(Ariela Leff, 11 uses bracelet business to share the unconditional love of animals with peers.)
Entrepreneurial Tween’s Bracelet Sales Fund Healing Animal Encounters for Children in Need
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2022) – A San Diego tween is using her savvy business skills to help children in need through the healing power of animals, one bracelet at a time. Ariela Leff, is just 11 years old, but she is already a finding unique ways to make a big impact in her community. She is the founder of Lulu’s Bracelets and donates 50% of each sale to Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pet Encounter Therapy (PET) program. She has already made a $250 donation, making it possible for children with special needs to receive a therapeutic visit from PET animals. Now, post-holiday bracelet sales, Ariela is ready to fund another animal encounter.
With the support of Whatever It Takes (WIT), an organization helping teens and tweens develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills, Ariela started Lulu’s Bracelets last summer. Her mission is to use her passion for making beautiful beaded bracelets with helping to bring the unconditional love of animals to those in need.
“At WIT, we teach our young entrepreneurs the importance of not only creating a sustainable business, but also creating impact by giving back to organizations, charities or social causes. Given Ariela’s love of dogs and desire to help children who are in the hospital, it made sense that she selected PET as her give-back organization,” explained Sarah Hernholm, WIT President & Founder. “I know that sometimes balancing school and Lulu’s Bracelets is a lot for her, but she will say – ‘Each bracelet gets me closer to helping more kids and more dogs!”
The Center’s PET program brings the unconditional love and tactile benefits of animals to those in hospitals, nursing homes, children’s centers and more. PET animals range from dogs and cats to rabbits and even miniature horses. Last year the program facilitated more than 5,300 therapeutic animal interactions.
In mid-December, Ariela made her first donation of $250 to Helen Woodward Animal Center’s PET program, funding a visit to a local school for children with special needs. “The best part of Ariela’s gift is that all the love and care that she put into making and selling her bracelets has been beautifully transformed into children receiving the love and care of our therapy animals,” said PET Manager Robin Cohen. “We are not only impressed by Ariela’s talent and willingness to give back, we are so grateful. Her donation is helping to bring smiles to many kids facing difficult times.
Ariela continues her sales through Lulu’s Bracelets and is getting ready to present another $250 donation from her profits to the PET program. This donation will help fund an upcoming visit to San Diego Center for Children on January 28th. More about Lulu’s Bracelets can be found on Instagram.
For more information about Helen Woodward Animal Center’s PET program, please contact PET Manager Robin Cohen at: 858-756-4117 ext. 322, or visit www.animalcenter.org/pet.
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: www.animalcenter.org.