The National Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that more than 200,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Last year we had the honor to do something to help. We were engaged to help Carolina Breast Friends design and produce their second annual Oysters on the Lawn event at Quail Hollow Club.

They asked that we make it clear to their guests that Carolina Breast Friends and Oysters on the Lawn are the same organization and that the mission of both is to build the “Pink House.” Now the house most likely will not be pink but it will be there for the care and education of the women who are engaged in the battle of breast cancer.

Here, women will be able to research their diagnosis and meet other women who have had the same diagnosis. They can learn about exercise, diet, meditation and an entire host of other things that will help them in their fight against this disease. Carolina Breast Friends was the brain child of Kristy Adams Ebel. Just look at what one woman can do with the help of many more…

This is an amazing organization. Currently they offer counseling for women with breast cancer, interpreting services to international patients, and “Jars of Hope.” In these fantastic jars are little pieces of paper with notes of encouragement from breast cancer survivors. The best part is that these notes have the name of the survivor, her diagnosis, age and date of diagnosis, and the survivor’s email address. The doctors would not be able to give out contact information of other survivors directly to patients because of privacy guidelines, but these jars are a brilliant way to let new breast cancer patients know that they are not alone.

If you know of someone with breast cancer or just want to learn more about the organization please contact Carolina Breast Friends.

Photography by Cielo Studios

You all know I have opinions on most everything. Lately I’ve been quite bothered by cell phones. At one of my recent wedding receptions, an enormous amount of people were on their cell phones. Now I realize we live in a technology-reliant culture but I can’t understand what is so important that one needs to be on a cell phone at a wedding. It could be my upbringing or my generation but if I could whisper something to all those people, here’s what I’d say:

Turn off the phone in restaurants, movie theaters, museums, libraries, churches and other public places where calls might be disruptive. If you are tempted to speak loudly or reveal intimate details during a public cell phone call, remember: The person you’re talking to isn’t the only one who can hear you.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Plato

I think we can all agree that it’s necessary to find new ways to be sustainable; to develop sustainable practices. That’s what sustainable innovation^sm is all about. The goal is innovation that not only produces sustainable products and services but puts your business ahead of the curve. This is the future of business.

The Business Innovation and Growth’s Sustainable Innovation^sm Retreat will be held early fall (stay tuned) at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC. We are inspired by BIG’s mission and content for this retreat. True to form, this is a content-rich schedule. We have been hired to design the Thursday evening Green Event and consult on most other matters concerning event design. We have been delighted to work with Deana Hicks of DHD Marketing who has been a master of the details and logistics, Amanda Altman of A Three Design on all matters of graphic design, and Jack Sutherland of South Tunnel Design Division on Web design. These individuals are superstars in their fields and fine professionals.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Business Innovation and Growth Council, it is a non-profit organization of high-growth entrepreneurs. Their President, Terry Thorson Cox, is a true visionary and educator who has created a community of fast-moving entrepreneurs like no one else has been able to do. These entrepreneurs sense her genuine interest in their success and trust her judgment and confidentiality. This has helped to create one of the most open and truly valuable organizations of which we have ever been a part. BIG is a rare beacon for knowledge, information and true innovation in the world of entrepreneurship.

BIG’s Sustainable Innovation^sm retreat will include a keynote by Dennis Quaintance, the owner of the Proximity Hotel. Other speakers to include Bzz Agents’ Founder and CEO Dave Balter, Douglas Muir from the KAI Method and Charlotte’s own Lisa Lee Morgan and Astrid Chirinos, co-founders of Calor Energy. By being a part of this conference we have learned about the lengths to which we must go to be eco-conscience, the lengths to which others have gone to be innovative and the lengths to which we all must all go to be sustainable. Thank you to Terry for her vision and for including us.

To view the entire agenda and for more information visit their site.