesmaid-Atlanta, the organization's long term retail sponsor located in Buckhead.

The mixer was closed out with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

About the Enchanted Closet
Prior to the formation of the Enchanted Closet in 2003, prom season was a stressful time for many metropolitan Atlanta girls living in low-income families, foster care, and group homes. Families faced very tough decisions as they contemplated what bills they would not pay to afford their daughters the lifetime experience of going to prom. The  Enchanted Closet, Inc. serves as a valuable resource and has saved families close to $1,000,000. By providing over 5000 girls with formal dresses for prom, homecoming, graduation, and other special occasions, families have been able to direct their limited funds to maintaining their households, paying for healthcare, senior and college application fees.

The Enchanted Closet’s  GIRL$ Service-Learning Program has aided the development of and enhanced the self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency of more than 500 middle and high school girls at-risk for lower educational attainment, abuse, human trafficking, pregnancy, poor health and other adverse conditions. Go to www.enchantedcloset.org to view more information about the Enchanted Closet.

About HodgePodge Coffee House and Gallery
Hodgepodge is an independently owned and operated coffeehouse devoted to being community focused and environmentally conscious. We are proud to serve Batdorf and Bronson coffee with a little Southern twist, Mighty Leaf tea, and our hand crafted pastries and desserts made in house daily. Focused on what our customers want, we offer a variety of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and paleo options. We also roast all our own meats for our sandwiches, and what our kitchen can't accomodate, we only source from other small businesses such as H&F for breads and Royal Caribbean Bakery for Jamaican patties. For more information, visit www.hodgepodgecoffee.com.