Our friends at the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia are throwing a party on Friday. Here's what they have to say about it:
This Earth Day weekend, more than 300 local businesses leaders will come together to celebrate the progress of Philadelphia’s green movement. The Sustainable Business Network’s fourth annual SustainaBall will be held Friday, April 23 from 7:30-11 p.m. at The Chestnut Club at Arcadia Theater, 1529 Chestnut St.
A special VIP reception for sponsors will offer the chance to mix and mingle with local sustainable rock stars including Kerri-Lee Halkett from Fox29, Judy Wicks, founder of White Dog Café, and more. The reception will feature a sustainable chocolate tasting by John & Kira’s, specialty cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and gift bags filled with more than $75 worth of goodies from eco-friendly businesses.
SustainaBall is the premiere annual fundraising event for the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN), which cultivates socially and environmentally responsible commerce in the Philadelphia region. The event will feature local, organic food from Cosmic Catering, eco-chic cocktails by Yards Brewery, Philadelphia Brewing Company, and ECO-BAR, live music, and a silent auction featuring more than 100 local businesses.
As always, SustainaBall’s eco-friendly event practices include locally sourced food and beverage providers, on site recycling and composting, biodegradable and compostable serve ware, recycled paper invitations, and paperless ticketing.
Sustainable Business Network is a nonprofit network of local triple-bottom-line businesses and social entrepreneurs committed to building a more socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable local economy. SBN is a founding member of North America's Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), a national alliance of local business networks in North America who are building living economies in their regions. A living economy supports both community life and natural life, while sustaining long-term economic viability.
Over the past year, SBN has pioneered advancements in the local green economy including launching the Philadelphia Materials Project to grow local manufacturing, developing the Emerging Industries Project to examine growing green sectors, and partnering with B Lab to support legislation to create the country’s first tax credit for certified sustainable businesses. Mayor Nutter signed the legislation into law in December 2009. Most recently, SBN educated more than 200 businesses through its 8th Annual Social venture Institute in February 2010.
SBN led its first trip to Washington D.C. in February 2009 to advocate for the inclusion of green job training dollars in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and to educate them about the need to support local businesses who are necessary to create new jobs. After meeting with U.S. Senators and Representatives two days before they cast their votes, the final ARRA bill included $500M for green jobs training.
In addition to tripling its staff and moving into a larger office space, SBN enjoyed more than 50% membership growth in the past year. The organization hired Philadelphia’s first Green Jobs Coordinator, formalized the Green Economy Department, and hired a Green Partnerships Associate to help connect businesses to opportunities in the green economy.
The SustainaBall supports these trailblazing programs and the continued advancement of Philadelphia’s sustainable economy. Tickets are $75 and VIP tickets start at $125 and are available here.
