Turn the Tide Christmas Appeal {Win a Couple Shoot}

For many of us, including myself, the spirit of giving does not end with the holiday seasons. It’s the way we live our everyday lives. It is so very easy to get caught up in frenzy of shopping and gift giving that we forget the true meaning of the season. That is why today’s post is so important. I do hope that you take the time to read it and do what you can to help.

Every day in any part of the world there are millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS, but nowhere is this disease more prevalent than South Africa where the number of people afflicted by this disease is the highest in the world. In 2011 statistics show that there were an estimated 5.6 million people in South Africa living with HIV/AIDS. When parents die they leave orphans who desperately need help.  The AIDS epidemic not only destroys lives and kills it leaves many orphaned children behind who desperately need help in order to become all that they can be. Nothing saddens me more than to see the potential of a child not reached due to a lack of resources, money, clothing, or other basic necessities.

When I say that I have made friends through blogging, I truly mean it.  With our dear friend Gaby of Southbound Bride at the helm At First Blush & Co. has come together with Kate of Magnolia Rouge, and Louise of b. loved weddings to create the Turn the Tide Christmas Appeal to benefit the Starfish Greathearts Foundation by raising money to aid in the continuous  support and care of South African children orphaned by AIDS.

We want you to be generous in your donation but we also have an amazing giveaway as our way to say “thank you”. As a part of this wonderful appeal, once you donate you can enter into the drawing for a styled shoot! There will be four styled couple shoots given away; one in the USA, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. Use this shoot for your anniversary, engagement, or just to celebrate your love. All the shoots will be styled by each of our respective businesses along with our team.

In USA the shoot will take place in California and will be styled by me  and photographed by one of California’s best Suzanne Hansen of SheWanders Photography.

1. We have set up a JustGiving page (which means donations go straight to the charity} to make donating easy for you. There is no minimum of specific amount that needs to be given we just ask that you do your part and give what you can.

2. When you’re done, if you would like to enter the couple shoot giveaway, go to our dedicated Facebook page and leave a comment on the wall. Tell us which country you are in and give us a brief history of your love story (Please note: the US shoot will take place California if you are in another state you can enter as long as you can get to California.}

3. At the end of the month when we close the appeal, we’ll announce three finalists for each location and you’ll be able to vote for a winner on our Facebook page. And of course, you’ll get to see the results of the shoots on our blogs.

Remember anyone can enter. You don’t have to be engaged or married; you just need to be a couple. Make sure to spread the word. We appreciate any Tweets, Facebook mentions, or shout outs on your own blog. We’ve all heard the saying it takes a village to raise a child? In this case we are the village and the orphaned children of South Africa need us.

Starfish Greathearts Foundation is an international development charity, aiming to bring life, hope and opportunity to children in South Africa, who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

Starfish is the response of a global community of people on a passionate quest to change perspectives, beliefs and ultimately outcomes for the growing number of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa.

Starfish seeks to inspire individuals around the world to take positive action against the tragedy of children orphaned or made vulnerable by this crisis.  In the last seven years, thousands of people across the globe have embraced the Starfish vision, contributing to the community based care that we’re now providing for thousands upon thousands of children in South Africa year on year.