For sisters Emily and Jenna Rennert, it’s never too soon to start doing something to help the world. Emily, 18, and Jenna, 20, started a Florida based not-for-profit organization called Charms for the Children in the spring of 2009. For the past three years Emily and Jenna have been designing and selling very fashionable charm bracelets to people around the world, including celebs (Selena Gomez and Joe Jonas, are just two examples).
Money from the bracelets goes towards specific projects for orphanages around the world in countries such as Argentina, Tibet, South Africa, Peru and Haiti. I had the chance to interview Emily and find out some inside details to what it is like to start your own company as a teenager and what the journey has been like:
Why did you and Jenna start Charms for the Children?
We started Charms for the Children because we were lucky enough to visit the Dickey Orphanage in Tibet where we met the most amazing kids and wanted to do something to help them. We started slowly creating a school club, which later expanded into the not for profit business we have today.
How do you decide where to donate your company’s proceeds?
Each year it is difficult because the need is so great, but all the orphanages we’ve helped have been ones that we have visited in person. The only orphanage we have donated to that we have not visited has been the Village of Vision for Haiti Foundation and we chose this orphanage as the one to help this past year, because it felt very close to home, being from Miami.
What has been the most exciting part about starting and managing Charms for the Children?
There have been many exciting things that have happened to us because of Charms for the Children. Helping children has definitely been one of the most exciting aspects of our business. But, we have to admit that seeing Joe Jonas or Selena Gomez wearing our bracelets is incredibly thrilling and we still cannot believe this is happening to us.
Who wears your bracelets?
Joe Jonas, Lo Bosworth (The Hills), Selena Gomez, Allstar Weekend, Honor Society, Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), Jordan Francis (Disney’s Camp Rock 1&2), Jeanine Mason (Season 5 winner of So You Think You Can Dance), Jessica Szhor (Gossip Girl) and Chase Crawford (Gossip Girl).
Do you have any suggestions for girls who are interested in beginning organizations/companies like yours?
Don’t ever stop trying, perseverance pays off!
So girls, there you have it. You never know what can happen when you work hard for something you believe in! On their website (www.charmsforthechildren.com) you can choose from over 15 different charms and 9 different types of beads to design your own bracelet for just twenty dollars and you will be helping an orphaned child somewhere in the world!
Follow Charms For the Children on Twitter, @Charms4Children !