Well, the dancing queen dream is over and I will not be champion of “Dancing With the Stars.” That’s the bad news. The good news is that by pouring my heart and soul into “Dancing with a purpose,” I was able to bring awareness to the Happy Hearts Fund and shine light on children affected by natural disasters, many of whom are forgotten after the first response to a natural disaster is over.
We are still receiving calls and emails from the DWTS exposure and we still have amazing supporters fund-raising through Monday night DWTS viewing parties. We also have the support of many children who are organizing dance-a-thons at their local schools to raise funds for children less fortunate than they are. I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your incredible care and help to provide a brighter future to children through the Happy Hearts Fund.
I was on the show for over five weeks and the experience would have never been possible if it wasn’t for the incredible support and voting of the GlobalGrind community. My time on DWTS will always give me fond memories and I thank you so much for your support and votes!
Last week I left off talking about building the HHF team. As the core team started to take shape, we realized our most important team members would be our volunteers from around the globe. As we started to ramp up and gain financial momentum, we knew the volunteers would be vital in keeping our costs low, but also, the volunteers would truly put their hearts into making our projects come to life. So it not only made financial sense, but it made us all feel good knowing that the schools were built with not only bricks and mortar, but heart and soul.
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We now have over 250 volunteers around the world who help us translate, teach, work on graphic design and countless other great things. Recently we have signed up 200 new volunteers from the awareness created through “Dancing With the Stars.” We are so thankful for so many people opening their hearts to rebuild children’s lives.
So with our volunteer effort in full swing and the foundation growing, we reached out to our friends and built an advisory board to add expert guidance to our mission.
We are blessed with so many amazing individuals from educators, UN representatives, business leaders and they all deserve recognition, but this week I would like to single one of them out. He is an incredible artist/singer/songwriter and most importantly, my friend, John Forte.
John just performed an exclusive concert on Easter Sunday in Moscow, Russia and donated 50% of the proceeds to Happy Hearts Fund and the other 50% to a wonderful organization, “Operation Smile.” He didn’t have to do this, but that’s just the way John is. He wants to shed light on children in need who can’t help themselves.
I decided, that if I was no longer on “Dancing with the Stars,” I would go to Moscow to support, say thank you and of course, see the show myself and I did. I am still buzzing about his performance and the positive message he sent to the sold out audience. Thank you John!
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Now I’m back in NY, but the travels will soon start again, as HHF is keeping a close eye on the situation in Japan. Although it is not front page news today, it is still in the front of our minds and hearts. Easter was a great opportunity to reflect and remember those who have been affected by the earthquake(s) and the tsunami.
HHF will soon be involved in the effort to rebuilt schools in Japan for the children who need it the most.
That’s all for now, but I look forward to sharing more on our plan to help the children of Japan, next week…
Lots of love, light and happiness,
Petra Nemcova is a Czech supermodel who is best known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, for surviving a tsunami in Thailand in December 2004 and for founding the Happy Hearts Fund, a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving children’s lives through educational and sustainable programs in natural disaster areas.
Photo: WENN
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Petra Nemcova, John Forte, Romario and Natasha Bedingfield at the Happy Hearts press conference in Moscow, Russia.
