Thursday night we threw a dinner party at Los Angeles hideaway Croft Alley with the brilliant Gratitude Collaborative (order your gift boxes from them NOW) in honor of the Tanka Fund and to introduce MVL editor Bethany Joy Lenz‘s first jewelry line.
The jewelry is produced by Germany-based company Stilnest and the pieces were sketched by Lenz, then crafted with 18k & 24k gold.
Representatives from the Tanka Fund, Faye Brown and her daughter Sasha joined us from Minnesota to share their stories. The Tanka Fund is a new organization with a wonderful mission… bringing a measure of justice back to the Native communities by restoring the one thing that was taken from them which singlehandedly destroyed their livelihoods and economy… the Buffalo.
Beginning the process now of restoring Bison to the land, diets and economy of the Native American people will produce a long-term affect of overhauling the reservations which are in dire need of employment opportunities. The poverty is so intense in these areas that most of the natives who DO own Buffalo are forced to sell them to cattle ranchers or non-Native run bison farms. The system currently in place is still exploiting Native Americans and keeping them locked in poverty. Giving back buffalo, training Natives how to be Ranchers, raising new generations of bison Ranchers, and reintroducing the community of harvesters who recycle all bison parts for commerce… these are keys to self-sustaining tribes.
Bethany spoke about her trip to Fort Apache as a teenager and how deeply it impacted her life, and she introduced her jewelry, the Buffalo Offering. 10% of proceeds go to the Tanka Fund which is currently awarding grants to 12 Native American buffalo ranchers in North America. You can purchase a piece of this exquisite jewelry on Stilnest.com
We’re so thrilled to have had reps from some wonderful companies and a few great friends support our first fancy dinner! Big thanks to Gratitude Collaborative for co-hosting this amazing dinner and also providing the stunning flowers, tablescape and gift bundles, Emily Morgan for photos, Conscious Magazine, Darling Magazine, House of Gratia et Caritas, Just Jared, Martin Sensmeir, Heather Rae, Sasha Lee Brown, Jessi Burrone, Katherine McPhee, LaurenConrad.com, Glitter Guide, Rebekah Shannon, Abby Sterling, Rachael Leigh Cook, and of course Tanka Fund.
One of the stunning bouquet’s put together by Gratitude Collaborative
with “Just Jared” Jared Eng
Magnificent Seven & Westworld’s Martin Sensmeier joined us with family friend Faye Brown from the Tanka Fund
Scorpion’s Katherine McPhee, with Bethany Joy Lenz & Dana R. Ashmore, founder of Gratitude Collaborative
Bethany Joy Lenz with Darling Magazine correspondent Rebekah Shannon
Martin Sensmeier with TALLULLAH director Heather Rae
