‘Give Love & Be Loved’ With PRESENT NOW

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

PRESENT NOW, founded by Palisadian mothers Melanie Neumann and Erica Fisher to provide children’s services to transitional domestic violence shelters, will host a virtual benefit, “Give Love & Be Loved,” on February 11 starting at 5 p.m.

For six years, the nonprofit hosted an annual Women’s Weekend, where donors gathered to celebrate accomplishments of the nonprofit and continue to support its work.

This year, pivoting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the virtual benefit is open to all who wish to attend—with plans to continue in this format as a face-to-face event in coming years.

“The Women’s Weekend had a great run and was instrumental in building our community of women supporters,” PRESENT NOW Executive Director Lilian Miller shared in a statement. “We are now ready to bring men into the conversation about domestic violence and its effects in society. It will take all of us to break the cycle of violence for future generations.”

“Give Love & Be Loved” will be hosted by American TV personality Lisa Breckenridge, as well as author, lifestyle expert and designer Lawrence Zarian.

The 2021 iteration of the fundraiser will feature a Silent Auction, which was slated to go live starting February 2. All funds raised will go toward supporting PRESENT NOW and its mission to “provide children in domestic violence shelters with both essential goods and specialty items to bring them joy, comfort and relief during a time of crisis,” according to the press release.

Since its inception, PRESENT NOW has impacted more than 4,000 children affected by domestic violence. During the event, the nonprofit plans to reveal its National Expansion Project, a five-year program aimed to benefit thousands of additional children.

“Even though this is a new event,” Fisher shared, “some traditions remain, such as our LOVE AMBASSADORS pitch for the Presence of Love gift we deliver on Valentine’s Day.”

During Give Love & Be Loved, PRESENT NOW will honor Karen Earl, CEO of Jenesse Center, with the 2021 Artemis Award, and Greg Fleishman, CEO and co-founder of Foodstirs, with the 2021 Founders Circle Award.

Atlantic recording artist Connie Lim (AKA Milck), 2020 recipient of the Artemis Award, has confirmed a special performance.

For more information or to purchase tickets to attend, visit presentnowlive.org.