Women Entrepreneurs Give Mother’s Day Gift Proceeds To Tidewell

SARASOTA, FL — Four local women entrepreneurs have designed special Mother’s Day gifts inspired by the Tidewell Hospice’s services and programs.

BSWANKY, CSJ Designs and Customized Styling by Jessica, Debbie Dannheisser Threads and author Sara Jonas are all participating in this fundraiser, Tidewell said in a news release. A portion of the proceeds from each gift will benefit the Tidewell Foundation, Inc., which supports Tidewell Hospice.

These funds will allow Tidewell Foundation to grant free children’s and family grief services to more than 8,000 people throughout Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto and Charlotte counties annually through Tidewell’s Blue Butterfly program.

Tidewell’s Blue Butterfly program is the only evidence-based program in the region that helps children and caregivers grieve through professional counseling, peer-support groups and therapeutic activities, the nonprofit said.

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“We’re so excited to team up with these talented, entrepreneurial women and amazing brands to offer beautiful gifts for mothers throughout our community,” Tidewell Foundation President Debbie Mason said. “With the purchase of each gift, Tidewell Hospice will be able to expand the reach of its programs and touch more lives.”

Learn more about the businesses involved in this fundraiser:

BSWANKY

Inspired by Tidewell’s Blue Butterfly program, Gretchen Bauer, founder of Sarasota-based luxury handbag atelier BSWANKY, created a special collection of accessories. The limited-edition Mariposa collection includes both the first- and second-edition Sofita Mariposa Handbag featuring hand-painted butterfly motifs — a symbol of hope and life — by two artists along with the custom-designed Liz Sapphire Python Cuff.

“At BSWANKY, we empower people through fashion, whether they are the women handcrafting or carrying our luxury handbags or the community we give back to with initiatives like Compassion, It’s In The Bag,” Bauer said.

CSJ Designs and Customized Styling by Jessica

CSJ Designs and Customized Styling by Jessica is a nationwide styling and beauty concierge company supporting women to look and feel their best. Founder, Jessica Papineau, designed a special bracelet for Tidewell's Blue Butterfly program to remember her good friend Denise, a Tidewell Hospice patient who lost her battle to glioblastoma in 2020.

“Denise battled valiantly and lived longer than predicted,” Papineau said. “After watching her bravely battle this horrible disease, I wanted to honor her memory.”

The Denise CSJ Butterfly Bracelet is a handmade bracelet containing sterling silver, gold fill or Labradorite beads and a butterfly charm. The Denise CSJ Butterfly Bracelet captures Denise’s love for both butterflies and bracelets.

Debbie Dannheisser Threads

Debbie Dannheisser, creator of Sarasota-based art and clothing line Debbie Dannheisser Threads, was inspired to create the Tidewell Collection of Art Athleisure after coping with the loss of her daughter Nicole in 2018.

“As I grieved her loss, I realized that Nicole had lost her ability to see her own special beauty and joy and hold on to the love in her life. The first leggings I created were from the painting I had made for her months before she died,” Dannheisser said.

The Debbie Dannheisser Tidewell Collection includes high-waist leggings, high-waist capris and sports bras made from a high-quality polyester/spandex blend giving it a four-way stretch. Each product is adorned with butterflies and is available in multiple colors and patterns.

“Ham’s Big Adventure” by Sara Jonas

Local author Sara Jonas wrote “Ham’s Big Adventure” in honor of her best friend and Tidewell Hospice patient Jamie Myers.

“Even on his worst days, he took time to comfort people and ensure that they felt loved,” Jonas said. “It was also important to me to give back to the organization that gave so much time and care to Jamie at the end of his life.”

The illustrated children’s book is about a space pirate who travels the universe on his pirate ship searching for where love truly lives. Throughout his journey, Ham discovers that love isn’t as far away as he imagined.

To purchase these gifts ahead of Mother’s Day and support the Tidewell Foundation, shop online here.