Giving Back & Reaching Out

Giving Back – how important is a mother? How wonderful a child?

Good mothers, caring mothers cause us to grow and be good and caring too. Motherhood can change the world. And each child can in turn return the favor. As a mother myself, and as a daughter, I see part of my mission in life is to change the world. To give a hand up to others, especially young children and women in need. I learned to give back at home, from my mother. I learned what being cared for means, and what caring for others means. I have taken my mother’s lessons and applied them to my life – much of which has been in India.

India is a country rich in many things, textiles, skills, crafts, beauty, culture, wildlife and history. But it is also a country that is still beset by poverty, and where there is a large population of desperately poor people. People too poor to watch their children, people too uneducated to educate their children, people needing a hand up to success, a hand up to opportunity.

In the slums of Delhi there are some wonderful women and men who have reached into their hearts and into their pockets, to make a difference. In simple open street schools first generation learners – of 5 and 6 years old, are learning the alphabet and changing their legacy, learning to write and opening doors of opportunity. Safe in a small circle of care and respect, these little children, for a few hours every day, can play as a child should play, imagine and develop as all children should. These are the Gali Schools and I and my company have been involved in them through The Giving World Foundation for many years.

When I see a little boy or girl with hair brushed straight, smile bright, waving hands enthusiastically at the teacher; I see the future more positively, and I know that I have made a difference. I know that my mother would be proud of that, too!

In all seriousness and sincerity when you buy a little girl’s dress from my company, you are also supporting the dreams of a little child far away, a child who will laugh like your child, play like your child and read and write as all children should.

Thank you for buying our clothes, and supporting our company. We take our mission to Feel Beautiful, Live Beautiful and Be Beautiful very seriously.

Happy Mother’s Day,

April

To learn more about the Giving World Foundation go to:

www.givingworldfoundation.org

Just Cause Magazine Feature - Indian Recipe

Enjoy this article recently featured in Just Cause Magazine a recipe of mine - Just Cause is a beautiful interactive magazine that showcases Just Causes. It is wonderful to know that my involvement with the Giving World and my operations in New Delhi are looked upon so kindly. They picked up my recipe for delicious gulab jamuns - a favorite Indian sweet dish and used it to show ways of feasting and celebrating around the world. I think you will enjoy the recipe, and learning more about Just Cause.
I've also attached a few photos of myself making the dish - of course ready for the task in a beautiful apron. Enjoy...and please share any of your favorite international recipes too!

Just Cause - Gulab Jamuns Article (page 10 & 11)


April

Feel Beautiful, Be Beautiful, Live Beautiful

Passing on Good Fortune

A couple of months ago I wrote about my company in New Delhi, Cornell Overseas and how they took a piece of good fortune [a nice order] and turned that into good fortune for others.
All of the staff in our Delhi office participated and collected enough money to organize a food distribution for the poor...at the time I thought - imagine if everybody did that?
This action so excited us in Vermont, that we decided when good fortune came our way, we would do the same. I am happy to say, that it is now our turn to give back. We recently received a large commission check from our Licensing Partner, Danica. When the news came in Donna and I locked eyes across the room - "our turn" we said.
So happily, last week we met with United Way and gave our first pass it on check to them. We also wrote a second check for the Giving World Foundation. The foundation that gives a hand up, through education and opportunity to people in India.
I have long admired the United Way. In our community they are involved with so many worthwhile projects - Dismas House, Food Shelters, King Street Community Center, the Red Cross and many more meaningful organizations. They also have dedicated groups of volunteers that allow community members to participate and learn from volunteerism.
My company is also looking into how we can contribute in this way, too. So my friend, times may be trying, times may be tough, but let's remember to keep passing on the good news, and not hoard it for ourselves.

April
Feel Beautiful, Beautiful, Live Beautiful

Let's Meet Up & Give Back Too

One of the best parts of my business is connecting with women, and I am ready for a good "fix" of kindred spirits, which is why I am looking forward to being at Remnants of the Past next weekend (October 10) in California. Judy Watkins has grown the wonderful Remnants of the Past event that takes place in rural, scenic Nipomo on a working farm. Under the clear crisp Autumn skies, women from the surrounding states gather for a delightful day of oohing and aahing over vintage finds, handcrafted art, and beautiful finds for the home. We are bringing an assortment of our most colorful April Cornell linens and women's and girl's clothing. You won't be able to miss us because we are arriving for setup with yards of colorful flag garlands to dress the event. We'll have a special gift for the first 50 people who come by to see us in our booth.

     Judy is a woman of heart, and she is donating a percentage of the gate fee to the Giving World Foundation, which is dear to my heart. By enjoying a wonderful day, you will be helping the women and children we serve in India. 

     You can click on the widget above for all the information you will need to find the event. The widget is fun because you can look at photos from previous Remnants shows, so enjoy.  I'm looking forward to meeting you in person. If you'll leave a comment, I'll know you are coming and will be sure to make time to visit. If you are in the area, I'd love to see you. We are thinking about "taking our show on the road" to various places. Would you come see us if we did? 

A School Day at Sai Kripa

(The young on the right is a graduate of Sai Kripa who has returned there to teach.)

The Giving World Foundation is not just on my heart, but it is the heart of the April Cornell business. Founded in the 1990’s, the foundation helps fund a number of projects, including Sai Kripa, a school for 350 first generation learners outside of New Delhi. 

     Last Friday, I visited with the late monsoon rains still falling and the way in very muddy. When I first started visiting the village of Bellamy and Sai Kripa, it was surrounded by farmland and the villagers were mostly illiterate and hardworking farmers. Their children were destined to be the same.

     Sai Kripa was founded by Anjina Rajgopal who was looking for a school that would be welcoming home for her adopted children. She wanted to shape the highest standards of learning possible. With the support of the village, she became the founder and the burning hopeful core of Sai Kripa. Anjina's adopted children have grown in number over the years, she now has 37. The school has grown in stature and accomplishments, just as her children have. 

     The school has come along way from its beginnings when it was located next to a buffalo shed with plenty of flies for company. It is now housed in a respectable brick building with many classrooms and large play yard. Trees provided by the government are lovingly nurtured and will provide shade and greenery for years to come. The school spans from prekindergarten to 10th grade. Students are taught the ABCs and 123s, science, world history, English, Hindi, cooking and geometry. They participate in sports days and visits to the capital, always being nurtured by a compassionate staff.

     Visiting the 6th grade class, I asked the students what they wanted to be when they grew up, "A scientist, a computer engineer, a karate expert," and thankfully, "a teacher," they told me. The same hope and dreams of children around the world. I am very moved by the young people who have graduated form the school and have returned as adults to teach at Sai Kripa. When I asked on such teacher what was best about the school, she answered, "The environment, we are like a family." Quite a testimony for a school that originally had to argue with parents to allow their daughters to attend.

     In the changing world of Delhi and India, with its burgeoning metro populations, the farming village now lies close to a major highway. Fields are being sold to developers, and life is changing at a confusing rate.

     These children have a fine education and a wonderful sense of their self worth and importance. I am proud to be associated with the committed leaders behind Sai Kripa, the founder, principal and teachers, each dedicating their days and years to their school and the future leaders of this community.

     Concern India, with whom the Giving World Foundation has worked with closely for many years monitors and supports this project. Donations to the giving world go to Sai Kripa and various other Concern India supervised projects. 

April

Feel Beautiful, Be Beautiful, Live Beautiful

I brought a small video camera and took it with me on this recent trip. This is my first video post! Enjoy the school children at Sai Kripa singing. (Not sure why the video insists on showing up on the screen twice - probably a class clown in the  group!) For an album of photographs of the day, please visit my Facebook page.

Imagine if Everyone Did That..

Sometimes you know you are in the right place and doing the right thing. And mostly its because the people around you are doing what you would do if you'd thought of it first. I can say that as a mother, and as a business owner, nothing gives more satisfaction than a child behaving the way my mother taught me, or an employee espousing the same values as me.
     I am a very lucky person. I work with very talented people and I have awesome sons. They share and complete my vision for an artistic enterprise. But they do more than that - they take it further. The point of being here on this blessed earth is to move it forward, to advance civilization, not diminish it. They complete that circle. They broaden the ripples. So that the ripples catch others, that make new ripples too.

     Here's the story: Last week my company received a large order from a well-known retailer. The order came through a licensing partner of mine, and it exceeded our expectations. By a lot.
We were tres happy, but perhaps not quite as ecstatic as my factory in New Delhi, they would be manufacturing the order! Like a California brush fire the news spread with a snap, a crackle and a shout.
     People cheered and laughed and joked and - expressed their luck. "We are lucky. With this good fortune - we will to do something." Starting with my Head of Indian Operations, Harpreet Sindhu,  an idea took hold. Let's celebrate our new business bounty by giving something to others. Let's pass on our success to somebody else. It was decided to hold a food distribution for the poor  - believe me, in New Delhi, there is no shortage of people without, there is no shortage of poor, no dearth of the hungry. The team at Cornell Overseas dug into their own pocketbooks to give.
    Harpreet kicked off the giving, the CFO followed suite, then a merchandiser, a production manager, now the IT in charge, more merchandisers, a quality controller, and a sample maker, a children's wear manager, a spec specialist, an artist. Do you know how many hands it takes to make a beautiful tablecloth? To keep a company healthy? Well, they all joined in.
     Imagine if everybody did that? If everybody met good luck as an opportunity to share? Then you can imagine yesterday, when hundreds of children, men and women massed in front of our factory for lunch. For food. For friendship, for opportunity. In shoulder-to-shoulder and belly- to-belly and arm-to-arm lines.  From tiny three year olds, and able bodied but thin young men, lining up for fresh fried puris, and just cooked vegetable curry, and sweet halwa. You would have seen huge vats of food, a mountain of breads, and buckets of sweets, all served in bamboo dishes. Our diners. mere children in every sort of tossed fashion, wearing threadbare clothes made for them or for others. School boys and toddlers, man woman and child, They jostled and laughed and cajoled their way to two puris or four. To lunchtime and more. And my staff was proud to be serving and organizing and spreading their largesse to others. I can only say, I was proud too, proud of them and the children who allowed the generosity. I was proud to stand with them and what they stand for.
     I like this circle, this circle of commerce, this pattern of outreach, this acknowledgement of good fortune.
     Now, you see why I am lucky - it's the peeople, that's why.

Feel Beautiful, Be Beautiful, Live Beautiful, people.

She's Making a Difference

To know me is to know that my passion for being in business extends beyond my love for design, beautiful fabrics, and creating clothing and products to enhance the home. The reason I persevere and forge ahead is because of my passion for the Giving World Foundation and how through its work we are able to extend a hand up to those in need.

     This past spring, a young woman by the name of Arianna Rehak chose our company for an internship that was part of a school graduation project. As she learned about April Cornell, Arianna immediately saw what I see in the Giving World Foundation. She has embraced the cause, and has made it her personal mission to raise $200, 000 for the foundation. Today, The Burlington Free Press took note of her project in an article that includes an interview with her. Take a few minutes and read the story. You can help the foundation here too.

     Did I mention that Arianna is 17 years-old? She's headed off to college this week, and is Arianna is committed to making a difference. She is a doer. Arianna, thank you for being an inspiration and for taking action. 

    

Why I Am Here

I am in the business of beautiful things, and I consider that to be a far-reaching calling. Through my art, travels, and years of business experience, I have been able to build and grow a company that makes beautiful things for women and their families. Through the creation and commerce of these beautiful things, I am able to fund the Giving World Foundation (GWF). The GWF believes in giving the less fortunate a hand up, rather than a hand out, and actively funds and participates in programs that educate children and women so they can become self sustaining. Much of the work we do is in India through a working relationship with Concern India.

Through the years, the work of the GWF has become my passion. It is my reason for persevering, and for working hard to evolve the business of April Cornell. Like many retail-based businesses, April Cornell Holdings, has seen its business model rocked and remolded in the past couple of years. Through the wonderful power of internet trade and social media, we are emerging as a modern retailer, wholesale company and licensor. The team at April Cornell shares my vision. We are all focused on the singular goal of being able to grow and build the power of the Giving World Foundation to help others. And that is why we are here.

Whether its providing schooling for a child who is the first in her family to ever attend school, or teaching women weaving skills so they can support themselves and their families, we believe we can make a difference. The work of the GWF is vast and broad, and we have a long way to go to realize our dreams. And that is why we are constantly developing beautiful new products that not only enhance the lives of our customers, but also the lives of many others.

By being our customer and supporter, you are helping us help others through the Giving World.