Mill Creek merchants show some heart
Published 11:00 pm Friday, February 5, 2010
MILL CREEK — Some business owners at Mill Creek Town Center are using Valentine’s Day as a chance to show the love to charities.
Sixteen Town Center businesses are participating in a weeklong charity event, Have a Heart, by donating proceeds from select items, some Valentine’s Day-themed, to charities of their choice.
“Have a Heart” will run through Feb. 14. Patrons can identify the participating businesses by the Have a Heart decal in store windows.
Some of the participating businesses include: Color Me Mine, Eye Society and Nest Home &Gifts. The event was organized by the Mill Creek Town Center Business Association.
Frost Doughnuts is donating 100 percent of sales from their Have a Heart doughnut to the Seattle Lifelong AIDS Alliance. The Valentine doughnut is co-owner Lucy “Lulu” Sterling’s recipe: a glazed, rum-cake doughnut with pecans and a creamy filling.
Frost owner Daniel Sterling, who also is president of the business association, said the event will bring Town Center merchants together while benefitting charities.
“We think giving is good business,” he said. “It resonates with our customers in the Town Center.”
Sterling said Frost selected Seattle Lifelong AIDS Alliance as its charity because one of the store’s owners volunteered with them, and they wanted an organization that helps locals and has a face for the community.
AIDS Alliance aims to prevent the spread of HIV and offers services and advocacy to people living with HIV and AIDS.
Artis Photography is donating half of all photo sessions worth $75 or more to BullsEye Dog Rescue or Autism Speaks, depending on which charity a customer prefers.
BullsEye Dog Rescue strives to educate the community about pit bulls, offers a network of foster homes and works with shelters to find homes for pit bulls.
Autism Speaks is a research and advocacy organization that addresses the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism.
Artis owner Rachele Valadez said she chose BullsEye because she is a huge advocate of rescue dogs and pit bulls. Her assistant chose Autism Speaks because she has worked with people with autism.
Have a Heart also offers merchants a chance to get involved.
“It brings the community a little tighter together,” Valadez said. “The better off we’ll be if we work together, and charities are in huge need.”
Have a Heart brochures listing all of the promotional offers and charities being supported are available at participating Town Center businesses. For a complete list of charities and promotions, go to www.millcreektowncenter.biz.
