Everyone, Meet Leslie from LittleGemsUSA...

Welcome back faithful readers! As I'm sure you noticed, last weekend we decided to hold off on our usual Friday post so that we could observe the holiday. After a nice relaxing week, we are back in full swing. I’m excited to tell you that this week we have a very special post about one of our generous partners and friends, Leslie Voegtlin from LittleGemsUSA (www.littlegemsusa.com). I was privileged to virtually meet Leslie over the weekend, and she agreed to answer some questions for this week’s blog, which talks about her wonderful organization, LittleGemsUSA.

To give you a quick background about LittleGemsUSA: it is an organization that has been a partner and generous supporter of The Fashion Foundation for the past year. LittleGemsUSA shares a very similar philosophy as The Foundation, where the goal is to merge fashion and philanthropy to help those who are in need. Through their online store, LittleGemsUSA sells desirable jewelry items to eager buyers, and then donates 50—that’s right—50% of the proceeds to charities that specialize in helping women and children in need. Their impact has been felt all around the world, as they have contributed to numerous organizations including ones in Chicago and India that help to rescue young women from human trafficking. They have also provided a helping hand to a charity in Rwanda called “Love Alive International,” an organization that rescues children who live on the streets and are at great risk for being pulled into slavery.

It is no doubt that Leslie and her organization are prime examples of how the kindness and generosity of the human spirit can have such a positive effect on the people who need that kindness the most. That’s why we here at The Fashion Foundation are proud to present you with an exclusive interview, where I got a chance to talk to Leslie about LittleGemsUSA, their involvement with The Fashion Foundation, and the future of these two promising organizations. Enjoy!

Q: Tell our readers a little about yourself and how you got started with LittleGemsUSA.

Leslie: I grew up in a Christian home with parents who are very giving people.  It was not uncommon for someone to move in with us when they were having a hard time.  In fact, that happened so many times, I’m not sure I could remember all of them.  As I grew up and became more observant, I found my grandparents did the same thing.  So maybe it’s not difficult to understand that as an adult, I started noticing the very serious needs of others around me and around the world.  I had been working as a technology professional for quite some time, but in my heart I wanted to do even more to make a difference for those that have serious needs.  I like jewelry and I knew a bit about it, so I started LittleGemsUSA.com to help women and children in need.  I give 50% of profits to charity.  One of the charities I donated to last year was The Fashion Foundation.

Q: How and when did LittleGemsUSA get created? What was the inspiration behind its creation?

Leslie: I created LittleGemsUSA.com about a year and a half ago.  Prior to this, in my mind, I had been trying to figure out how to get large organizations to donate significant amounts of profits to charity.  I came to the conclusion that instead of asking someone else to do it, I needed to look in the mirror.  No one is going to be inspired by your dream more than you are.  There is a song by artist Matthew West called “Do Something.” A few phrases from that song that speak to me on how I feel about this endeavor: 

If not us then who,

If not me and you.

If not now then when?

It’s not enough to do nothing. 

It’s time for us to Do Something.

Q: Where are you situated?

Leslie: I personally live and work in Chicago, but LittleGemsUSA is an online only business.  I do set up pop-up stores from time to time at businesses that have invited me to sell at their offices or at summer street fairs that are popular here in Chicago.

 

Q: If you can, please give our readers a brief summary about what LittleGemsUSA does and how you operate.

Leslie: I try to find fashionable jewelry at the best prices so that we can provide affordable stylish pieces to our customers.  I want our customers to look stylish and make a positive impact in the lives of women and children in need.  Currently we sell fashion jewelry as well as gemstones set in sterling silver. The process, put very simply: we sell our jewelry, subtract our expenses, and split the rest with charity.

Q: When and how did your relationship with The Fashion Foundation begin?

Leslie: Believe it or not my relationship with The Fashion Foundation began on Instagram!  I’m not positive, but I believe we were using the same hashtag and would stumble on each other’s posts. We started following each other’s accounts and one day the founder, Amanda reached out to me.  I’m a fan of what she’s doing and I’m fascinated watching her and The Foundation grow.

Q: Besides The Fashion Foundation, are there any groups or charities you work with specifically?

Leslie: I do volunteer work with kids here in Chicago, so the needs of children is something that is close to my heart.  I’ve given to several organizations that rescue women and girls from trafficking here in Chicago and India.  Also children that live on the streets are at great risk for being pulled into slavery, so I also have been working with a charity called Love Alive International in Rwanda. Through them we are able to sponsor children who are so impoverished that they cannot buy the required school uniform and school supplies that are needed to go to free public schools.  

Q: The Fashion Foundation encourages outsiders (non-employees) to donate and become involved with the organization through events and internship opportunities. Is outside involvement from people looking to help an important aspect for LittleGemsUSA as well?

Leslie: So far I have had volunteers for the pop-up events, but something as simple as “likes” and “shares” and reposts on our social media accounts to help us gain more exposure is the greatest need we have right now.  That’s the easiest type of volunteering that we really need the most.

Q: Similar to The Fashion Foundation, you strive to merge the worlds of fashion and philanthropy, donating 50% of your sale profits to charities that help women and children at risk. What has this success in helping people and charities meant to you as a person?

Leslie: Through charities, we have helped victims of trafficking here in Chicago, helped keep girls off the streets in India, bought two sewing machines for two women in Rwanda to give them a career, supported a sports program in Chicago that keeps kids safe from gangs, raised funds for school supplies for underprivileged children, purchased Christmas gifts for children whose parents are incarcerated, and also sponsored six children’s educations in Rwanda. It’s hard to put into words what that means to me, but knowing that if I didn’t start this business, some of those people would be in sad and dangerous situations; that motivates me.

Q: Any special moments that you have had with either the people you have helped or the charities that you have donated to?

Leslie: When I was able to donate the sewing machines to women who had no means of providing for their children, it was powerfully moving.  When you personally move the needle in someone’s life, you want to do it again.  It happened again after sponsoring the 6 children’s educations in Rwanda.  It’s extremely gratifying knowing that 6 children would not be in school right now if I (and my sisters) had not struggled through the tough days.

Maybe I haven’t changed the world (yet), but to have made a difference in changing a life for even 1 person makes it easier to start again tomorrow.

Q: In the past you have partnered with The Fashion Foundation to host events to help bring in monetary and clothing donations for The Foundation. How has these events brought positive attention to both LittleGemsUSA and The FF?

Leslie: Partnerships and collaboration brought us a step closer to our goals and provide mutual exposure to each of our customer bases.  Also, I think that more than attention, I’ve actually learned from Amanda and The Fashion Foundation by watching it grow and watching her speeches.  I see things she’s doing that I’m not, and I try to incorporate those things.  I’m inspired by her fundraisers and collaboration with Bloomingdale's (wow!).  

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Leslie: Trying on the jewelry.  The sparkle never gets old. :)

Q: How can our readers help and get involved with LittleGemsUSA?

Leslie: Follow us on our social media accounts.  @LittleGemsUSA can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.

Q: Any advice that you have for The Fashion Foundation?

Leslie: Keep on doing what you’re doing.  I recently bought a shirt that says “Have the courage to take the first step and the strength to carry on.”  The first step is always scary.  Both The Fashion Foundation and LittleGemsUSA.com have made it passed taking the first step.  Now we need the strength to carry on for those who have great need. 



Leslie Voegtlin of LittleGemsUSA

Leslie has also stated that this week she will provide a code for anyone who wants to purchase from her site; the proceeds from those purchases will go to The Fashion Foundation! Use the code FF10 at checkout and you will receive a 10% discount as well! The promotion will last for up to a week from the date this blog is posted so be sure to take advantage!

Once again, all of us at The Fashion Foundation would like to thank Leslie and LittleGemsUSA for this interview and for the generous support. We look forward to continuing with our mission to help the women, children, and students who need it the most.

Don’t forget to follow The Fashion Foundation on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and of course, don't forget to donate to our website at www.thefashionfoundation.org. Till next time!

Joseph A. Jungermann is a freelance copy editor and blogger for The Fashion Foundation. He also authors his own personal blog, titled: “A Tuesday Afternoon.” He is the founder of the copy editing company: Elemental Edit, which provides content editing services for students, professionals, and small businesses. Joe obtained his Bachelors of Arts in English at Stony Brook University through their honor’s college in December of 2013. As a passionate reader, writer, and aspiring entrepreneur, he also enjoys playing guitar, reading poetry, and spending time with family and friends.