Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Fundraiser

The First Annual Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser and Charity Tennis Event was held on Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at the Hershey Racquet Club in Hershey, PA. All proceeds from the event supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) which provides awareness and raises funds for scientific research to better treat, prevent, and ultimately cure Type 1 diabetes.

Our team was thrilled when we got the call from the Risser family, whose 10-year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years ago, to help organize this wonderful event. The goal of this charity event was to raise awareness and funds for the JDRF and to bring out members of the Hershey, Lancaster & Elizabethtown community for an evening of tennis, raffles, entertainment and delicious food. 

When brainstorming ideas for our fundraiser, our goal was to think outside the box, and organize a different kind of event. Instead of the typical charity run/walk, we thought a tennis round-robin tournament would be great way to raise funds and awareness while staying active and having fun. We approached the Hershey Racquet Club who was gracious to donate all 8 of their indoor tennis courts and their party room for the evening. Two USTA tennis professionals who work at the club also donated their time and expertise to run a round-robin tennis tournament and children's lessons and games. For those in attendance who did not want to play in the tournament, instructors were on hand to oversee a variety of games which included corn-hole boards and games of can-jam. Following the tennis round robin and games, our guests mingled, enjoyed food and drinks and took part in our wonderful raffle. We were delighted when local businesses and restaurants donated food, drinks and amazing raffles prizes for the event which helped make it a huge succcess. 

Jennifer Risser's touching speech really made us all grateful for people who work to serve the community and give back to charities that they are passionate about. She noted that "there are many advancements in Type 1 diabetes in the pipeline, however research and a cure cannot be found without funding.  That is why we are holding this event; so that, as JDRF puts it, we can turn Type 1 into Type None. Tonight was a huge success and the goal is to make this an annual event to raise more awareness and funds for Type 1 diabetes."

A huge thank you to our sponsors for the evening!

Food donations are provided by:

• Dafno's Italian Grille
• Subway at Tanger Outlets
• Issac's Restaurant & Deli on Chocolate Avenue
• Byer's Butterflake Bakery
• Philly Pretzel Factory
• Herr's

Raffle donations were provided by:

• Hershey Racquet Club - 1 hour private tennis lesson with Stella Katevska

• Universal Athletic Club - 3 month family membership 

• The Inn at Leola Village - $100 gift card to Osteria Avanti 

• Lancaster Barnstormers - 2 tickets to a Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game

• Spooky Nook Sports - 5 climbing day passes and 4 fitness day passes

• Annie Bao Art - 3 $75 gift cards towards an oil painting and portrait 

• Highlands of Donegal Golf Course - 4 1/2 hour private golf lesson

• Royers Flowers & Gifts - $50 gift card and blooming plant

• Alysssa Christine Photography - Custom photography family package

• Remy's Gems - Handmade necklace and two matching bracelets

Doubles Round Robin Prize - The winning team received:

• 1.5 hours of week day court time at the Hershey Racquet Club
• 1.5 hours of weekend court time at the Hershey Racquet Club

The team at Kristine King Events was thrilled to be a part of this wonderful charity event and look forward to planning a successful one next year!

Striking a balance with your wedding registry

Registering for wedding gifts should be one of the first tasks you tackle when you get engaged. Friends and family will be looking to buy wedding gifts as soon as he pops the question. Really! :) Registering for wedding gifts is a fun activity for you and your partner but there are a lot of questions that come to mind when creating a registry from where to register at, how many gifts to register for and at what price points. The key to a registry both you and your guests will be grateful for is balance. Here are a few tips:

• Register early: We suggest registering early if you're prepared and have given some thought to what you want and need. Registering fairly soon after your engagement is key in case any of your loved ones want to send engagement gifts. You can always start small and add more items as you get closer to your shower and wedding day. You will find that you edit your registry many times leading up to the big day.
• How many stores do I register at?: The magic registry number is three. Registering at three different places is enough to give variety but not cause too much confusion. It also gives your guests a variety of stores and price points. 
• Diversify where you register: Registering at both a brick-and-mortar stores and online stores will cater to all audiences - whether it be your grandparent or friend from college. Be sure to keep your audience in mind. You may be familiar with Zola and Blueprint online registries but older guests may not be as comfortable with an online experience. Having a mix of online and store registries is key. 
• Include multiple price points: Register for a wide range of gifts at various price points. You will want to keep in mind to register for not only your wedding but bridal shower. Register for lots of gifts on the lower end, but don’t be afraid to add in some higher-end items for any close family or friends. Registering for a wide range of price points: under $50, under $75, under $100, under $200, and beyond is key so all of your guests can choose gifts they can afford. 
• Register for enough items: It may sound like a lot, but I recommend registering for two to three times as many gifts as you have guests. People like options. If you have, say, 100 invited guests, you’ll need a minimum of 125 registry items.
• Thank you cards: Most of all, be gracious to your friends and family. So get started on your thank you cards as soon as the gifts start rolling in! Thank-you notes for gifts received before the wedding should be sent within two weeks of their arrival. Notes for gifts received on or after the wedding day should be sent within a month of your return from the honeymoon. Tip: be sure to mention the gift by name in the thank you. :)

Happy registering!! xx