IWD fundraiser featured Top DJs from Toronto, Montreal, NYC, Los Angeles & Philly.

March 16, 2021 | Dalton Higgins |

Lola Plaku from GIRL CONNECTED and celebrated Toronto-based DJ and music producer DJ Charlie B presented a cheque donation of $22,000 to Jessie’s Centre, a Toronto based organization that offers services to pregnant teens and young mothers or families. On International Women’s Day, GIRL CONNECTED and DJ Charlie B came together to celebrate the day and the month by presenting SHE MOVES US in partnership with PUMA Canada and Flow 93.5 FM to raise funds for this exceptional organization that helps young women overcome enormous obstacles such as poverty or social isolation with amazing programs that provide the help they need. Some of the hottest female DJs from Toronto (Jayemkayem, Killa Kelz, Bambii), New York (DJ Steph Cakes, DJ Saige, DJ’s Amira & Kayla), Los Angeles (Carisma), Montreal (Fafa Khan), and Philadelphia (Diamond Kuts) participated in a four hour on-air takeover on Flow 93.5 FM, spinning 30 minute mixes  during primetime 3pm – 7pm EST, to get listeners to donate to the cause.

The cheque presentation and special announcement of Jessie’s Centre 2021 programs and initiatives took place yesterday at Jessie’s Centre (205 Parliament Centre – Toronto, Ontario). During this momentous occasion, attendees also learned more about sponsor PUMA‘s new women’s brand campaign, SHE MOVES US, which celebrates and inspires women who move together to achieve and connect, through sport, values and culture.

Event catalyst and cause ally DJ Charlie B’s longtime work alongside Toronto industry moguls OVO and Drake, in combination with his close affiliations with DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Murda Beatz, and many more, allowed him to maximize this opportunity to pull off this feat, in support of a crucial Toronto women’s charity, Jessie’s Centre, who work around the clock to improve the health and well-being of young women. Charlie B explains the call-to-action and his own ally ship:

 “International Women’s Day is so important because it reminds us all that women’s achievements should be celebrated more often than they are. Women run a lot more in our society than is recognized. In many male dominated industries, I feel that women and their capabilities are most times underestimated and that we as men should do our part to help them shine. I partnered with GIRL CONNECTED because I wanted to contribute to a movement that breaks that barrier of women driven companies, charities and industries not getting the credit they should. GIRL CONNECTED shows how women win and how women should support women the right way. They continuously encourage our mothers, daughters, wives and sisters to believe in themselves, showing successful women in power, giving them recognition. This type of empowerment is inspiring and I believe they are the example that shows the world that celebrating women should be a norm.”

Lola Plaku’s GIRL CONNECTED, a global brand and mentorship program that seeks to empower determined women professionals with a multilevel platform that provides the necessary framework towards professional success, inspiration, and growth, collaborated with the event partners to pull off this timely, topical and important feat. Says Plaku, who is also a Professional Development Mentor at the NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music:

 “I am thankful to the DJ’s, Charlie B, Flow 93.5, PUMA, our Girl Connected team and community, and Jessie’s Centre for celebrating International Women’s Day with us in such an inspiring and motivating way. I hope that we can continue to raise the bar for women every day, not just on March 8th, and not just during Women’s History Month.”

 

At a time when funding shortfalls continue to hit communities that are oftentimes most at risk in Toronto, Maritza Sanchez, Executive Director of Jessie’s Centre, was elated at the outcome and how much these funds will really help Jessie’s: “We are so happy that Girl Connected chose Jessie’s for their IWD fundraiser, and that with the amazing collaboration of DJ Charlie B and the generosity of Flow 9.35 as the host, the day was a huge success. Flow 93.5 is the most popular station amongst our program participants and we were grateful to have their platform for our message. It was an exciting and successful event, which raised not only funds to continue to provide high quality services but also new friends, which is just as important.” She adds: “The funds will be allocated to cover the expenses for our prenatal and parenting programs. This coming fiscal year we are going to have a shortfall in funding from the United Way due to how they did not meet their campaign target. This will cause a gap in the funding of the above programs in the amount of $40,000. This donation makes up over half of what we are missing in our funding.”