Operation Clubhouse

A Letter From Holly

My dear BFFs,

I am writing to you today to share an exciting vision for our community, and to invite you to be a part of the next chapter for Real BFFs Annapolis.

As many of you know, Real BFFs has been a labor of love for over two and a half years, dedicated to creating a space where women of all ages can find friendship and belonging in Anne Arundel County and beyond. When I founded this group in October of 2021, I had no idea how strongly this would resonate or how far it would go.

Around this time last year, the feedback and support from all of you allowed me to move the group away from Facebook and into this private community space, which has grown significantly thanks to your participation.

We've come so far, but I still remember the days when I would make an event, invite 400+ people, promote it for weeks and end up sitting at a restaurant by myself. As the group has grown, the problem has flipped - from not enough RSVPs, to "Where am I going to put all of these people?!"

It's extremely exciting to see so many successful events with great turnouts. But it pains me to cap attendance at 10, or 12, or 20 members just because we don't have enough space to host everyone! If you're courageous enough to come to an event (and available to do so), I want there to be enough seats at the table. No waiting lists, no RSVP caps, just an open door for anyone who wants to join.

That's why I've been dreaming of a new concept for a while - one that I'm so excited to finally share with you, today.

Introducing...

The Real BFFs Clubhouse.

A dedicated space where we can host all the creative activities, meetups, and mixers we want. Want to plan a big potluck? Host a craft night? Have a theme party? At The Clubhouse, we'll have the freedom to explore new hobbies, meet new friends, and get to know one another in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

After several months of research, talking to event venues, and networking with local business owners, I have found a place where we can conceivably make The Real BFFs Clubhouse dream a reality. A space where we can gather together to host events without costly venue fees (or cramming a bunch of strangers into our tiny living room - been there, done that).

The Clubhouse concept would solve a huge problem in our community and give us a comfortable, fun place to meet new friends for both casual and organized gatherings. The location is in the heart of downtown Annapolis (right off West Street!), has its own parking lot on-site, and comes with a variety of furniture that we can move around to suit different activities - a cocktail mixer, a book club meeting, a movie night, a formal dinner - the possibilities are endless. Oh, and did I mention it's absolutely adorable?

I'm thrilled at the opportunity to move forward on this, and I've already got a huge list of event ideas for the new space, including:

  • Clothing or Food Drive
  • Mini Portrait Sessions / Headshot Event
  • High Tea Party
  • BINGO Night / Card Game Tournament
  • Potluck Dinner
  • Embroidery Workshop
  • Candle-Pouring
  • Baking Competition
  • Beauty Products Swap
  • Improv Class
  • Couples Mixer (Bring Your Partner)
  • Singles Mixer (Bring A Single Friend)
  • Pajama Party
  • Blind Wine Tasting
  • Open Mic Night
  • Charcuterie Board-Building
  • Paint-By-Number Night
  • Round Table Series - Financial Literacy
  • Self Defense Workshop

And SO many more! But to make this dream a reality, I need your help.

Starting today, we're launching a fundraiser to cover the costs of the first year of events at The Clubhouse, ensuring that we can offer our BFFs meetup opportunities without high ticket fees or attendance limits.

Up to this point, if we had 20 or more BFFs interested in an event, we'd either have a waitlist or be paying upwards of $400/hour to reserve a larger venue. That doesn't account for materials, decorations or any other supplies needed to make that event happen. If this fundraiser is successful, we'd be able to host 30+ BFFs every week for a year, and all we'd have to pay for are the supplies. Low-maintenance meetups such as book club meetings, potlucks, BYO events and more could be offered for free. That means more women than ever will have the opportunity to make new friends regardless of their financial situation.

I'm calling this fundraiser Operation Clubhouse, and if you can afford to give, it starts today. Whether you can contribute financially or simply share our fundraiser with your network, every bit of support brings us closer to our goal. Donors of $50 or more will receive a private VIP invitation to our first Open House event at The Clubhouse on Saturday, April 27th. Donors of $100 or more will also get some cool Real BFFs swag! Together, we can build a physical space that our community can call home.

So, how can you help?

  • Make a donation of ANY amount (Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major credit cards accepted) at this link through April 22nd.
  • Share the fundraiser with your network wherever you'd like! Here's some copy you can use, if you'd like:
    (Length of time) ago, I joined a women's social group called Real BFFs. Real BFFs is the first network designed to help women of all ages find friendship and belonging in Anne Arundel County and beyond. 💙 The group has a free community platform and app where you can meet new girlfriends, and RSVP to private meetups for everything from happy hour to hiking and bowling to brunch. It can be so challenging to make friends as an adult, but it's so much easier with Real BFFs. This month, we're seeking donations for a fundraiser called Operation Clubhouse. The fundraiser would allow the group to have a private space to meet regularly for all of our amazing events - potlucks, theme parties, book clubs, craft nights, and more - which are difficult to host without a large enough venue. If you can afford to give, your donation would help a community very near and dear to my heart take the next step, and make friendship more accessible to isolated women all over the county. To donate today, please visit:
    ​
  • Check out our auction the week of April 17th to place bids on everything from Real BFFs swag, to BFF "friend date" packages, to an event of your choice planned, hosted and promoted by me! There are so many fun items to choose from, and all of them will help move us towards our fundraising goal.

Thank you for being the heart and soul of Real BFFs. Your generosity, kindness, and unwavering support continue to inspire me every day. Let's embark on this journey together and make The Real BFFs Clubhouse a reality!

With love and gratitude,
Holly
Leader/Founder
Real BFFs Annapolis