’TIS THE SEASON AT MARIA LUISA

Sure, we may be a tad early – but when it comes to being ready for the holidays, too much prep can never be enough.

This year, we in the Maria Luisa family are committed to approaching the holidays with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, a true focus on finding the real meaning of the holiday season – and truly being grateful for what we have and sharing it with others.

Whether that means setting a place at your holiday table for a friend going through a rough time – or taking a very active role in a community effort, such as a food or coat drive, the holidays offer the chance to show our “best selves.”

Take some time now to create a holiday timeline – list the things you need to do, to buy, to donate, to share, to join.

Above all, remember to include those you love in the preparations – it’s inspiring to help someone, and even more inspiring to do it with a family member or friend.

Here at Maria Luisa, we’ll be offering you the chance to join in, once again participating in a food drive for those served by People to People (http://www.peopletopeopleinc.org) and collecting new or gently used coats and warm clothing for those served by Nyack Homeless Project (https://www.nyackhp.org)

As Maria Luisa Whittingham says, these opportunities to share your abundance do more than just provide the literal gifts of soup, pasta or peanut butter or a warm coat, socks or boots.

“We also want to enhance a person’s life and well-being with pride.”

The holidays offer an ideal time, too, to participate in volunteer work. Opportunities abound in our communities, so it’s easy to get involved. Lend a hand to an organization whose mission reflects your own interests – or stretch yourself with something new. There are countless organizations whose work is supplemented by volunteer efforts, organizations we know you join us in supporting.

So this season, why not volunteer to:

• Work with the young people served by The Nyack Center http://www.nyackcenter.org/volunteering.html 

• Help feed those in need at a local soup kitchen.  
Soup Angels http://www.nyackreformed.org/soup-angels.html 
Grace's Kitchen http://www.gracechurchnyack.org/ 

• Help protect the environment with Keep Rockland Beautiful http://keeprocklandbeautiful.org

• Offer hope to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault with Center for Safety and Change

http://www.centerforsafetyandchange.org/get-involved/volunteer.html

• Get involved with the multifaceted programs offered by the Rockland County Pride Center

http://rocklandpridecenter.org/services/volunteer/

Sure, it may still be late October – but how nice would it be when 2019 rolls around to be able to say, “Wow, I really embraced this holiday season not only by gift giving, or with friends and family – but making the holidays as warm and enjoyable as possible for those around me including those in my community.”

Follow our social media platforms where we’ll continue to offer details on holiday happenings and opportunities for you to show your gratitude.

And let us just say that here at Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa, we are grateful for YOU!

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THE NEXT GENERATION…

This week marks a bit of a milestone in the Maria Luisa world.

It was some four years ago when Maria Luisa Whittingham was able to fulfill a longtime dream, creating a namesake scholarship program that would support and encourage the next generation of female leaders.

She launched the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship program, administered by the Rockland Community Foundation, back in 2014. 

And this week, she will – for the first time in the program’s young history – present not one but two scholarships to local graduating seniors.

These awards will be given during the 2018 ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Presentation reception, to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday (May 10) at Maria Luisa Boutique.

Family, educators, friends, community members and our ML community – you, our loyal customers – are invited to join us as we celebrate the achievements of this year’s winners.

Scholarships of $1,000 each will be presented to Ruth Uriarte of Nyack High School and Katherine Marie Bacolas of Clarkstown South High School.

These young women were selected as best exemplifying the award’s criteria: being Rockland County high school female seniors who, through their actions or beliefs, embrace the principles of ML by Maria Luisa that include civic and community involvement, as well as a commitment to social justice, social equality, and environment/eco-friendly lifestyles.

The awards are designed to assist with costs of attending a college of their choice. This year, the program was expanded in two important ways. A second scholarship was added to specifically recognize a student attending Nyack High School, in honor of the community that has long supported Maria Luisa and her business. The 2018 program was also expanded to include nominations from those who identify as female, as well.

It’s been quite the year for the program that continues to grow.

As Maria has said, “The empowerment of young women is high on my list of priorities.”

And in a nod to the way she herself benefited from a scholarship during her college years, one that allowed her to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, she has also noted, “The ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund is my way of paying it forward.” 

We hope you will join us from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday as Maria Luisa officially presents the 2018 awards – and recognize the accomplishments of these young women.

And we thank you, of course, for your ongoing support of our scholarship program.

***

For more, or to donate to the 2019 effort, visit marialuisaboutique.com/maria-luisa-scholarship-fund or rocklandgives.org.

DEADLINE GROWING CLOSER…

We recently reminded you that applications are available for the 2018 ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship – and now offer a gentle reminder that the deadline is March 16.

So once again, please help us spread the word – share this* with your daughters, nieces, sisters, neighbors, students and friends – anyone who might benefit from this program.

Again, here’s a quick rundown of the scholarship program that we’re so proud to have been offering since the 2014-2015 academic year.

In brief, the scholarship is designed to recognized Rockland County high school female seniors who have demonstrated a desire to learn and foster principals of civic and community involvement, an awareness of issues of social justice and equality and related interests supporting Fair Trade and eco-friendly principles.

Each scholarship is a $1,000.00 award given to a promising high school senior in need of financial aid, designed to assist with costs in attending a college of her choice.

The program is administered through a partnership with the Rockland Community Foundation – and this year, our program’s fourth, we will be marking its expansion in two important ways:

• Our program is being expanded to encourage both females and those who identify as female to participate; and

• We plan to present two scholarships, one to a graduating senior who resides in Rockland County with a second (and equal) scholarship specifically presented to a Nyack student. This additional award is designed to recognize the community that has embraced Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa since 1987.

APPLY NOW

To be considered for the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship applicants must attend a public, private or parochial school within Rockland County. Well-rounded high school seniors who demonstrate a significant commitment to volunteer service in our community are encouraged to apply.

Maria Luisa Whittingham herself benefitted from scholarship funds, monies that helped her continue her studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. It had always been a dream to some day is able to “return the favor.”

Today, Maria stands proud to have this concrete way to continue her longtime efforts to support the next generation of female leaders. Feel free to contact us should you have any questions.

*Applications can also be downloaded at marialuisaboutique.com or rocklandgives.org.

DONATE NOW

(Scroll down to the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund)

Thanks for helping us spread the word – and we hope you’ll join us this spring when we host our annual scholarship presentation evening. Stay tuned for details.

TIME TO SHINE…

ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund

We’ve got some exciting news and are hoping you can help us spread the word:

Applications are now available for the 2018 ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship*.

As we hope you know by now, it was in the spring of 2015 that we were beyond pleased to award our first scholarship – and the program has grown ever since.

Thanks to your generous support, through donations, raffle tickets and more, we have awarded the scholarship to a young woman for three years running, with our academic year 2017-2018 program now under way.

In brief, the scholarship is designed to recognize Rockland County high school female seniors who have demonstrated a desire to learn and foster principals of civic and community involvement, an awareness of issues of social justice and equality and related interests supporting Fair Trade and eco-friendly principles.

Each scholarship is a $1,000.00 award given to a promising high school senior in need of financial aid, designed to assist with costs in attending a college of her choice.  
The program is administered through a partnership with the Rockland Community Foundation – and this year, our program’s fourth, we will be marking its expansion in two important ways:

• Our program is being expanded to encourage both females and those who identify as female to participate; and

• We plan to present two scholarships, one to a graduating senior who resides in Rockland County with a second (and equal) scholarship specifically presented to a Nyack student. This additional award is designed to recognize the community that has embraced Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa since 1987.

Please help us spread the word – share this with your daughters, nieces, sisters, neighbors, students and friends – anyone who might benefit from this program.

To be considered for the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship applicants must attend a public, private or parochial school within Rockland County. Well-rounded high school seniors who demonstrate a significant commitment to volunteer service in our community are encouraged to apply.

Maria Luisa Whittingham herself benefitted from scholarship funds, monies that helped her continue her studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. It had always been a dream to some day is able to “return the favor.”

Today, Maria stands proud to have this concrete way to continue her longtime efforts to support the next generation of female leaders.

Feel free to contact us should you have any questions.
*Applications can be downloaded at marialuisaboutique.com or rocklandgives.org.
                                   
Thanks for helping us spread the word – and we hope you’ll join us this spring when we host our annual scholarship presentation evening. Stay tuned for details.

Apply Now

GOOD GIFTS … THAT DO GOOD

If you’re looking for a holiday gift with an extra layer of meaning, we have a couple of options.

These are gifts that are not only good in and of themselves – but they also help do good.

The first is a musical option, a CD called “Season of Love: A Musical Tribute to the Nyack Center.” 

All proceeds of the $15 release – an effort organized by a 10-year-old named Josie, recorded at the Center’s new recording studio and featuring performances by children throughout the Nyacks – go to the Nyack Center, an organization whose works we have long supported.

And as you well know, we also not only support but often also team up with Keep Rockland Beautiful.

This year, KRB is selling a 2018 “Beautiful Rockland” wall calendar in honor of its 20^th anniversary. Billed as an ideal gift for friends, family, employees and customers, the calendar is a tax-deductible purchase ($19.95) that showcases the work of local photographers. The quality product, created thanks to a grant from Rockland County Tourism and Harrington Press, is a great way to celebrate the works of Keep Rockland Beautiful throughout the new year.

Both the CD and the calendar, all proceeds go to each organization, are on sale at Maria Luisa Boutique, so we hope you’ll consider them as part of your holiday shopping.

ML/GL – WHAT A YEAR

It was back in summer of 2014 that we held a celebration to unveil our revamped ML by Maria Luisa, a construction project

that turned out to give us exactly the boost we had hoped it would.

Sure, the physical changes to our shop were pleasing. They allowed us to expand our offerings and give you what we hope is a more comfortable, maneuverable environment.

A big part of that unveiling, though, was also a very special debut – our introduction of the Maria Luisa/Global Local initiative.

We think – hope – that many of you are well acquainted with the ML/GL initiative, but in short, it is a way for us to further support and formalize our commitment to the community of which we are a part.

Every time you make a purchase on marialuisaboutique.com, you are invited to designate a local charitable effort to benefit from the sale.

For each sale, we have pledged to donate 10% of the purchase price to the organization you designate.

Currently, we are working with three organizations that have missions we have long supported – The Nyack Center, People to People, VCS Pride – and our namesake educational effort, the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund.

We have honored that pledge, having made our donations to these organizations and notably were also able to see the fruition of a long-held dream when we presented a young lady from Rockland County with the inaugural ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship at the end of the 2014-15 academic year. It was a proud moment for us – and the start of what we hope will be a long tradition. (Stay tuned to our blog and website for the 2015-16 program details).

We continue to source Fair Trade, eco-minded and artisan-made products that we feature both in our stores and online, where you may easily shop and also quite easily support the ML/GL initiative.

Five Days of Super Deals are Here for You

FRIDAY, Nov. 27 Black Friday Doorbuster Sale

• Save 30% off your total purchase of $75 or more* when you shop between 9:30 a.m. and noon Friday, Nov. 27.

(*$75.00 is the re‐tax minimum; Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa purchases may not be combined). Offer is not valid on previous purchases or for gift card purchases. Offer Begins at 9:30am and ends at NOON on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. No cash value). Remember to BYOB (Bring your own bag) or purchase a bag at checkout. Discounts are calculated from the original prices. No gift wrapping. Valid at our brick‐and‐mortar locations, 75 and 77 S. Broadway, Nyack, N.Y.

SATURDAY, Nov. 28

Small Business Saturday Deals

• We’ll have in-store savings ranging up to 40% off in both Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa throughout the day on Saturday, Nov. 28. These unadvertised deals will remain valid only while supplies last and will include footwear, clothing, accessories, home goods, baby goods and popular gift items.

Offer begins at 9:30 a.m. and expires at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Please note:  Offer is not valid on previous purchases or for gift card purchases. (No cash value.) Please Remember to BYOB (Bring your own bag) or purchase a bag at checkout.  A limited number of American Express Small Business Saturday bags will be available. Discounts are calculated from the original prices. No gift wrapping. Valid at our brick-and-mortar locations, 75 and 77 S. Broadway, Nyack, N.Y.

MONDAY, Nov. 30

Cyber Monday Savings

• Save 25% on all online merchandise purchases of $50 or more on Nov. 30. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping at this incredible discount.

Offer valid during all hours of Nov. 30 (EST) only at marialuisaboutique.com. This offer EXCLUDES gift cards. To take advantage, enter code #CYBER25 at the payment screen to receive the discount.

TUESDAY, Dec. 1

Giving Tuesday – Join Us!

Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been designated as a global day dedicated to giving back.

On Dec. 1, we will be participating in several ways.

• We continue to collect new and slightly used coats, hats and gloves, as well as new socks, toiletries and boxed and canned goods, for the Nyack Homeless Project.

On Tuesday, if you stop in and make a donation to the Nyack Homeless Project, we will say thanks by giving you 10% off one item in either Maria Luisa Boutique or ML by Maria Luisa.

• Here at Maria Luisa, you well know our ML/GL (Maria Luisa/Global Local) initiative has just passed its first anniversary. We hope you will consider this among your options when it comes time to give back on this day. As always, all online orders will give you the chance to designate to which organization we will donate 10% of your purchase price – the Nyack Center, People to People, VCS Pride or the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund.

On Tuesday, stop by in person and make a monetary donation to the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund and we’ll thank you in very special way – by giving you 10% off your entire order in either shop up to the value of your donation. (For example, donate $10 and receive a maximum of $10 off a purchase of up to $100; donate $25 to receive a maximum of $25 off a purchase of up to $250).

As you can see, Maria Luisa Whittingham was right when she said, “It’s simple to be part of Giving Tuesday.”

                                                           

Once again, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Maria Luisa & Co.