Non-Profit Advocate and Lifestyle Expert Promotes Healthy Living – The Wave

The roots of change are happening in the most unexpected places for people like Julie Mulligan, creator of Smile Farms activities and workshops. But his efforts have connected him with his family and his community.

Smile Farms is a non-profit family organization that began as a philanthropic partnership between the flower company 1-800-Flowers, founded by Mulligan’s brother Jim McCann, and the IGHL team at home on Long Island, where Mr. Julie Mulligan’s disabled brother, Kevin McCann, lives there. Mulligan said Smile Farms is committed to providing employment opportunities to adults 21 and older who have disabilities and are now off all government services.

The name and spirit of giving back to the community is at the heart of the Smile Farms brand.

“Starting with my mother, she was always smiling, and she always instilled that in all of us. I never thought of it that way — that it’s Smile Farms that really keeps all his kids together,” Mulligan said.

In her transition between retirement and her current position at Smile Farms, Mulligan began organizing workshops for the organization focusing on flower arranging and lifestyle tips.

“It’s close to my heart and my family, and it gives me the opportunity to still do what I’ve always wanted to do in my career, hosting events, working with flowers and have fun – that’s always been my motto,” Mulligan. said.

What is now called Smile Farms “Sips and Stems” events began in 2018. Mulligan said these are happening with the support of her daughters and her relationship with 1-800-Flowers. When Sips and Stems started, Katy Gray, the manager of the Bungalow Bar, who, as Mulligan said, is a retail expert, helped create another partnership with these events by connecting with customers at Smile Farms.

A shipment of flowers at the beginning of the epidemic was directed to the Rockaways at Mulligan’s request. As if it were New York’s answer to Martha Stewart, Mulligan instructed those involved in Smile Farms to donate and pick up sunflowers from designated areas to accompany the work of making flowers at home. Mulligan said The Rockaway Hotel provided her and Gray with a suite to film a flower arrangement and cocktail making video.

Shortly after the video went up, a curator associated with Smile Farms suggested calling what would become similar events “Sips and Stems” because, according to Mulligan, there was always -have a drink related to flower arrangements.

Now, Mulligan works closely with Katy Gray at the Bungalow Bar, which serves up the Sips and Stems bar. Meanwhile, Mulligan is working his connections from 1-800-Flowers for resources. However, Mulligan says that since he retired, it’s up to him to get the product. He said holding events like this helps him realize that all things can be connected.

“I find that there are a lot of people out there doing a lot of good things, and you meet at these events where other people are doing good things, and each event is not going to keep the organization going. he keeps going,” Mulligan said. “But it is to be the spokesman of the organization; is to raise awareness; is to meet people who can use our services, or maybe we know someone who can use their services.”

At every Sips and Stems event, 100 percent of the proceeds go to Smile Farms. These funds are used to continue providing vocational training at each of the 13 Smile Farms campuses and partner organizations throughout New York.

Smile Farms covers the greater New York City area. Version of Nov. 7 “La Dolce Vita” Sips and Stems at Bungalow Bar was held in the Hamptons this past summer. Mulligan said Smile Farms has dedicated support and that programs almost always sell out. He likes to start every meeting with fundraising and development updates. After that, he said he instructs people on what they need to feel involved and be creative.

“We always try to squeeze in as many people as possible, and everyone always has a good time,” Mulligan said. “You always have more fun when you know you’re doing it and helping someone at the same time.”

As Smile Farms is about creating a way of life and community, as Mulligan said, Sips and Stems highlight the caring nature of Smile Farms’ community members and farmers. “La Dolce Vita” – which means the sweet life – is nurtured in this web of individuals.

“If you were to walk into Smile Farms when all the workers were there, you would know what it was like to live a happy life, and they, in their hearts. [happy]and that’s the beauty of it,” Mulligan said.

After the “Sips and Stems” show for this season, Mulligan said he plans to bring Christmas Cheer to Southold New York’s One For All Gift Shop in December.