SUCCESS:
Recipient Family from Bear Necessities Drive 2011:
Words cannot truly express my sincere gratitude. As a single mother of three wonderful girls, I struggle to provide even necessities. For them to wake up Christmas morning to all those presents . . . It was the best feeling ever! My oldest said, "Mommy, we must have been really really good this year!! Santa made all kinds of presents for us!"
Recipient Family from Bear Necessities Drive 2009:
"God bless you for the love you show to the people in need of miracles. Continue to let your light shine."
Jessica Brandon/ Executive Director ~ Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois:
"VPC would like to express our sincerest thanks for your donation of groceries and toiletries. We are very grateful for your support in our mission to eliminate domestic violence in individual lives and in society as a whole."
Ed Meyer/ Pantry Director ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry
"Thank you for your generous donation. Your kindness and consideration is deply appreciated by our neighbors in need. Together we CAN make a difference."
Stephanie Springs/ Chief Executive Officer ~ Make-A-Wish Foundation:
"Thank you on behalf of the children whose lives you have touched. By lending a helping hand, you have helped turn wishes into a reality, and have given our children memories that will last a lifetime."
Krista Goszewski/ Fundraising Programs Coordinator~ Make-A-Wish Foundation:
“I would like to thank you for your selfless dedication to our organization. Your time and talents that you share do not go unnoticed and we truly appreciate your commitment. Because of your support we can continue to make wishes come true for our kids!”
Rena Thoele/Scholarship Coordinator ~ The Foundation at Southwestern Illinois College
"Honored, appreciate, blessed, grateful, thankful, excited, and motivated -- these are just a few words used to express how your kind generosity has made a wonderful difference in students' lives."
Stephanie Ferris/ Scholarship Recipient
"Knowing that there are people in this world willing to help someone like me is a great inspiration."
Jane Lee/Executive Director ~ Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois
"Thank you so much for your fundraising efforts. The talent runs through the TOCO family. If we had more people like you raising money, we would not be faced with any budget crises."
Dawn Stringfield/ Executive Director ~ Lydia's House
"Not only does your contribution make a difference to the women and children of Lydia's House, but it also encourages us to continue our efforts to break the cycle of domestic violence."
PRESS:
March 2009
“Girls just want to have fun, and this weekend, you can’t miss if you attend Herstory Weekend. Where else could you enjoy an atmosphere that is a combination of funky, retro, and sexy with lots of live music, dance, art and fun? Women can not only unwind with a massage, and imbibe, but they can bring their gently used eclectic clothes to exchange and it is all for good. Proceeds go to a single parent to attend Southwestern Illinois College."
Riverfront Times
March 2009
“Cherish the Ladies, Women Past and Present. Women are a powerful force, but don’t just take our word for it: Head over to the Ground Floor for the fifth annual Herstory Weekend. Throughout this event (which celebrates National Women’s History Month women rock out, relax, get pampered and give back.”
Belleville News Democrat
September 2007
“The event has become so powerful in terms of bringing people together for a great cause. People from years past are actually doing more this year because they enjoyed themselves so much. Gives participants of all ages something to talk about for a long time.”
Belleville News Democrat
March 2008
“”Performance and artistic heaven for two nights.”
St. Louis Sound Magazine
February 2008
“Herstory Weekend has grown and blossomed because of the top notch local and regional artists who donate their talents and the patrons who share their time year after year. To help people in need follow their dreams though education: that really sets the event apart.”
St. Louis Post Dispatch
March 2007
“Begun as a simple clothing exchange among friends, the third annual Herstory Weekend has grown into a weekend long celebration of female artists, working in forms as diverse as dance, music, and film”
Belleville News Democrat
March 2007
“After last year’s event they wound up with so many leftovers and money that they donated it to the Shelter Shop for the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois. This year they expand their charitable work.”
Riverfront Times
September 2006
"Talk about community service!"
Playback Magazine
September 2006
“Camping for a cause! Fun in the sun!”
Straight Up Magazine
August 2006
“Some four years after the first get-together benefit, the spirit of the festival and even its acronym live on. They are not just creating awareness of one not-for-profit but awareness of community outreach.”
Riverfront Times
October 2005
“With a diverse line-up, this festival brings extraordinary music together for an extraordinary cause.”
theNewsRocket
August 2003
“The good news is that TOCO is not just a festival, but a downright grand cause.”
