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Team Ameelio is beyond grateful to have received $10K from Colorado Wine & Dresses! To all those who listened to our story and provided your generous support - Thank you! We can't wait to bring our technology to the La Vista Correctional Facility in Colorado!
Wine & Dresses started as a fun gathering of women drinking wine and trying on dresses in 2018. Over the years, the community evolved into an incredible force of good, raising just over $5,000 through ticket sales, dresses, donations and sponsors. Each year, an important cause that empowers Colorado women is selected. This year, the community raised funds to support incarcerated women and their families.
In the words of Jennifer Balbina Sosa, Executive Director of the Wine & Dresses,
"In our society, incarcerated mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, and friends struggle is often overlooked or easily dismissed. Yet, those incarcerated have families too, and their struggles and burdens don't get the attention it needs."
"This is why this year's Wine and Dresses was so important and dear to our hearts. It started with the words 'phone-jail-exploitation,' God put in my heart, which led to some research about the justice system and its injustices. Upon my research, I came across the passing of House Bill 1201 by House Representatives Kerry Tipper, Serena Gonzalez Gutierrez, and Senator Julie Gonalez. So we reached out to them, and they gathered their team so that we could brainstorm ways in which this year's fundraiser could help make a difference in the lives of those incarcerated and their families. They referred us to several organizations, but Ameelio's initiative stood out."
"Ameelio provides communications tools for those incarcerated to stay in touch with their families at a low cost or for free, cuts recidivism, and sustainably reduces prison populations. We consider this a game-changer!"
We thank all the women in the community that donated their dresses; We thank everyone that made a direct donation or purchased tickets to the event; We thank all the volunteers who selflessly gave their time and support; We thank everyone who participated and helped us spread the words!
A special thank you to the awesome ladies at #WAD Wine & Dresses committee, Jennifer Balbina Kristen Vath, Tania Choquehuanca Bibbo, and Pepper Sanchez. Without your hard work, your dedication to justice and equity, and your deep trust in Ameelio's work, we would never have gotten this far.
As Jennifer said in her email to all the participants, "You never know the influence your smallest actions could have on others; you truly don't know how far your blessings can go. Everything we do for one another does make a difference."
With gratitude,
Team Ameelio
