Category: In Our Community

Raleigh named Best Place to Live

Olivia NolesIn Our Community, Raleigh PR Agency, , ,

Over the last few years, more and more people have been falling in love with Raleigh and choosing our city as their home, so it’s no surprise that the city has been recognized as a best place to live.

Raleigh is the second-fastest-growing metro in the country and was recently named:

Raleigh received these rankings based on studies that compare climate, education, economy and quality of life in major cities. It was found that people love Raleigh for a variety of reasons, including its:

  • Mild climate
  • Excellent food
  • Endless recreational opportunities
  • Ample green space
  • Outstanding education
  • Diversity
  • Innovation
  • And small-town feel

“One of my favorite things about Raleigh is all the small businesses and local restaurants,” said Olivia Noles, account coordinator at Clairemont Communications. “There are always festivals and pop-up shops where you can discover new local businesses and artisans, especially around the holidays. I also love that the mountains and beach are both around three hours away, which makes weekend getaways easy.”

Looking for a PR agency in the Raleigh area? Learn more about our services here and contact us!

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April is National Volunteer Month

Clairemont InternBlog, In Our Community, , ,

Do you volunteer? Or have you ever thought about volunteering? Well, this is the month to start. President George H.W. Bush started the 1000 Points of Light campaign in 1991 which established April as National Volunteer Month.

National Volunteer Month is all about recognizing the importance of volunteering and thanking those who have donated time and energy to worthy causes. Many organizations would fail to exist if it weren’t for volunteers, especially non-profits. Therefore, we need to do our part!

How to celebrate National Volunteer Month:

  • Thank a volunteer. If a volunteer has made a difference in your life, tell them.
  • Sign up to volunteer. If you’ve been putting this off for a while, try now! Keep reading to get ideas on where and what to do!

Some ways that Clairemont has given back are by supporting a few worthwhile organizations, including the Green Chair Project, Triangle Family Services and Saving Grace.

The Green Chair Project

The Green Chair Project is a nonprofit that “reuses donated furnishings for people facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis or disaster.” In Wake County, there are more than 87,000 residents living in poverty. However, there has been a total of 103,134 hours of volunteer service towards helping families live in well-equipped homes. Green Chair Project volunteers have a variety of responsibilities. For example, working in hospitality, processing donations, curating décor, assembling home bundles, beautifying buildings and warehouse assistance. If you would be interested in helping with any of these, email kirsten@thegreenchair.org or visit this link! 

Triangle Family Services

The mission of Triangle Family Services is to build a stronger community by strengthening families. They do this by offering programs focused on family safety, financial stability and mental health. As a result, our local community and growing youth will lead better lives. For more information about volunteering, email info@tfsnc.org.

National Volunteer Month

Saving Grace

Saving Grace is the place where animal lovers come together to help find adoptable dogs and cats in need of a second chance. Saving Grace follows a 6-step procedure:

  1. Find dogs and cats (and some farm animals!) that need a second chance and rescue them
  2. Transport the animals to Saving Grace
  3. Treat the animals for medical issues and provide some bathing and grooming services
  4. Find homes for the animals
  5. Follow up with the adoption transition

This organization would not exist without volunteers! There are opportunities available working at the farm, with transportation of animals, medical support, social media, adoptions, administrative support and photography. There is also a need for foster families. Go here for more information on how to register to be a volunteer.

Interested in more ways to help but don’t know how? 

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, and it helps expand your network and learn and grow new skills, all while improving other people’s lives. If you were ever looking to make a difference, the time is now. We encourage you to utilize these past few days of National Volunteer month to set your intention to volunteer and research opportunities that appeal to you!

By Clairemont intern Ali de la Vega

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Clairemont Team Gives Back: Ways to give back in the Triangle

Clairemont InternBlog, In Our Community, The Clairemont Team, , ,

This holiday season the Clairemont team shares ways to give back in the Triangle. Read about our favorite causes and organizations to work with below.

DANA PHELPS

For the past year, I have been a volunteer at Saving Grace, a non-traditional shelter environment for dogs that allows adopters to mingle and interact with a variety of dogs and choose a new companion based on temperament and suitability for their homes and families. I love volunteering as a photographer assistant. When new dogs come to Saving Grace, they need pictures taken for the website and social media promotion. They are often scared and confused, and I like being able to help welcome them with some extra pets and snuggles as they start a journey to finding a furever home. I recently spent some extra time with a dog named Melville who is wishing to be adopted for the holidays! 

Ways to give back in the Triangle

Melville visited us at The Clairemont House. He’s available for adoption through Saving Grace.

TRACY LATHAN

Taking time out of the busy holiday schedule to serve at Raleigh Rescue Mission and connect with the amazing people there is always such a gift and really helps my family remember how many people in our community are in need of basic necessities, like food and shelter. We also give back during the holidays by picking a family from the Angel Tree at our elementary school. My kids help pick out and wrap the gifts, and it warms our hearts to know we are helping some of their fellow classmates have a special Christmas.

DEREK BULLINGTON

I just moved to Raleigh and haven’t started volunteering yet, but I am looking at National Alliance on Mental Illness. Mental illness is something that I care deeply about. I want to be able to give support to those in need as well as take the stigma away from talking about mental illness. I hope to start volunteering with them in the new year.

OLIVIA NOLES

This holiday season I ‘adopted’ an Angel Tree from The Salvation Army. I was able to get my little girl a bicycle, Barbies and a few clothing items. I have always wanted to participate in the Angel Tree program because every child deserves to experience the joy of waking up to gifts from Santa. Giving gifts is one of my favorite things about the holidays. I am so thankful I can help families in need give their children a magical holiday season.

What are your favorite ways to give back in the Triangle? Tell us about how you give back to our community!

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Barre3 to Host FREE Community Class

Clairemont InternBlog, Clairemont Client News, In Our Community, ,

Feeling stuck in a fitness rut after so many months of working from home? Clairemont client, Barre3 is going to help you get back to prioritizing YOU!

Barre3 is a balanced, total-body workout combining cardio, strength training and mindfulness –– hence the “3” in Barre3. On Saturday, May 22, local Barre3 instructors will be joining hundreds of other Barre3 studios from across the nation to celebrate how far we’ve come over the past year.

Join us as we come together for a FREE outdoor 45-minute, full-body, balanced workout that includes, strength and conditioning, cardio and mindfulness in Raleigh’s beautiful Dix Park (Williams Field – 1800 Umstead Drive Raleigh, NC 27603). You’ll be guided through sustained holds, muscle-burning micro-movements, and heart-pumping cardio bursts that will leave you feeling balanced in your body and empowered from within as we collectively recognize the challenges we have all had to overcome.

DJ Joe Bunn will provide the music and Buoy Bowls Food Truck will be available for post-workout treats. There will also be several giveaways and special offers, including 5 classes for $50. Tennis shoes, a yoga mat and water are recommended.

Anyone is welcome! The class is FREE and open to the public, so grab a friend and join local Barre3 instructors Alston and Kailey on May 22 at 10 a.m.! 

Sign up here.

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2021 V-Day Gift Guide (At-Home Ed.)

Cherith AndesBlog, In Our Community, Inspirational, , ,

Staying at home this Valentine’s? We collected some of Raleigh’s favorite experiences, gifts and goodies to create a fun evening at home – both DIY and Done-For-You style.

In fact, it turns out that others love our picks as well! RAL Today published a similar version of our gift guide to share the love across the Triangle!

DIY Couple Kits

Make an evening of DIY deliciousness. DECO offers a Camp Craft Cocktail kit; add your own spirit to these pre-made Mason jars brimming with dried fruit, sugar cubes and garnishes to create your favorite sangria, cranberry martini or more. Or pick up a Culture for Health cheese-making kit (yup! It’s a thing!) to pair with your favorite wine.

Vita Vite Date Night Wine Basket

Curate your favorite date night into a take-home basket. Vita Vite, Raleigh’s wine bar + art gallery (and Clairemont client!), will personalize a collection of goodies — like a bottle of wine or bubbly, a cheese and charcuterie plate to-go, a cheeseboard and cutlery set, a wine-themed candle, wine tumblers, cocktail recipe books and more. You can also grab a single item to brighten your friend’s day. Visit in person to select, call (919) 322-0649 or email info@vitaviteraleigh.com.

Valentine’s (Virtual) Cooking Class

Cook up your own chef-inspired Valentine’s dinner together at home. Join a two-hour virtual cooking class hosted by HL Catering with Chef Houston to create a Chorizo Carbonara and Chocolate Cobbler feast. Check out the details here!

“Sweetheart Meal” To Go

Don’t feel like cooking? Order a French-influenced Valentine’s dinner for two from Farmhouse Café. Its delicious menu features mouthwatering highlights like French cheese and charcuterie for two, Beef Wellington, Salmon en Croute, Chocolate Pot au Crème … and much more! Get the details!

A Picture: Worth a Thousand Words

With so much of our time spent at home, treat your special someone to a fresh look for their favorite room. Vita Vite offers a collection of art by local southern artists, ranging from small pieces to fireplace-worthy beauties. One-of-a-kind pieces for one-of-a-kind friends. Get a quick look at a few pieces! Visit in person to see them all or email info@vitaviteraleigh.com.

There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Bling

Put a personal twist on a traditional Valentine’s favorite. Gift one of Audra Style’s sassy-meet-classy jewelry items; commission a personalized piece from Quercus or take home one of its delicately detailed gem-stone rings, necklaces or earrings.

Forget Love; I’d Rather Fall in Chocolate

Can’t not love this sweet deal! Inspired by the founder’s 10-year-old daughter long ago, Azurelise Chocolates now offers some of the area’s most decadent truffles — which The News & Observer once described as ” … not your typical prettified confections … They’re truffles for the purist, unadorned squares of chocolate that let their flavor do the talking.” Order today!

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