Help Girls For A Change Raise the Roof and Get Your Hands on a Designer Bag at the Diva Bag Auction

(Black PR Wire) Richmond, VA - Registration is open for the highly anticipated Diva Bag Auction. Nonprofit organization, Girls For A Change (GFAC), has 52 designer handbags filled with luxury items, gift certificates, vacation packages, and unique experiences ready for folks to bid on. Ever wanted to get your hands on a coveted Telfar bag? How about a special edition Gucci? Not only can you grab an amazing bag, what’s in that bag is just as special: celebrity meet and greets, tickets to broadway shows, and signed celebrity items await. 

All proceeds from this year’s Diva Bag Auction go towards the One Million Reasons to Build campaign, a year-long campaign to fund the purchase of GFAC’s current building, remodeling costs and continue services provided by the organization for Black girls in the metro-Richmond area. This campaign has been gaining support from celebrities far and wide who want to see Girls For A Change “own it.”

“My one reason to build for Black girls, although there are many, is not just because I am one, it's also because I believe building for Black girls is a community investment. Black women have historically been the pillars and leaders of their community and now they are also the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the country, which means more jobs, more community support, and more contributions. Unfortunately, these often go overlooked. There have been efforts made to erase Black culture and Black history from our schools and oftentimes the things that are taught emphasize struggle and minimize contribution,” says singer and actress Andra Day.

The Diva Bag Auction will be held online, and its auctioneers will be celebrity supporters and GFAC participants. GFAC celebrity advocate Erica Ash, actresses Lindsey Blackwell, Michelle Weaver, and Kyanna Simone, are just some of the celebrities who will be convincing you to get that bag you’ve had your eye on. 

“For too long Black girls have been pushed out and silenced and we’re witnessing in real time our hair, history, and heritage under attack across the country. Girls For A Change staff and participants need our support to purchase a building where Black girls will be affirmed, not overlooked, celebrated and not silenced. As a Black girl, I know the importance of having a safe space to be your full and complete self without judgment and with this, Black girls can thrive,” says Actress Lindsey Blackwell, who will play co-host to the Diva Bag Auction alongside GFAC celebrity advocate Erica Ash.

Girls For A Change has enlisted its deep connections to help put together some pretty amazing packages for the auction. Handbags and other items have been generously donated by Anine Bing, Target, NBA/WNBA, Fossil, Gucci, and Chanel (to name a few). Kim Kardashian donated a Lanvin Hobo Cat Bag; Jodie Turner-Smith donated a special edition Gucci Dionysus Shoulder Bag; Flea, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, donated a signed bass guitar, and Joel Edgerton donated a day on the set. This is just a small sampling of what participants will find during the Diva Bag Auction! 

“When I’m asked why should we build, the answer to me is simple. The work that Girls For A Change is doing deserves a home. It deserves a hub - a sustainable hub that is owned. There’s something so rich and powerful about these young girls having a place to come to be inspired, poured into, and a place of stability because you have no idea what may go on in some of their lives; where there may be instability. This place serves as an anchor for all of the growth and all of the wonderful things that this orgnization is doing and will continue to do. Let’s build.” - Charis Jones, CEO of Sassy Jones and Girls For A Change Immersion Lab Ambassador.

Registration for the auction is open now and the auction will take place in celebration of Juneteenth. Online bidding opens June 17 and closes at 11:59pm on June 19. All handbags are listed on the site, however what’s in the bag is still a mystery! Stay tuned and follow Girls For A Change on social media (@GirlsForAChange) as they announce the Diva packages leading up to the event.

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 About Girls For A Change

Girls For A Change has been serving Black girls for over 20 years and is known nationally for our work. Our continuum of support approach starts with Black girls as early as elementary school and works with them into early adulthood and beyond. We co-create with participants to ensure we fill gaps and give girls the support they need as they enter into womanhood. GFAC programs focus on creating access and opportunities in three areas: academic success and career readiness, social-emotional health and wellness, and character and leadership. Our staff is made up of four dedicated Black women and a diverse, well rounded team of contractors and board members. We are supported by leading foundations like Grantmakers for Girls of Color, TIDES, Fortune 500 companies like Capital One, Target, Fossil, Facebook, and celebrities like Erica Ash (GFAC’s Celebrity Advocate), Erika Alexander, Joel Edgerton, and Chad Coleman (our Date with Dad Spokesperson). See more of our amazing partners here.

About the One Million Reasons to Build campaign

For five years, Girls For A Change has cultivated an empowering Black space built for Black girls to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Now it’s time to own that space. Black spaces and ownership matter. Purchasing our building sets an example for future generations; it demonstrates that Black women can own businesses and property and create the spaces we desire on our own terms. Over the course of the year, GFAC will host events and engage with sponsors to raise $1 million. Donations will fund the purchase of the building, remodeling costs, and help continue services provided by Girls For A Change for our community. Learn more about the fundraising campaign here.