Volunteer’s Thoughts on Second Class of the Aquamarine Session

This past Tuesday was the second of seven weeks of the Aquamarine session. Already off to a good start the week prior with introductions, this second class focused on everyday manners and etiquette. Each session is always rewarding to those involved, whether they be a teacher or a volunteer.

Katie Walter was one of a few volunteers at this session. Among other things, she was in awe of Jane Phillips’ warm personality.

“Today I experienced the contagious vivacity that Jane Philips exudes with her CJC gems and the awe inspired ways the girls respond.  Her energy permeates a room and is beautiful!  It is wonderful to experience the eyes of a little girl looking up at you and feeling so honored that you took the time to ask her a question about her, or notice something about her that might not be obvious at first glance!  The girls strike me as being hungry to be seen and respected and this opportunity with CJC gives them that along with hope, dreams, confidence, creativity, love.  It was wonderful to be a part of!”

Thank you Katie for sharing your thoughts. If you would like to help out as a classroom volunteer and experience this for yourself, please contact us.

Soroptomist Presents LunaFest

Please support our partners, Soroptimist of Manhattan Beach at the LunaFest short film festival this Saturday March 20th. The event will be held at the Pacific Theater in the Manhattan Village Shopping Center at 3560 Sepulveda Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.  Presale price is $25 and $30 at the door. Only cash or check will be accepted. Doors open at 11am and the event starts at 11:30. The festival features ten films by, for, and about women. Please come and support this wonderful cause and enjoy a film too.

Crown Jewel Club Featured on Fox News

The Crown Jewel Club was recently featured on Fox News in Los Angeles. Reporter Christine Devine was on hand at the Afternoon Crown Tea for recent graduates, the 2010 Rubies. If you missed the news that night, fear not for you can see it  by clicking this link! Many thanks to Christine Devine and the Fox News team for covering this wonderful event!

What a Busy Week!

This has been a busy week to say the least! This past Tuesday March 9th, I sat on a panel of three women who have started non profit organizations at the NAWMBA event at Pepperdine University entitled “The Female Non-Profiteer: Optimizing the Triple Bottom Line”. The two other panelists included Alice Crisci, the founder of “My Vision” which assists young women diagnosed with cancer and Maribeth Towers, a board member from Cambodian Children’s Fund offering her opinion on non-profits. The moderator was Karon Jolna, PhD who taught the UCLA Extension Course “How Does She Do It? Top Women Executives Reveal Their Keys to Life & Work Success”. She is also currently authoring the book A Woman’s Guide to the Corner Office.

The meeting went very well and I’d like to give big thanks to Nitasha Rohtagi for connecting me. It was so nice to meet young ladies who are excited about the future and more importantly, who care about the children of the world since they are the future leaders of non-profits. I was very honored to be on the panel!

That was only day one of this busy week! On Wednesday March 10th I had a lunch meeting with Ed Myska of Bank of Manhattan. He is a kind man who will offer his generous support. It truly warms my heart to know that there are so many people out there who want to help the Crown Jewel Club. A big thank you to Ed and the Bank of Manhattan.

This was of course one of the many busy weeks I’ve had and they are bound to continue! Thank you for supporting the Crown Jewel Club!

-Jane

Crown Jewel Club Kicks off 2010 Aquamarine Session

The 2010 Aquamarine session started on March 9th. Seventeen new girls, as well as two members of the 2010 Rubies session were welcomed with open arms by Jane Phillips, Jane Euler, Kara Davis, Cheryl Abel, Bianca Avelino, and Portia Cohen. The excited girls took their seats as Jane Philips and Jane Euler welcomed the girls, went over the class rules and the history of the Crown Jewel Club.

Each girl was given a mirror in which their teacher encouraged them to look at every day and list at least five things they liked about themselves. This was just one of many self esteem lessons that they would learn.

Jane Euler also explained the Jewel Books which would be their journal. She encouraged the girls to keep a journal so that they can express their feelings and when they would feel down, to always look at their journal for comfort and strength. The first entry they would write in their Jewel Book would be what they liked about themselves. After some sharing by Jane and the volunteers, the girls got to writing their own thoughts with some even asking if they could use more than one page.

For the first lesson, the girls were taught the proper way to introduce company. The girls were split into smaller groups where they each took turns playing different roles and got a chance to introduce each other. At first the girls were shy but after a little encouragement from their teacher and the volunteers, smiles started to appear on their faces as they did their first of many classroom activities.

Next, the girls got a chance to decorate their Crown Jewel boxes. These boxes contain all of their classroom supplies and each girl was given the opportunity to let their creative side shine as they each customized their own box, and started getting to know their fellow classmates.

After a healthy snack called ladybugs: apples, peanut butter, and raisins, the girls all pitched in during the cleanup and gave the whole staff hugs on the way out. This was only the first of the seven week session and it was already off to a good start.

Crown Jewel Club’s Afternoon Crown Tea 2010 Rubies Session

The 2010 Rubies celebrated their graduation with an Afternoon Crown Tea attended by many guests including esteemed professionals from the Los Angeles community as well as their sponsors. The girls showcased the manners they had learned throughout their session as they donned fancy hats and spoke with their guests. Bianca Avelino, one of the Crown Jewel Club volunteers captured the event on video.

Jewels & Jesters: a Jolly Good Time at the Comedy & Magic Club

The Crown Jewel Club held their fundraiser, Jewels and Jesters which was a night of comedy and fun on February 26th.

The evening started with a silent auction. A few items available for bidding were spa packages, an interior design consultation, personal assistant service, tea sets, autographed soccer ball, fitness camp, tax preparation, and a stay at the Magic Castle among a few other items.

Strolling servers provided red and white wine and seared tuna, chicken skewers, and potato balls for guests as they mingled with other attendees and browsed the silent auction items.

The silent auction bidding started slowly but as the deadline approached, the room started buzzing with a large percentage of guests bidding, standing over their item to ensure the winning bid.  The noise in the room reached crescendo as the bid sheets were being pulled away from the anxious bidders. Smiles and laughter were seen and heard well before the comedians took the stage.

The crowd left the lounge area & filed into the Comedy & Magic Club. A mixed green salad with a sweet vinaigrette for starters, followed by choices of chicken, salmon, and pasta were consumed as a slide show of the Crown Jewel Club played.

Don tells the crowd his story about the Crown Jewel Club

Master of ceremonies, Don Feeney told his story about how he was inspired by an engagement held by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that encouraged the public to reach out and help in their own backyards. He then learned about the Crown Jewel Club at the Manhattan Beach Women and Business event where Jane Phillips, the Founder, was awarded the Heart and Soul award. After that event, Don’s heart followed the Crown Jewel Club.

Jane Phillips, Founder, welcomes the guests to Jewels and Jesters

He introduced founder Jane Phillips who welcomed all the guests with a huge smile. She then told a heartwarming story about several graduates of the Crown Jewel Club who stay in touch and tell Jane about their confidence in making wise decisions, like NOT joining a gang and learning more about careers. She encouraged the audience to sponsor a girl for only $100. Seven guests signed up to Sponsor a Girl that evening.

Up next was a video from Fritz Coleman who could not attend due to his commitment with NBC during
Winter Olympics, but shared his passion for the Crown Jewel Club along with a joke or two that garnered smiles & laughter from the audience.

One of the many highlights of the evening were the live auctions. The first one was for a three night stay at the luxurious St. Regis Hotel in Kauai (www.stregis.com). A previous guest at the hotel shared his amazing personal experience at the resort which gained favor with the audience and helped continue the bidding to $1400!

The second live auction was dinner for four with Jane Phillips and Fritz Coleman. This auction was highly entertaining as Jane provided some tidbits on Fritz (does he really have soft lips?).  This event turned into a real bidding war that was settled after a few minutes with two winners and a total of $1250!  It was clear that the audience was thoroughly entertained with both of the auctions regardless of whether or not they bid.

Comedian Bill Santiago

Comedian Nick Griffin

Magician Ben Seidman

Finally, the show began with performances by comedians Nick Griffin and Bill Santiago as well as magician Ben Seidman. The energy of the crowd was through the roof for the entire night. It’s safe to say that everyone went home with sore cheeks and stomachs due to all the laughter.  It’s great to support such a worthwhile organization… and even great to have a blast doing it!

All photographs are courtesy of Michael Clark

The Gorgeous Gems

A wonderful loving young lady named Nataly Arais mentioned that fact, she is so grateful to all the volunteers that make the Crown Jewel Club possible. She said that she wanted, as well as other graduates of the CJC, to give back. Along with Elizabeth Rodrigues, Nataly  started a CJC youth program called the “Goreous Gems”. On Mother’s Day 2009, Nataly, Elizabeth and Jakey took long stem roses to a group of elderly mothers who loved their sweetness so freely given  from these young beautiful  called the “Gorgeous Gems”.

The Marie Shriver’s California’s Govenors Women’s Conference

On October 26 & 26 the Crown Jewel Club had the oppurtunity to have a booth at the Women’s Conference. What an incredible opportunity. It was so empowering knowing that so many women, gathered at the Women’s Conference. It is the nation’s premier forum for women and is hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Conference, also known as The California Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women, has grown from a California initiative for working professionals into an international network of women from all walks of life, backgrounds and perspectives, and a life-changing experience for the thousands of women who have attended. The mission of The Women’s Conference is to inspire, empower and educate women to be Architects of Change in their own lives and in the lives of others. This year the Conference expanded to two full days of speakers, sessions and events.

We had a total of 48 volunteers to make the Crown Jewel Club booth possible. We look forward to following up with the outstand women we had the oppurtunity to meet!

The 2010 Pearls Graduated with an Afternoon Tea

On November 12, 2009 our 320th girl graduated from the Crown Jewel Club. The group of young ladies were simply a delight. A beautiful young lady named Tyrisha baked a cake for Mrs. Phillips, the delighted teacher. A group from Pearls bought each of the 8 voluteers candles. Love was abundant. A very bright “Gem” named Ester, was elected president. Her 1st job is to hand out rubber band ball donated my Julie Carlson from OfficeMax. I know she will do a great job. She was so happy to be president of the ’10 Pearls and was shining as much as her tiarra.

We were also delighted with 6 sponsore. The teacher and the voluteers love when we have guest. It is so much fun and rewarding to feel the joy the sponsors feel when atttending an Afternoon Tea.

I received a comment from one of the guest saying that the girls had better manner then she felt she had.

With every class that goes through the Crown Jewel Club classes our heart and soul is filled with confidents that these young ladies heart and mind has been moved and they will aspire to great things. WE BELIEVE THIS!!