Who “Miss A” Is (and Why I Reached Out)
What Happened: My Fundraising Request and Our Meeting
Here is what happened when I recently corresponded with Miss A.
Andrea and I had become friends on Facebook. I had noticed her popularity and how connected she was in the DC social scene, so I thought being connected to her could help my charity by expanding event reach. In other words, my motivation was practical: I hoped her network could help amplify a fundraising message, not that she needed to do all the organizing. That’s why I later asked her for promotional support and a possible venue lead in Washington, DC.
Recently I wrote to her and asked if she could help promote a fundraising event for Food for Life called Fashion for Compassion. More on this later, but basically we’re talking about a fashion show to benefit Food for Life, with the event designed to raise awareness of our feeding programs and eco projects. My request was primarily promotional—sharing the event with her audience and contacts—because visibility is often the biggest challenge for charity fundraisers.. More on this later, but basically we’re talking about a fashion show to benefit Food for Life.
Miss A agreed to help in some way. I then asked her if she knew a good venue in DC where we could hold the fashion show, and she suggested the Lotus Lounge on K Street. A few days later we met at the Lotus Lounge, where I presented the idea to the owners while Miss A listened. The meeting went well. During my presentation, I explained the event details and made a clear point that all food served at the fundraiser would need to be vegan, because that requirement is part of what the event is meant to promote.
The meeting ends and everything seems good. I now just have to see what special deal the Lotus lounge can offer us, and my hope is that by having Miss A there it will help to get us the best deal possible.
By this time, Miss A had already agreed to be on the host committee in exchange for two free tickets at the event. To be clear about expectations, I wasn’t asking her to run the fundraiser or change her personal lifestyle; I expected only basic support consistent with a host committee role, mainly helping get the word out about Fashion for Compassion through her large network. That context matters because her later decision to withdraw came after she had already indicated she would participate in that limited way.. I really didn’t expect her to do anything else but help get the word out about the event through her large network.
The Message Exchange (Verbatim)
Later, after our meeting at the Lotus Lounge, I wrote to Miss A to thank her for arranging the introduction and for being willing to help. Because her replies are the core of why I’m writing this post, I’m sharing the exchange below in the same straightforward, back-and-forth format. The sequence shows how the conversation shifted from a venue suggestion and a charity fundraiser to her decision to opt out based on personal preference and “brand” fit.
PRIYA:
Andrea,
Please let me know what you need. Sara [Event Coordinator] will be in touch soon.
– P
—————
PRIYA
Why I’m Sharing This (and What It Says About Priorities)
As you can see from this very simple, but telling exchange, Miss A—despite the “compassion” messaging on her public profile—appears to be more interested in her “brand” than anything else in this situation. Make your own mind up about her attitude here by reading her exact words. She had already agreed to be on the host committee, but then, for reasons she stated as liking “fur and meat! LOL” and saying it didn’t fit her “brand,” she dropped out of supporting a fundraiser focused on feeding children healthy meals and promoting environmental benefits.. Make your own mind up about her attitude here. She had already agreed to be on the host committee but then for no reason other than she liked “fur and meat LOL” she drops out.
I wanted say much more in the last email than “I am appalled by your attitude,” but I hesitated. The whole exchanged has been eating at me and I just felt impelled to share it with others.
FAQ
Q: What is this post about involving “Miss A” and Food for Life?
A: The post describes the author’s firsthand interaction with “Miss A” (Andrea Rodgers) after asking her to help promote a Food for Life fundraiser called Fashion for Compassion. After suggesting a DC venue (Lotus Lounge) and attending a meeting, Miss A later withdrew, citing that she loves “fur and meat” and that the event didn’t fit her “brand,” which the author found troubling given the charity focus.
Q: Who is “Miss A” in this story?
A: “Miss A” is presented as Andrea Rodgers, described in the post as a DC social figure who claims to be a dating and relationship expert and a columnist for HealthCentral Network’s SexualHealthConnection.com. The author references her “About” page and public image to explain why she initially seemed like a good person to approach for charity promotion through her network.
Q: What was the fundraising event “Fashion for Compassion”?
A: Fashion for Compassion is described as a fashion show fundraiser intended to benefit Food for Life. The author explains that the goal is to raise awareness for Food for Life’s feeding programs and eco projects, and that the event included a requirement that all food served be vegan, aligning with what the author describes as best for the planet.
Q: What venue did Miss A suggest for the fashion show in DC?
A: According to the post, Miss A suggested the Lotus Lounge on K Street in Washington, DC. The author and Miss A then met at the Lotus Lounge, where the author presented the event proposal to the owners while Miss A listened, and the author emphasized the vegan-only food requirement for the event.
Q: Why did Miss A decide not to participate in promoting the event?
A: In the message exchange included in the post, Miss A states that she loves “fur and meat! LOL” and later says she doesn’t think the fundraiser fits her “brand,” concluding that she is “out” and “not interested.” The author interprets this as choosing brand alignment over helping promote a cause centered on feeding children and environmental considerations.
Q: What did the author expect from Miss A originally?
A: The author says Miss A had agreed to be on the host committee in exchange for two free tickets. The author explains they did not expect extensive work—primarily that Miss A would help spread the word through her large network and possibly help with connections like identifying a good venue, which she initially did.
Q: What is the main criticism the author makes about Miss A’s response?
A: The author’s criticism is that Miss A’s replies suggest a lack of seriousness toward a fundraiser framed around feeding children healthy meals and promoting environmental benefits. The author highlights that Miss A had already agreed to participate, yet withdrew after referencing liking fur and meat and saying it didn’t fit her “brand,” which the author calls appalling.
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