News & Press Releases
The Orchard Town Center and the Women’s Bean Project Launch “Recipe for Success”
Partnership will provide opportunities for local community to gather and grow
Westminster, Colo. (June 24, 2008) – The Orchard Town Center today announced the launch of its Recipe for Success cause-related partnership with the Women’s Bean Project, an organization that helps women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment. The partnership is comprised of a series of community activities throughout the summer including the development of a community cookbook and a community-wide event, The Bean Soup Social, scheduled for Sept. 13 at The Orchard Town Center.
“When we help women become employable and self-sufficient, we’re impacting not just the women in our program, but also their families, their friends and their neighbors, which dovetails perfectly with The Orchard Town Center’s strong commitment to growing its local community,” said Tamra Ryan, executive director for the Women’s Bean Project.
The Recipe for Success program kicked-off with a beanstalk-planting event at The Orchard Town Center. Participants from the Women’s Bean Project planted bean seedlings in planters to signify the partnership. The Orchard Town Center will employ women from the Women’s Bean Project to care for the bean plants throughout the summer as part of an effort to help the women, the plants and The Orchard Town Center flourish and grow. In September, The Orchard Town Center will donate the beanstalks to a local elementary school.
Attendees at the kickoff event included Women’s Bean Project Executive Director, Tamra Ryan; The Orchard Town Center General Manager, Nancy Rezac; and Director of Marketing for The Orchard Town Center, Diana Fiore.
“The Orchard Town Center is a place where our local community can come together and grow together,” says Diana Fiore, director of marketing for the Orchard Town Center. “Our partnership with the Women’s Bean Project demonstrates this commitment and will create opportunities for our guests throughout the local community to become more involved.”
Recipe for Success will include the following activities throughout the summer designed to engage the local community:
Growing the Summer Concert Series:
The Orchard Town Center is hosting a free summer concert series featuring live concerts every Friday night by Denver metro’s favorite bands. The Women’s Bean Project will be part of these fun-filled nights beginning Friday, June 27. Concert-goers will have the opportunity to purchase Women’s Bean Project products, learn about the organization and investigate ways to get involved and have an impact. The Women’s Bean Project also will be on site July 4, Aug. 1, Aug. 15 and Aug. 29.
Recipe for Success Cookbook:
The Orchard Town Center and Women’s Bean Project have partnered together to create a cookbook featuring mouthwatering recipes from local dignitaries, community influential’s and media personalities. Each recipe will include at least one Women’s Bean Project product as an ingredient. The cookbooks will be given to attendees of the Sept. 13 Bean Soup Social.
Recipe for Success Activities for Kids:
The Orchard Town Center’s summertime events include activities for kids.
- On July 4 and August 29, kids can test their green thumbs by decorating pots and planting beans. Each pot will cost $5 with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to Women’s Bean Project. Kids will also have the chance to play games including a beanbag toss.
- On July 24, kids can paint wooden spoon rests and play games.
Bean Soup Social: On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Orchard Town Center will host the Bean Soup Social. Using one of the Women’s Bean Project’s soup mixes and adding their own special flavor, the head chefs from three of the center´s restaurants - Mexico Cantina Y Cocina, Rock Bottom Brewery and Woodlands Grill – will make soup for attendees. Each restaurant will partner with one of the following community organizations - the Westminster Fire Department, the Westminster Police Department and the Mayor´s office – to serve the soup. 5280 Food Editor, Amanda Faison, will be onsite to test out each of the chefs’ unique creations. Women’s Bean Project iced tea, cornbread, cookies and brownies will also be served.
In addition to enjoying soup, event-goers will have the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind soup bowls decorated by local musicians, influential community leaders and media personalities.
Tickets for the Bean Soup Social are $20 for adults and $5 for children. The ticket price provides entry to the event, a complementary lunch and a Recipe for Success Cookbook. Kids will also receive a craft to decorate and a beanstalk growth chart.
All the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Women’s Bean Project.
Tickets go on sale June 27 and will be available at guest services (cash only) and online at www.TheOrchardTownCenter.com.
For more information on the Orchard Town Center, visit www.TheOrchardTownCenter.com.
For more information on the Women’s Bean Project, visit www.womensbeanproject.com.
About the Women’s Bean Project
The Women’s Bean Project is a nonprofit organization that teaches job readiness and life skills for entry-level jobs through employment in its gourmet food production business. Women come with the goal of transforming their lives and moving toward self-sufficiency.
About The Orchard Town Center
The Orchard Town Center, located at the northwest corner of Interstate 25 and 144th Avenue, is a unique, pedestrian-friendly lifestyle village. The center offers residents and visitors exceptional options in shopping, dining and entertainment in an environment that invites lingering, relaxing and socializing. Designed in classic prairie craftsmanship style, The Orchard Town Center provides more than 40 entertainment, retail and restaurant establishments, including AMC Orchard 12, JCPenney, Macy’s, Super Target, Rock Bottom Brewery and Woodlands Grill. The project was developed by Forest City Commercial Group Inc. and the City of Westminster.
Forest City Commercial Development is a unit of Forest City Enterprises Inc., a $10 billion NYSE-listed national real estate company. The Company is principally engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States.
Contact:
Diana Fiore
The Orchard Town Center
(303) 450-8610 ext. 206
dianafiore@forestcity.net
