Women in Business Kick Off School Year with Impact

After lunches were packed and school bags were zipped Tuesday morning, Jamie Broderick of Buckingham popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate a new school year at her annual Yellow Bus Party.

A mother of two, Broderick is also the owner and founder of Network Now, a Bucks County-based business support network for women entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders in the community.

For the third year in a row, the Yellow Bus Party offered area moms not only a chance to network, but to give back as they gathered.

“It’s such a self-indulgent day, I thought let’s also do something for the community,” Broderick said, inviting Impact Thrift to gather gently used items donated by locals.

Jo Greenawalt, executive director of Impact Thrift and a member of Network Now, said the beginning of a new school year is the ideal time for families to donate.

“It’s a responsible way to make sure unused items don’t end up in landfills, and the net proceeds of sales go out to 16 charities,” Greenawalt said.

“There are a lot of kids falling under the radar, just slipping through. It’s not in their budget to afford new school supplies,” she added, mentioning a recent promotion rewarding customers who donated a new school item with entry into a $25 Impact Thrift gift certificate drawing. “So this is a win-win all around.”

All morning, people arrived at the drop-off party with carloads of clothing, desks, chairs, computers, books – even three bags of stuffed bunnies – for Impact Thrift.

“I’m a big believer in recycling and repurposing,” said Beth Allen, founder of HIP Chicks, a “do it yourself” home improvement business.

Allen said two weeks ago her family cleaned out the basement in preparation for the new school year, setting aside old soccer cleats and kitchen supplies for the less fortunate.

Deana Corrigan, an owner partner with , sent one son to Penn State University and another to Holicong Middle School this year.

“It pulls at your heart a little bit, but the baby stuff is finally gone,” she said. “It’s the perfect time to donate, so I don’t feel bad letting it go.”

For Ellen Cox, a Mary Kay consultant and co-founder of Network Now, last weekend’s Hurricane Irene provided a much needed stimulus to focus on reorganizing for the fall and filling eight bags to donate.

“Network Now has provided a lot of validation for us all,” Cox said. “Everyone’s balancing kids, a husband and a business. We’re all doing equal parts.”

As donations began to , conversation turned to yellow school buses, lunch boxes and Number 2 pencils.

“Jamie makes today special,” Greenawalt said. “For many of us with grown children it’s nostalgic. We come to commiserate letting our children go, and it ties into something that can help everyone.”