By Heather Hunter | Photos by Evan Meagher
CARMEL, IN – Despite the heat, Synergize members and guests gathered at 3Up on August 22 for the group’s monthly 4:30 Meetup. This month’s event featured Cocktails and Caregivers, and was sponsored by Homes with Steill (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices).
Cocktails and Caregivers was founded by Amanda Clark-Wahl. She stepped into a caregiving role when her first husband was diagnosed with cancer. The two of them chronicled their experiences during his treatment on a blog called “Cocktails and Chemo”.
After his passing, Amanda started Cocktails and Caregivers to provide support, community, and resources to other caregivers.
“We were dealt a hand and had to decide whether to play or to fold,” Amanda said while speaking at the event. “We wanted our daughter to see us persevere.”
The organization was selected by Shaun and Tiffany Goodyear of Indy Facets Private Jeweler, a Carmel small business and Presenting Partner of Synergize. They have been personally impacted by Cocktails and Caregivers and have been longtime supporters of the organization.
“Amanda is a friend, and the work Cocktails and Caregivers is doing is something necessary for people that can often feel invisible,” said Shaun Goodyear, owner and founder of Indy Facets Private Jeweler. “It’s an honor to be able to support them personally and through Synergize.”
This is Synergize’s second time supporting Cocktails and Caregivers at a 4:30 Meetup. A portion of each member’s dues are donated to support each month’s featured cause. This month, Synergize raised a baseline of $1,725, not including additional gifts from members and partners.
The 4:30 Meetup occurs on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Tickets are included with every Synergize membership, but also available for purchase without a membership. September’s beneficiary will be the Roundtripper Foundation, selected by Current Publishing, another Presenting Partner of Synergize.
Synergize is a professional organization based in Carmel. Besides the 4:30 Meetup, Synergize events include small personal and professional growth groups, social events, and group volunteering. For more information about the organization, visit www.synergizeindy.com.