From a young age, my mom taught me about sharing or how to share what you have. Mom is a single mother, and we don’t have extravagant things, but it was important for her to teach me not to be selfish. She taught me the same.
OK, my story goes... and some of my photos are at the bottom of this page.
We went through my toy box and picked some things out to donate to the Salvation Army. This was hard for me, I was around age 3, and it was hard to give up that green rabbit, I remember crying. Although we didn’t give many used toys, it was her way of showing me how to share, I had that stuffed rabbit I rarely played with, and some kids had nothing.. We did buy many toys to donate and that was fun to shop for. My mom wold search the stores looking for sales and bargains. Once she went to the sale isle and found these large walking dolls that were on sale for 8.00. We put one in the shopping cart to buy for our donation box. When we got up to the register, that doll rang up for only $1 so my mom told me to run back and get all that was left. We bought them all. This year I remember taking many large boxes of new toys to the Salvation Army and just leaving them. Not leaving a name, just setting them down.
At Christmas time, we would keep a box by our door, and when company came, they had to bring a small gift to place in our donation box. It worked and people visiting us complied. This was my beginning.
I would ring the bell at Christmas for the Salvation Army bringing all my large stuffed dogs, putting santa hats on them, and sitting them next to the kettle. My mom and I would go shopping for things on Easter and Christmas and goodie baskets to the hospital pediatrics. The kids enjoyed it.
My mom and I would go shopping for things on Easter and Christmas and goodie baskets to the hospital pediatrics. The kids enjoyed it.
I remember winning a Caring Kids Award from the United Way. I am not sure how I felt, I liked giving and sharing by this time, it was fun, so maybe I didn’t quite understand why I was awarded.
I worked as a child model since about age 3 to 12.
I was a Fisher Price Model and did many things for them. I was on their toy boxes- this was cool, I would walk through the toy section and see myself on several Fisher Price and Mattel toys. I was in many of their catalogs, in Working Mother magazine, K-Mart, Toy R Us, Brand Names catalogs, and Ames ads. The jobs were so much fun. I worked all summer and as much as 3 days a week for them. Because the people, and Crazy Bill, were so funny, and we got to play with the toys, it was a lot of fun.
I went on to get an agent, on went on to work for Kodak and appeared in Good Housekeeping and full page in People Magazine for Royal Gold film. I did several more jobs for them and appeared again in drug stores on posters, displays, on photo coupons, in Womans Day magazine, and in store flier and for Disneys Image Magic System.
I did more print jobs for McCurdys, Ivoclar Vivadent, a dental product, Japan Camera in Toronto, Greentree MasterCard, Goulds Pumps, True Value, and several different Kodak jobs.
I have done TV Commercials for WXXI-TV Rochester NY, Ronald McDonald House, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, Shawnee Optical, Erie PA, MVP Dental, Syracuse, NY,
Lift Bridge Kids, Brockport, NY, Goulds Pumps, Seneca Falls, NY.
I co-stared in a movie for Readers Digest named An Old Fashioned Christmas, as Tracy. I filmed my scenes in Rochester, NY, Angelica, NY, and Menden, NY. More of the movie was filmed in Vermont. I was 5, and this was my first big job. We stayed in a bed and breakfast for weekends for some scenes, and others we were on the set and catered meals. I didn’t have to memorize my lines, we were just told what to say beforehand, and said it in the scene when cued.
I did two independent films for the United Way and Drews True Value.
I entered the be the next Micky, Life Cereal contest and was a 3rd runner up and won some money. My mom sent in several different pictures.
I entered the Cambells Soup Funniest Noodle Contest and did not win 1st, but won a set of soup mugs.
I met Fabio the Italian Heart throb and Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald from Animal Planets ER Vets.
I live auditioned for Americas Funniest People for a beauty makeup kit, powder puffing on flour for powder and then claiming you could be the next Miss America if you used my product. As I stuck the false eyelash on, I put it under my eyebrow by mistake, the flour was all over my hair and face, I had put red lipstick all around my lips instead of on them, and I placed a 10 inch beauty pageant crown on top my head claiming to be beautiful from by beauty kit, and appeared on the evening news that evening. I was about 3 going on 4.
From a mailed in audition tape to Americas Funniest People, I was contacted, and sent twenty TV release pages for my mom to sign and fax back to them so they could uses my tape on the show. At first she thought it was a joke. It was a Christmas tape, and they were doing a Christmas segment I had taped on cotton for a beard, and was riding my tricycle that had a bucket on the back filled with presents. I was dressed in red, I was falling off the bike, I kept getting off and putting the presents back in, my cotton was coming off and hanging on my face, but I guess being so little, it was funny to watch. I think I was about 4 then.
I was a Buffalo Jills Jr Cheerleader and I cheered with the Jills at Ralph Wilson Stadium games.
I always talked about animals and wanted to be a vet, and age 10, I entered a zoo summer camps. I was hooked! This was for sure what I wanted to do.
My last job was in 7th grade and I was 12. It was a voice over for Cornell University.
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My mom has always supported me in my dreams, and has tried to find as many animal adventures as she could to pacify me. I have learned so much already in my life. My experiences have all been good ones, and my life goes on to educate myself for my future, being with and caring for animals.
I have been lucky enough to get into programs that educate me about animals or teach me skills needed for my future.
The story of learning how to care, give, and share what you have. Then came my love and need for animals.....
At age ten, I repeatedly tried to volunteer at a local animal hospital, and was always told no, I must be older. To pacify myself I read, wrote letters to the newspaper about my concerns of animal abuse, and I entered summer zoo camps, but that was still not satisfactory for me. Having only a mother to support me, it was hard for us to even find money to do things. Reading books about animals helped keep me grounded.
In 2001, I realized I wasn’t getting any closer to helping animals, and the community was not admirable towards me wanting to help animals, acting on impulse, I decided to start my own animal organization, I had no intentions of giving up. I was going to prove to that animal hospital, that I was able to work hard being a young age. I had an intensified love for animals, the motivation to succeed, the support from my mother, could not wait until I was the typical volunteer age of 16, and of course the time was right. Everything seemed to be in my favor, I set goals and put a plan into action.
I established a club, and named it, Animal Associates, a club for kids who care. Little did I know at the time this was a fresh beginning for me and my future, a way of building skills, receiving community support, a phenomenal way to raise money for animals, and at the same time introducing other young children like myself, to ways of helping. It was then I asked my neighbor Jenna to join my club and struggle to help and protect animals. I made her Vice President and we set out writing more letters to the paper, we were stronger as two and told the public about Animal Associates. As we spread the word, I made fliers to distribute, and we found members. Near the end of that summer after turning eleven, realizing I had the community aware of Animal Associates, their support, and what my club is about, I was ready for and arranged my first fund raiser, a car wash. It was a great success! Our letters to the newspapers, advertising, word of mouth, and fund-raisers were a crucial way of communicating with the public.
I embarked on educating myself further so I could be more effective in expressing my interests and concerns better to my club members and the public. Throughout the year I read many James Harriot books and read and studied the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Study Guide Manual. After all, how could I expect to write letters to the newspapers encouraging proper animal care and abuse topics, without first educating myself. Being an avid reader, I just kept reading.
Soon after my 12th birthday, I enrolled in SPCA summer camp, and was allowed to attend the Buffalo Zoo Jr. Apprentice Program a year early than the required age. I acquired more knowledge and searched for yet more opportunities.
As I matured into my teen years and enlisted teen volunteers, I changed the font and name of the club to Animal Associates, a club for kids & teens who care. I was on a crusade to have as many fund-raising events as possible to raise money for non-profit animal organizations and to learn all I could, much being by reading and hands on experiences. We wrote more letters to the paper on animal topics, spread the word and advertised the club even more, and we found more members. Each club member is unique in their own way, ages of my members vary, and each has different views and ways of communicating. Our voices are all important. I currently have 12 members, ages 5-14, with some of these being members from the beginning who are dedicated active members. I also have my vice president, two Directors, a treasurer, and a supervisor.
I have organized several fund raisers, the club works as a team, and we have raised more than 3,200 in cash, donations, and pet supplies. Events include several car washes, a hot dog stand, and a raffle in which the business community donated several prizes to me to use for the raffle. I take my leadership role very serious.
A significant time in my life was being contacted by Candee McConnell. Her mother, Vivian Duttweiller was terminally ill, and when she passed away her indirect request was to have her memorials sent to me, Animal Associates, to be donated as I deemed acceptable. She learned about my club in the newspapers, was following us, our stories and accomplishments, and was an avid animal lover herself. I accepted and vowed to hold her name close to my heart. Vivian passed in October 2003. She had faith and trust in my club with her memorials which were donated accordingly, the Buffalo Zoo, and Second Chance Wildlife & Rehab Center.
I take pride in my members, our hard work and the goals we set, I see how Animal Associates has strengthened me, other children, and adults as well. It has brought a community of children and adults together for one purpose, the love for and helping animals. I have received positive replies toward my efforts toward animals, and it was obvious to me that I had made a profound impact on the community, I had gotten their attention, and now we can work closer together. The public and community have been very supportive to me, and I have proved to them, kids and young teens can make a difference, do something respected and positive, and can help in many ways given the chance or opportunity. We have opened the eyes of many to see that young children and teens are able to love, work hard, and set responsibility into action. Many elders have told me that they themselves can learn a few things from ‘us kids’. Many members, including myself, have been volunteering before the required age of sixteen. They have also gained skills they may not have otherwise.
One of my most memorable experiences was meeting Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald of Animal Planets Emergency Vets. The show is filmed at Alameda East in Denver. He is my true role model and a man of wisdom. He is a dedicated animal person, a veterinarian and also a comedian. He proves you can have many honorable things in your life at one time and be good at them all. If I can follow even one day in his footsteps, would be a wonderful honor, and making it to Alameda East Veterinary Hospital to work on his show would be a dream come true!
I have shadowed at two different animal hospitals on several occasions, and was finally able to volunteer at H.O.R.S.E. Rescue & Sanctuary and the Wyoming County SPCA.
I feel we have many problems in our world, but one that stands out to bother me is the unfairness of it. There is always somebody or something that hurts the good, and many times, there is little we can do about it, as in the book, It happened To Nancy. Even though she wrote a diary to help others, it cost her life.
Animal abuse is also so unfair to animals, and they cannot fight back or cry out loud, they cry in silence, as most do not understand their pain. This hurts me tremendously, and I continue my fight to help them. I may not be able to change the world, but I can improve the lives of, and love the animals others throw out to trash. By continuing to help animals one by one, helps me deal with ill-fated unfairness other’s throw out.
In middle school, when all the girls wanted to hang out in the coffee shop or seek out boyfriends, I was working to earn money for animals through my club. I had no support from them, nor did they want to be involved in my work. I felt left out many times, but I wasn’t going to give up my dreams and work just to fit in with the ‘gang. I must be strong for my mom, and myself, if I am to survive. My life can be a struggle at times, but when I look at others and their hard times, I realize I am lucky.
I worked hard, believed in my dreams and the goals I set for myself. I started out as a kid wanting to help animals, ending up with a small club raising car wash money, to raising nearly a value total of 3,200 with a club that has grown, expanded, and is becoming greater each day. Perhaps the greatest, is the pride I take in my efforts, and the experiences I have had. I can place each and every one of them towards my future working with animals as a veterinarian.
I receive many phone calls from people who need contacts for placing a stray cat, who have found a baby bunny in distress, or even wanting help in finding a low cost spay/neutering program. Recently I received a phone call from a rehabilitation center who needed to find a place to keep a baby bat. Just think, a rehabilitator calling me fo help! I referred him to another rehabilitation center who I shadowed with. Due to the volume of calls I receive, I now keep a page on my website with contact numbers in my area.
Seeing two girls and their mom at the rescue one day, I gave them my business card. I just had the two sisters contact me asking how to start a club and do a website. Although they haven’t joined mine, they have started their own club called High Hearts (http://highhearts.freeservers.com), and are planning to help horses. It is inspirational to know I have helped inspire other kids.
I can be thankful for the lessons and skills I have acquired, the support I have received, and teaching values to the young kids in my club has been a learning experience. My community is more aware of the importance of children, young teens and their need to help. The community has given my club strength and opportunity. The door has been opened, and remains open for youngsters and teens who have the will and motivation to succeed.
<LEFT:McCurdys, Kodak, Fisher Price, FP licensed Mattel jobs
2005 Community Hero Awards