As a Hollywood stunt woman, professional scuba instructor and jewelry designer, I have an exciting life. I get to work on movie sets with actors like Drew Barrymore and directors James Cameron, swim with sharks in remote reefs around the world, and I create jewelry with natural stones and crystals that I collect from my many travels.
Yet the activity that pulls at my heart strings the most is working with at-risk youth in Los Angeles…
Did you know that gangs start recruiting kids as young as 7 years old? Statistics show that as many as fifteen million children worldwide have no place to go after school. These children are more likely to be victims of crime or to participate in bad behavior.
The statistics are simply too sad to ignore, so as a jewelry designer and company owner, I have now focused my energies to help those “at risk” youth of the inner-city neighborhoods. I am getting help through a fantastic non-profit called A Chance for Children Foundation. Together we have been able to help these children overcome their fears and insecurities. Doing something kind for them fills me with an inner joy that money cannot buy.
Our favorite projects include bringing beads to shelters and schools around Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Christmas. This provides an opportunity for the kids to craft presents for their loved ones for free!
As a scuba diver, my friends and I have also had the opportunity to introduce dozens of kids to the underwater world and share our love for oceans.
We also talk with them about our lives, telling them stories of our amazing adventures and reinforcing the philosophy evoked by Winston Churchill’s famous words “Never, never, never give up!” A while ago, inspired by this program, I created several necklaces around that inspiration.
If you are feeling a pulled to do something that helps the less fortunate, think of how your passion, talent or hobby could create a new experience for others. The mind is a powerful tool. Believe in something and it will happen.
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