I became involved with Citizen Effect this summer after moving back home to San Francisco after 6 years in the Los Angeles Fashion Industry. I had just sold my handbag design company, CUFFZ by Linz, and found myself with an unexpected “summer vacation from life” as I finish my business school applications and wait for grad school to start this coming fall. I had the good fortune of meeting Kate Mulder, CE’s Citizen Philanthropist Manager, through a mutual friend. I was blown away by this fantastic organization and the great work they do through such a creative model. Kate gave me the opportunity to get involved with CE by applying my experience in Marketing, PR, and Event Production, which I’ve acquired from my years in fashion, to supporting Citizen Effect as they grow their brand and spread the word about the organization, starting with the San Francisco Launch Event.

In putting together the SF Launch, I learned more about the podoconiosis outreach programs and was inspired to take one on as my own CP Project. I was shocked to learn how easy and inexpensive this disease is to treat, cure, and prevent! Podo is more common in Ethiopia than HIV, yet so there is so little awareness of this debilitating disease that could be totally eradicated in our lifetime.

As I approach my 27th birthday in January, I have decided I would like to use the occasion as a means of raising funds and awareness for my podo project. Traditionally, my birthdays include temper tantrums about aging and lamentation over the personal goals I have set for myself and failed to meet year after year (e.g. learning to drive stick-shift, speaking French fluently, graduating from the bunny slopes on my snowboard, etc.) This year, which has been a wonderful turning point in my professional life, has also marked a positive shift in my personal life and my relationship with the world around me. This year there will be no tantrums, only celebration of the impact we can all make by coming together for a night of fun festivities and fundraising that can change the lives of 140 people across the globe for the better.