Yelp Community Blog: Yelp Helps Cause Giving Matters In Nashville

Nashville yelpers kicked off the giving season with speakeasy style during Yelp Helps on Friday, November 18th with Yelp Nashville and presenting sponsor GivingMatters.com. The inaugural Yelp Helps party centered around philanthropy and was hosted during the grand opening week of spectacular new event venue Marathon Music Works. Over 14,000 square feet was dedicated to giving 15 area non-profits an opportunity to educate the local community on their missions and with ways that yelpers can give back through donations and volunteerism.

Participating nonprofit organizations included: Autism Society of Middle Tennessee, Belcourt Theatre, Brown Dog Foundation, Community Food Advocates, Land Trust for Tennessee, Musicians On Call, Nashville CARES, Nashville in Harmony, Nashville Humane Association, Nashville Symphony, Nurses for Newborns, Safe Haven Family Shelter, Southern Word, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and Urban League of Middle Tennessee.

Nearly 500 curious attendees mingled while visiting the interactive nonprofit organization's booths to sign up for email newsletters, donate funds, or to sign up to volunteer for various projects. In exchange for their good deeds, they were awarded chips to play in the gaming area that taunted with Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette tables. It's so good to be bad, right? Many attendees were in awe of the newly unveiled space that Music City Tents glammed up with beautiful decor and lounge areas while the distinctively moody ambiance was provided by Nashville Event Lighting. To keep the party going DJ Mindub spun hits throughout the night while Top Chef Arnold Myint kept the crowd on their toes as the charismatic emcee for the evening.

As Nickie G noticed, "Arnold Myint is one festive dude" but his genorosity didn't stop with the shananigans on the mic. The entire menu of scrumptious edibles were provided by his array of fabulous dining establishments that included Cha Chah, Suzy Wong's House of Yum, AM@FM, and PM. This crowd did not leave hungry especially when Myint's decadent brownies were served by the extraordinary Strolling Tables of Nashville. Guests were literally speechless over the glamorous costumed models strolling through the party as they served up treats.

Community partners Lipman Brothers brought lively libations that included a tasty assortment of Simply Naked Wines that had yelper Paul K gushing "I had some really good vino!" Meanwhile, hometown brewer (and Yelp BFF) Yazoo didn't disappoint with their big, rich, smoky malt bomb of a beer, Sue that was served in our very own souvenir glasses. Liquid courage certainly helped make some magical moments at the photobooth provided by music discovery site and bi-monthly publication Brite Revolution. Take a peek at all of the evidence here!

As an additional way to raise funds, Chirp Screenprinting produced Yelp Helps cause Giving Matters tees for $20 at the live screen-printing station with half of the proceeds going back to the nonprofit groups. After announcing the People's Choice Nonprofit and the High Roller Yelper winners and awarding them with some snazzy plaques, we also threw in some spoken word poetry performers, a visit from the dancing Frist Mummy, and a interactive scavenger hunt so full of mischief that a bright red women's bra was flung on stage. Long story....

Some of the more tame yelpers visited sponsor booths hosted by Nashville Scene, NowPlayingNashville.com, and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee that rounded out the evening. You can check out all do the reviews here but perhaps Lynne D sums it up best: "Our Nashville Yelp family is growing and Nashville is listening to us!"

Mad love to Telisha Cobb and the rest of the Marathon Music Works crew for hosting Yelp Helps, all 15 non-profits, Margaret Lipman and the Lipman Brothers team for their continous contributions, the charming Arnold Myint, Simply Naked Wines, Neil McCormick and Yazoo who always save the day, Chris Vetrano's Brite Revolution army for their media push, Mike Smith and Bessie Lapeyrouse with the Nashville Scene for their promotional push, Music City Tents along with Nashville Event Lighting for beautifying the space, Strolling Tables of Nashville for truly being a spectacle, Tim "MindDub" Hiber for keeping us entertained, Kristin Milner Photography, "The Men of Yelp" Kevin Newsum and Johnny Todd for their extra hands during the event, and the much appreciated collaborative efforts of NowPlayingNashville.com and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

A very special thank you goes out to Kelly Walberg and Beth Groves of GivingMatters.com for all of their hard work, determination, and for truly being partners in this successful venture. This is the start of a beautiful friendship.... just wait until you all see what's in store for next year!