Boots Tolsdorf, long time supporter of Same Sky and November’s Ambassador of the month, shares how she got involved with Same Sky:

” When I heard about Same Sky that morning on NBC when I was baking cookies for Christmas, I stopped baking, and listened.  Then I went directly to the internet and looked them up.  I did not see anything about doing simple “home parties” but I thought, “Why not?”

The advertisement and the copy out there was in big name places like DKNY and Neiman Marcus and in great fashionable magazines and I thought, could I make a difference by introducing a home party? From the very first email with that question, to talking with the staff, particularly Elizabeth Long, I realized that they were truly and sincerely welcoming  and would give me support in the endeavor.  I talked with Francine too to find out about  how  the organization worked and realized that this was a special woman who had nothing but philanthropy on her mind and had the means to do it. More than that, she had her heart and soul into it.  So I guess it was that that distinguished Same Sky for me.  One woman and a small staff making such a difference.

When I wear the bracelets I feel connected to the women artisans.  I feel as if I can make a difference and although I have not had the privilege to meet them as yet, I know that day will come.  Their beauty  is dazzling, and I think about them making the bracelets and connecting the beads together to connect me to them in a very small way.  I love telling the story to people when they remark about the jewelry for then I get a chance to spread the story.

Every time I read a story about the artisans on the website and then reproduce that at my “little home parties”  on poster board, I feel lucky that my path of helping empower women all my adult life has reached helping Same Sky.  There was a reason I had the TV on that morning and baking cookies.  Same Sky dropped into my lap and I am very glad it did.  It is another chapter in my book of helping other women far less fortunate than I.  Their spirit, their song and dance, their ability to smile and have hope even with the horror of their experiences is a huge inspiration to me.

It is I who am lucky.   They give me far more than I can do  for them.”