-----ONE IS GREATER THAN NO ONE-----
A group of local teens are on a mission to help children half a world away. With us this morning are some of the girls make up the group, "One Is Greater Than None." We're joined by Ariel Stern, Annie Mantikas, Kayla Barnofsky and Chelsea Genden.
What is One is Greater than None?
One is Great than None is a group of eight girls that are making jewelry to raise money for charity AND have their own brand of (mostly organic!) clothing that is produced by AMCAN Charter Imports in Montreal, Canada.
Right now we are raising money to rescue children that have been sold into slavery in the fishing villages of Ghana. We donate all our proceeds to the International Organization for Migration who is rescuing these children. Our donation also includes 2 1/2 years of healthcare, food, education, counseling and love for each child.
How did you come up with the name?
Well it has a few meanings to us as a group:
We wondered what if we only saved one child and we said, "One is better than none"
But we also believe that if everyone did something, anything to help the world be a better place then it would all add up. It is such a simple concept. Do the math. Do something.
How did you hear about the rescue missions?
We saw an Oprah episode that showcased one of the rescue missions taking place. Once we saw that show we felt we had no choice to not do something.
How many kids have you saved so far?
So far we raised enough money to sponsor eight rescue missions scheduled in January. But now that our clothing line is available we hope to save a lot more kids. So please buy our clothes. 20% of all boutique orders & 10% of all chain store & department store orders get donated to "1>0".
How long has International Organization for Migration been doing this?
This project began in 2002. Over 600 children have been rescued so far. There are still hundreds more that need to be rescued.
How much does it cost to save one child?
About $4300. But it is cost effective for the International Organization for Migration to rescue 25 children at a time. So lots of money is needed to bring these children home sooner.
Why does it cost $4300?
Well this money covers the actual rescue which getting the children away from their owners. They save about 25 children at time and they are brought to an orphanage for a few months to rehabilitate them. This includes, medical care, counseling, nutrition, education, clothing and love. Then they are reintegrated back into their families and communality and cared for 2 1/2 years. This includes medical care, school, counseling and mentoring. Their families are also given help.
Are the beads from Africa?
Only on the necklace. The center bead is an authentic recycled glass bead from Ghana. The eight wooden beads represent the eight girls.
How much jewelry have you made so far?
Thousands of bracelets. Each numbered and initialized by the girl who made it
Hundreds of necklaces - which we make in a group.
How long has One is Greater than None been around?
A little over 9 months.
Our first official meeting was in April.
Do you design your clothes?
The first line happened so fast. We were so lucky that Kerry & the design team at AMCAN Charter Imports made styles that we really wear: hoodies, fleece dorm pants, organic football & crew tees!
How did you ever get a clothing line!!
A woman named Kerry (Gillick-Goldberg) heard about us through one of the moms. She had her own showroom that launched teen apparel lines. She thought that One is Greater than None was amazing and pitched the 1>0 concept to a Canadian manufacturer that was interested in developing an organic teen line. The match was perfect!
Who makes your clothes?
A company called AMCAN, located in Montreal Canada.
Where can we buy your clothes?
We just got picked up by Bloomingdale's for Feb. 08! AND you can visit our website to see a listing of all the boutiques nationwide that are carrying the line. The list is getting longer everyday. You can also go to you favorite clothing boutique and if they don't carry 1>0 apparel, tell them about us.
What goals do you have for the future?
We think we want to change causes every year. It will most likely have to do with helping children in need. It is too early to say because we are focused now on saving the fishing children in Ghana. (Be careful to leave options open.)
What has surprised you the most about your success?
How many great people out there wanted to help by donating their expertise or products. They are listed on our website and with out them we would not have had the success we have achieved so far. There are a lot of good people and if you just ask for help you would be surprised how willing people are to help.
For more information, visit at www.oneisgreaterthannone.org.
-----REGIFTING FOR A CAUSE-----
The tree is bare and the wrapping paper is all put away. Now you're looking at all of the gifts you've received over the holidays and it's likely many of them do not meet your needs. So, what to do? With us this morning is Dennis McKeon, the executive director of where to turn, working on the program, re-gifting for a good cause.
Throughout the year we will all be receiving that certain gift that we either will never use or already have. If we don't spend hours on that return line this gift will sit in a closet or a drawer until it is finally thrown out when we do our spring cleaning.
Where to Turn would like to give you another option. Donate your unwanted gift and we will make sure it gets to someone who could use it.
Toys will be given to local hospitals or shipped to needy children in Mississippi or Louisiana as part of our adopt a school program. CD's and DVD's will be sent to injured soldiers in military hospitals. Clothes will also be sent where needed.
For things that fall into that "other" category we will store them for a major flea market in the Spring. All proceeds from the flea market will go to cover shipping costs for our various relief programs.
If you would like to participate all you need to do is ship the gift or drop it off at
Where to Turn
150-L Greaves Lane # 312
Staten Island, NY 10308
Additional drop off points are being added. Please check out our website www.where-to-turn.org for details.
If you would like to be an official drop off point please contact us at info@where-to-turn.org or 718-966-6531.
Where-to-Turn will arrange to pick up donated gifts at your convenience.
