As a solo traveler, Candy was worried about coming on her own, but she quickly became the leader of a very wild pack of solos. Her friendliness is a magnet that draws in Sweeties, old and new.

Like all of our Sweeties, I feel so grateful to have her travel with us. A word of caution, Candy will buy you shots of tequila until you pass out. Don’t worry, she will make sure you get home safely.

Candy received a ton of nominations from her fellow Sweeties for our Sweetie of the Year award. When I read her speech, I knew that not only was Candy someone special, but that Sweet was doing something wonderfully right.

This is Candy’s totally awesome speech from our Sweetie Awards Weekend in San Francisco in March:

Thank you, Shannon, for the very kind introduction. And thank you Jen, Julie, and Babs for making this weekend a reality for all these generous, beautiful and — at this point in the day after the wine country tour — somewhat intoxicated Sweeties. I have to say it feels a little weird being up on stage at a Sweet event without a karaoke machine somewhere nearby, so you’ll have to forgive me when I lapse into a chorus of “Old Time Rock and Roll,” if I lose my place in my speech. Old habits die hard after all.

In all seriousness, I have to say that I was more than a little surprised when I received the email from Shannon notifying me that I was amongst those nominated for the first annual “Sweetie of the Year Award.” For those who weren’t on the Isla Mujeres trip last September and don’t already know me as “that woman who’s running around table-to-table telling everyone she just turned 50 yesterday and wanting us to do shots,” I am relatively new to Sweet, that trip having been my initial experience.

But here I am a scant six months later, both humbled and honored to be considered for the title “Sweetie of the Year.” I figured I might be an odds-on favorite for “Most Likely to Inadvertently Do Harm to Herself,” “Most Likely to Create a Shortage of Tequila,” or “Person We’d Like to See Posting Less Frequently on the Sweeties Facebook Page,” but I never would have imagined my name would be tossed in the hat for the Big One.

You see, six months ago, I was barely recycling on a regular basis, much less thinking about other “little things I could do a lot” to make a difference in this gigantic world of ours. (I’m paraphrasing Shannon on that one.) But, as corny as it sounds, while I went to Isla for the fun and frolic, I came back not only with a few dozen great new friends, but with a sense of inspiration to bring Sweet’s mission back home with me. I don’t know how anyone can hang out with Shannon and not have a little of that inspiration rub off on you — she’s truly incredible. And the real magic in what she does is that the little seed of inspiration she plants within each of us somehow grows exponentially when we all come together — it’s definitely one of those cases where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

I want to thank the Shannon and the Sweet staff for making every trip so unique and special and thank all the Sweeties — the ones who are here tonight, the ones who couldn’t make it, and the ones who don’t even know they’re Sweeties yet — for making Sweet what it is. I hope all of you come away from this weekend feeling like you’ve had a great time, met a new friend or 10, and, most of all, feeling like you want to do a little something every day to make the world a better place.

Sweet CEO Shannon Wentworth shares the little, big idea behind Sweet’s community service projects at TEDx Scottsdale, December 10, 2011. Enjoy.

Shannon Wentworth and Turtle Chairez having a post-op Coke and a smile.

BY SHANNON WENTWORTH
As I stood at the operating table, holding a feral cat’s uterus in clamps, I thought, “I have the best job ever!”

On our recent Isla Mujeres resort vacation, we did our most ambitious project yet. We trapped, sterilized and released feral cats. It was a three-part, three-day project.

Before we left, Sweeties, two nurses and one super awesome veterinarian teamed up to rustle up the supplies and the cash. Once we got there, we joined with four of the island’s most fierce defenders of cats, Lupita, Josefina, Paloma and Mildred, to capture these wild felines. While they look all cute and fuzzy, they are not like the housecats we’re used to in the United States. As soon as the trap closes on them, they are all hisses and teeth and claws. Blessedly, they calm down if you cover them with a towel.

About 20 of us went out to set and bait the traps. Cats love lesbians as much as lesbians love cats, so we caught them pretty quickly. We took them back to the vet’s office where we marked them by the location where we found them and let them rest for the night.

The next morning, a crew of about eight went back to the hospital to begin sterilizing the cats. Even though I planned this project, I never imagined I’d actually operate on the cats. And yet, there I was, elbow deep in cat guts.

My teacher is Dr. Delphino, a man with a huge heart who speaks little English. Because of cultural supersitions, nobody adopts the black cats. Dr. Delphino’s office was crawling with black, black and white and tortoise shell calico cats. Sweet comedian Jennie McNulty and her partner Sheila took one home (brava, ladies).

Dr. Delphino asked if I wanted to help, I said, “yes.” I thought I’d be changing newspaper or mopping floors or even his brow, but next thing I know I’m tying a cat to an operating table as his assistant puts scrubs and sterile gloves on me.

I speak very little Spanish, “cerveza,” “pico de gallo,” “donde esta la bano?” Dr. Delphino speaks little English (though it’s better than my Spanish). As it turns out, veterinary medicine is the universal language. Dressed like an extra in “Grey’s Anatomy,” I looked into his big brown eyes and it felt like he was telling me what to do without words. We proceeded to sterilize two female and three male cats together.

On the first cat we sterilized, a female, I noticed that while she wasn’t moving, her heart was beating a mile a minute. Our second patient, another female, I could barely feel her heartbeat. Dr. Delphino showed me that she was lactating, which meant she had babies to feed somewhere. She was also dehydrated. A few minutes into the surgery, I realized I hadn’t felt a heartbeat in a while and I told Dr. Delphino who grabbed this miracle drug a vet in the United States had sent me the day before I left. It’s called Respiram and it brought this mama cat back to life.

After the cats were sterilized, we notched their ears so we wouldn’t trap them again as well as vaccinating them, giving them a strong antibiotic and removing their fleas and ear mites. We gave them lots of love and affection while they were sleeping, too. The next day, we released them back into the wild.

In all, Sweeties sterilized 21 feral cats while we were in Isla Mujeres. When I started Sweet, I wanted to do small projects to show people how easy, fun and empowering it feels to give back. Thanks to Sweet guests Marta and Cecilia and Sweet staffer Natalie Garcia, Sweet was able to connect with this amazing team of cat rescuers and make a huge difference in a short amount of time. Thank you Marta, Cecilia, Natalie and everyone who opens their hearts and pushes us to do more. Together, we are changing the world for the better.

AFTER ALL YOUR LOVE SWEET LOVE

UPDATE: Hooray and thank you to all the Sweeties who donated and made it possible for my sister to care for this abandoned little girl. She’s doing awesome now. Her name is Sunshine. Thank you for making the world a brighter, better place.

Dear friends,
My little sister is the dog manager for Delta Animal Safe Haven, a non-profit dedicated to finding homes for homeless animals. Last week, a couple in Antioch, Calif., found an abandoned one-week-old puppy (see above). She’s so young, her eyes are still shut and her umbilical cord is still attached.

Normally, DASH doesn’t take animals that will require such expensive care because they don’t have a ton of funding and they have loads of other animals for which to care.

And yet, who could turn away this helpless little girl? Not my sister, that’s for sure. Casey has been finding wounded animals and healing them as long as I can remember. I swear, birds fall out of trees so they can hang out with her.

This little girl is in good hands. But she needs formula, wee pads and blankets. All donations in her name will go to her recovery.

Additionally, if any one in the East East Bay Area is looking for a dog, talk to Casey. She has a few wonderful dogs ready for a forever home.

Sweeties, we’ve already helped over 60 puppies and kitties. Together, I have no doubt, we’re going to save puppy and kittykind.

Thank you for your passion and compassion.

Stay Sweet,
Shannon

TO DONATE
Your good wishes and cash contributions are greatly appreciated. Anything helps. Contribute to Delta Animal Safe Haven Please tell DASH that you’d like your donations to help “Casey Harvey’s sweet puppy” in the comment field when you donate.

Nobody made a greater mistake than she who did nothing because she could only do a little.

— Edmund Burke

Once upon a time, a little girl was walking on the beach where thousands of starfish were stranded in the sand. She hurled one after another into the sea. A man walked up and said, “There’s too many. You’ll never save them all. You can’t make a difference.”

The girl thinks a minute, looks at the piles upon piles of starfish, picks another one up and throws it in the ocean. “I made a difference to that one.”

Often we feel so discouraged by the enormity of a problem that we fail to start. That’s why Sweet breaks giant global issues into fun-filled, bite-sized chunks.

So far, we’ve done some really big things, like:
• Found homes for over 50 stray cats and dogs
• Removed 300 bags of trash from beaches and parks
• Created a children’s library in Belize City
• Donated five new computers to a children’s e-learning center in Roatan.
• Planted over 6,000 trees
• Painted schools and children’s hospital wards
• Rescued hundreds of baby sea turtles
• Donated hundreds of suitcases full of school supplies
• Helped homeless youth, battered women, special needs kids and more!

And the best part: We had fun doing it! All of Sweet’s projects are designed to accomplish big things in a short time followed by a celebration (usually at the beach).

Whether you donate supplies, money, time or encouragement, you’re helping make the world a better place when you travel with Sweet. When was the last time you felt so good sipping margaritas on the beach?

See for yourself:

Join your pals at Sweet for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in San Francisco, September 9-11, 2011. Sweet founders Jen Rainin and Shannon Wentworth lead Team Sweet as we raise much-need funding for vital breast cancer research.

JOIN TEAM SWEET

DONATE TO TEAM SWEET

Thank you for your support. We look forward to walking with you.

BY SHANNON WENTWORTH

Wonder Sweetie powers activate! Form of a brain cancer killing thingamabobber! I wish it were that easy. Yet, I’ve learned not to doubt the power of your collective sweetness, so here’s your next project. This one is very personal to me.

Seven years ago this month, I met Susan Nachand and Becky Cable on Olivia’s Western Caribbean Cruise, you know, the first one with the Indigo Girls. I was signing people up for karaoke, when I noticed that Susan’s slip said “Pleasant Hill, Calif.” Yo! That’s where I grew up, so we got to talking. We pretty much haven’t stopped.

You can’t believe how nice they are. LIke it’s ridiculous. It doesn’t seem possible that two people could be so freakishly happy with the world and each other. Nor does it seem like people this good are even possible. These women spend their days, evenings and weekends patiently working with special needs children. After years of trying to find out if it was all a front for an organ farm or fur seal-clubbing fetish, I’ve decided they’re the real deal.

It’s easy to be nice when you’re beautiful and smart and successful, which they are, but they’ve also been through more since I’ve known them than anyone should have to deal with in a lifetime. First, their oldest son Nick was hospitalized for four months with a mysterious ailment. Hooray, he’s totally fine now.

Next, Becky started having seizures out of the blue, culminating in the slow speed rear-ending of a police officer on Christmas Eve. Hooray, she’s totally fine now.

The Poop Jar Clan as I affectionately call them—after IM’ing with a then-10-year-old Sophia who identified herself as “Poop Jar” while she was logged into her moms’ account—consist of Becky and Susan and their lovely children Nick, 23, Maddy, 19, Sophia, 16, and Posy, 4. The Poop Jars are among my biggest cheerleaders. They insist that I find a way to work the words “poop” and “jar” into any live radio I do. And the Poop Jars get when the Poop Jars want. I’m sure there are a slew of radio hosts across this great land of ours who think I have fecal Tourette’s.

I digress. When Posy was born, she was given a very grim outlook. They thought cerebral palsy. They thought she’d never grow. They didn’t give her much of a shot at life actually. Fortunately, she was born into exactly the right family because these Poop Jars do not give up. There are no dark clouds over Poop Jar central in Pleasant Hill. They fought and they patiently nursed their bright little girl into the healthy, vibrant and smart girl she is today. Hooray, another miracle.

Two weeks ago, the mighty PJs got more bad news. I’m tempted to call in Shirley Maclaine. Maybe they ran that organ farm in a past life? Because this doesn’t make sense. Susan, perhaps the sunniest of all the PJs, was diagnosed with a lethal brainstem glioma. They say it’s inoperable. They say it’s incurable. The PJs say: “FU, tumor. You are going down.” And I believe them. These Poop Jars make miracles happen.

I want to be sitting around with Becky and Susan 50 years from now, fondly recalling a time our boobs weren’t like plumb bobs seeking level. It’s selfish, I know. The world has many problems. I promise, Sweet will get to them. Right now, we need your help to solve this one.

Are you ready for Operation Poop Jar? First, they need you to activate your Sweet wonder powers and send them tumor-murdering jolts of love sweet love. Second, they need money for treatment to send this glioma packing.

The PJs’ pals Cheryl and Tracy have set up the Susan Nachand Wellness Fund. You can give right online via Paypal or you can mail a check.

SWEET WILL MATCH YOUR DONATIONS dollar for dollar until May 1, 2011. Additionally, everyone who donates will be entered to win a junior suite for two at your choice of our upcoming resorts. AND the first three people to give over $2,500 receive their choice of Sweet resort vacation (Isla Mujeres, September 2011, or Cozumel, September 2012). Yes, it’s cheaper than buying it from us. That’s how important Susan and Becky are to our Sweet family. To enter to win, simply forward your Paypal receipt to info@discoversweet.com or write SWEET in the memo line of your check and send it to: “Nachand Fund” c/o Cheryl Dumesnil, 39 Alder Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA, 94595.

We love the Poop Jars. We love you. We know that with enough love, we can do anything.

Please donate today > SUSAN NACHAND WELLNESS FUND

If you aren’t on Facebook, email us at info@discoversweet.com and we’ll tell you how you can give.

When Sweet visited Cozumel in September 2010, the amazing DJ Trina J organized an expedition to help the plight of stray animals in Cozumel. We had no idea about the dump dogs described in the video above.

Wherever we go, we ask the community what they need. We try to work with locals to create easy and fun projects that make a big difference in a short amount of time. We set the stage, then step back and watch the magic happen. Any one who has traveled with us knows: The No. 1 reason that Sweet is so special is our guests. Our guests are the rockstars on our vacations. We are blessed to travel with the kindest, smartest and most generous women on the planet.

Two rockstars from our recent trip to Cozumel, Gina and Cindy, adopted two of the dump dogs from the video above. Zacatecas and Osita were deemed unadoptable, but thanks to Gina and Cindy’s compassion and commitment, they now have a fat new home in Nebraska. That’s truly Sweet.

Join us when we return to Cozumel in 2012!