Brownie Troop 60082

I was asked by Lindsay and Celia Feramisco to speak to Lindsay's 2nd grade Brownie Troop #60082 at Lang Ranch School in Thousand Oaks on Friday. It was Lindsay's week to pick a project for the girls to work on and she chose my organization, Luggage of Love. I was given a few minutes to share Luggage of Love and my childhood experiences with the girls and then they were given time to ask questions. I was so happy that the girls knew so much about and have helped Casa Pacifica, the emergency placement shelter I used to live at. After learning about the children in our community living in shelter and foster homes today, the girls were eager to help. They were all given blank luggage tags to decorate and attach to the 11 bags that they had donated to Luggage of Love. These bags will go to children in need as well as the donated $250 from Feramisco's co-workers at Amgen. Thank you to Celia and Lindsay Feramisco, all of Celia's co-workers, and especially to all of the girls in Brownie Troop #60082.

http://http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/25/miss-teen-california-shares-her-story-with

http://www.toacorn.com/news/2011-03-31/Family

Speaker at the Oak View Women's Club

What a fun and generous group of women! These ladies have opened their hearts to Luggage of Love by donating luggage and cash this year. I was fortunate enough to be asked about to be the speaker for their March 16th meeting. I had the pleasure of the accompaniment to this speaking event by of one of my board members, Judy Farrar. I shared my story and Luggage of Love's story with the ladies of the club. It was an Irish themed meeting with yummy treats, Irish songs, and lots of ladies in green! I was touched by the stories I heard and the kind words told to me about my cause. I was very impressed with all the efforts of the Oak View Women's Club and there help with local charitable organizations. A special thank you to Cathi Nye, for opening up your heart and home to foster children, Judy Eldeb, for your kind words and for your $100 donation to Luggage of Love, and Willie Smith, for thinking my charity worthy enough to share with your amazing club. Thank you for all that you ladies do it is greatly appreciated!

Another Luggage Donation to Casa Pacifica!!!

It is always bitter sweet going back to Casa Pacifica. On one hand it is so nice to see all of the amazing staff members who work there. On the other it is a constant reminder of the many children who are in transition or without parents to love and care for them. It always seems that while I am out at Casa Pacifica I meet someone new. This time it was a nice gentleman named Wes. Special thanks to my best friend, Meghan, for helping with this delivery today. On this particular visit Luggage of Love gave Casa Pacifica 12 pieces of luggage and a box of clothes donated by Emily Krakower for their foster youth. Thank you Emily for having such a big heart and taking an interest in this special shelter! Also thank you to Michelle and Carrie for allowing me the opportunity to give back to a place that is dear to my heart and started me on a great path.

2011 Miss & Teen Ventura County International Pageant

Tonight I attended the 2011 Miss & Teen Ventura County International Pageant with Meghan Lopez (Miss Ventura County Intl. 2009), Shauna Libby (Miss Ventura County Intl. 2010) and my beautiful sister Megan Brunett. I enjoyed watching the show and catching up with all the other
previous titleholders. It was so nice to see the gorgeous Brittney Wagner, Miss California International 2011, as well as the always stunning Mrs California International 2010, Ashley Pavletich. The contestants this evening were very well spoken- it was definitely a fierce competition! At the end of the night the only two crowns were awarded. Allison Bowman, who was my sister titleholder as Miss Gold Coast International, was crowned as the new Miss Ventura County International 2012 and the ever so cute Rachel Russell was named Miss Teen Ventura County International 2012. Congratulations ladies you shined like diamonds on the stage! I am so proud of you.

Meadowlarks Service League Meeting

This morning I had the opportunity to speak at the Meadowlark Service League Meeting and present Luggage of Love to the group. I shared with the members how transitioning with garbage bags made me feel as though my personal treasures, no matter how used and tattered, was trash and therefore I must be as well. I shared my story, the same story of too many foster youth, and told of the negative lifelong effects carrying ones belongings has on a child who has nothing. Luggage of Love is doing its part to stop this viscious cycle. I truly hope my presentation inspired the members to adopt my cause as one of their own.