GIVING BACK
"You cannot get through the day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."
-Dr. Jane Goodall
For those of you that know me or have met me at an event, you know my sweet baby Raya means the world to me. This angel came into my life thanks to Calican Rescue Foundation, focused on bringing small breed dogs from high kill shelters in central California to Edmonton, Alberta to find them loving forever homes.
Ironically, as it turns out, SHE RESCUED ME. She has taught me more about love, patience and the unwavering loyalty that can only come from an animal that sees you as their person. In wanting to give back, I created the Raya Collection.
What started out as a single ring turned into an entire collection of jewelry perfect for any animal lover. And the best part? With each piece from the Raya Collection sold, we will donate $5 to animal rescues to help them with their desperately needed and seemingly neverending work.🐾
This is my sweet little Raya, a few months after arriving in Canada and making her way home with us. She had the chance to fill her belly, play with toys and feel the love of a mama that only sees sunshine when Raya is around.
On July 22, 2024, approximately 25,000 people fled Jasper National Park, including the 5,000 residents of the picture postcard town of Jasper, as a pair of wildfires drew dangerously close. Two days later, wind-whipped flames hundreds of feet high overwhelmed firefighters and entered the community. Ravaging one third of all the buildings in the townsite and over 33,000 hectares within the national park, the fires left homes leveled, businesses in ash and a community reeling.
Early estimates by the municipality suggest homes and businesses valued at a total of $283 million were destroyed. Displacing both people and precious wildlife, the Jasper Wildfire Complex is the most devastating fire to hit the national park in over a century.
Generations of Jasperites, Albertans, Canadians and people from around the world have marveled and cherished this precious place. We have all fallen in love with the mountains and all their magic and majesty.
For one of the country’s most beloved landscapes, for the iconic animals such as elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, grizzly bears and the endangered woodland caribou that call the park home, and for this tiny townsite that has given so much to us, it is time for us to give back to her, to help make her whole once again.
I have created my Jasper for Jasper Collection to do my part in giving back. I will be donating proceeds from every piece in my Jasper for Jasper Collection to The Jasper Community Team Society, where 100% of donations go directly to Jasper.
Like many around the world, I watched helplessly as wildfires ravaged over 25 million acres in Australia in late 2019-2020. With at least 1.25 BILLION animals killed, the catastrophic impact on over 113 animal species, their habitats and the plants that provide their protection and sustenance will be felt for decades as entire ecosystems have been devastated.
Heartbroken for the loss of life, I created Mia, sweet koala stud earrings, Your purchase directly helps those on the front lines, ensuring that Australia's unique wildlife is around for generations to come. 100% of proceeds will be donated to WIRES, Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization.
In addition to donating proceeds of The Raya Collection and Mia Earrings, a percentage of every sale on my website goes towards a variety of animal based charities and rescues, regardless of what is purchased. That means that a portion of every ring, necklace, bracelet and earring purchase supports efforts to aid and assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of animals and if you're an animal lover like I am, that means a whole lot. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.