Inspired By Our Representatives: Polishing Off Juvenile Diabetes

Inspired By Our Representatives

At Silpada Designs' 2004 Leadership Conference, Silpada's Co-founders, Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh, listened as one brave Representative stood before her friends and shared her dream. For Bonnie and Teresa, listening to Representatives share their dreams is one of the best parts about Silpada Designs. Every story seems to leave an impression, and at the 2004 Leadership Conference, Bonnie and Teresa heard a story that would spark a partnership between Silpada and JDRF.

During this particular activity, Representatives were given markers to write their dreams on a blank pillowcase. The exercise was designed to help the Representatives clearly define and visualize what would motivate them to grow their Silpada business. The pillowcases were used as a "dream canvas" so that Representatives could see their dreams each night before bed and each morning upon waking up. When the exercise was complete, Jen Oswald from Pennsylvania shared her dream. On her pillowcase, Jen had drawn a big circle around a picture of a syringe and then crossed it out with a red marker. Jen shared that her son had been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and all she wanted was to earn enough money to make his life easier and help find a cure.

That simple gesture struck a cord with Bonnie and Teresa. They had always been active in local and national charities, but they wanted to somehow make a bigger impact. Jen's pillowcase inspired several months of research. Soon, Bonnie and Teresa realized Silpada had found an organization that shared a compassion and enthusiasm for results that is so common in Silpada Designs Representatives. Bonnie and Teresa knew that with JDRF, they had found an organization they related to, trusted, believed in, and could happily and proudly partner with.