Staying Different Makes a Difference

La Canada teen reaches out, inspires with her music


Adelle Higley’s quest to make Junior High a kinder place began with Facebook.

An eighth-grader at La Canada Preparatory School, Adelle has been embraced for her abounding charisma and talents. But this hadn't always been the case.

“People were being put down just because they’re different,” she says about her old school. With her classmates as her inspiration, Adelle started posting quotes of encouragement on her Facebook page. “I wanted to help them stay strong."

Her message to them: “Stay different to make a difference.”

Adelle herself is different, too.

She spent the first year of her life in a Vietnam orphanage without a right leg and a full set of fingers. She battled life-threatening illness. Needless to say, her resilience was tested from the start.

After countless surgeries, she now has a prosthetic leg— but don’t think for a moment that it holds her back. Adelle is currently a star volleyball player, having scored the most recent game-winning point; she starred as a “Who” in LCP’s Seussical, Jr. last spring; she is a cheerleader, rides horses, takes Taekwondo, and loves running.

“I can’t wait to run track in high school!” she shares.

Though her many activities keep her busy, Adelle has always made time for her friends- particularly, those old classmates of hers.

And what began as simply reaching out to them is now reaching “pop star” staus.

A composer-friend read the quotes she kept posting on Facebook and suggested they collaborate. The quotes became lyrics; the melody was created; a full recording studio session later, “Love Me for Who I Am” was made. The album cover sums it up best: “Songs for anyone who’s been on the outside looking in.”

This summer, Adelle found herself getting a taste of the rock star life: spending over six hours in a recording studio and 40 hours filming a music video for the song.

“I was so nervous, but I got through it!" She says triumphantly, displaying her cheerleading pep.

While the making of any music video, especially at the age of 13, is an achievement in itself, Adelle has another goal in mind.

“I hope that I can change people's thinking through music," she explains.

"First, the lyrics get stuck in your head, and then the message will sink in eventually... like a book or like math.”
She pauses and laughs. “Maybe that’s not the best example, but you know what I mean!” she adds with a smile.

Her music video is currently available on YouTube, and the song, along with “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now” and “Let’s Celebrate,” is available on iTunes.

Adelle continues to write new lyrics in between studying for her high school entrance exams. Her next project: a Christmas album. While she hopes her music will make its way around the globe, becoming the next Miley Cyrus is not her present aspiration.

“I want to focus on school. I'd like to be a vet one day and write music as a hobby,” she says.

Well, and go on tour.

Adelle will be sharing her story and music with churches and schools in the LA area.

To view her video, check out: www.youtube.com/adellehigley1, and you can find her songs on iTunes with keyword search: Adelle Higley.

Fundraising Sample

I bet I can tell what you're thinking.

Uh oh, another letter from school... must be yet another fundraiser.

Well, I will admit that if you were thinking that, you’ve caught us.
It is that fundraising time of year.

But this is far from being just another fundraiser.

This year, we decided to do something different. We know you probably don’t need more holiday wrapping paper (especially since you’ve purchased enough to last a lifetime- which we do appreciate!)

Instead, we've decided to find something you do need-- something you use on a regular basis that will make your life a little easier.

And then we wanted to do better than that.

We wanted to find something that will cost less than store-brought products.
We wanted to make your family’s lives healthier.
We wanted to make the children’s futures brighter and their education even stronger.

I am thrilled to say that we found it!

Get Clean is an organic, nontoxic, fully concentrated laundry and cleaning product line from Shaklee. One box of laundry detergent will last 224 loads. A bottle of their all-purpose cleaner will make 48 gallons. For $11, it will last you at least a few years and many grocery store trips. It's even one of Oprah's "Favorite Things."

Traditional cleaning products are becoming a concern for us as we strive to make the school safe in every way possible. The ingredients in traditional cleaners have strong potential to cause asthma or other health challenges. A recent statistic from The American Cancer Society states that nearly 75% of all cancer is caused from environmental factors- this includes household cleaners.

We want your home and the school to be the safest two places in the world.

While it would provide great benefits for your family's health, this fundraiser has wonderful potential to teach our children how to make a difference in their daily choices-- the importance of recycling, reducing, and caring for our Earth. One "Get Clean" starter kit saves 108 pounds of package waste from going into the landfill, and saves 248 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions (from all those grocery store trips to pick up cleaners).

By doing good for your child's health, and for their environment, you help their education too. The money earned will go toward more current textbooks, new computers, and more school supplies.

We hope you will join us as we work to make our school better, your child’s future the brightest and healthiest it can be, and make a significant environmental impact as well.

Thank you in advance for your support. We couldn’t be more thankful to have you be a part of our school!


Kind regards,



P.S. While these products offer a significant cost savings, they also prove to be just as, if not more effective than traditional products. One third party study shows that the all-purpose cleaner is 60% more effective than the comparable store-brand cleaner.

P.P.S. This fundraiser is the only one we've had where a substantial portion of each purchase goes directly to the school. You're going to buy these products somewhere, right? Why not help fund your child's education more while you do so! We thank you for your support in our most "fund-full" fundraiser to date!

Children's Book Marketing Sample

Not to worry, we’ll supply the pixie dust.

As parents who encourage their children to believe in the wonders of their dreams, we know you will value this special addition to your bedtime story-shelf.

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg
A new Tinker Bell Adventure for the Disney® Fairies Series
Written by Newberry Honor Winner
Gail Carson Levine

Soar off to Never Land where Tinker Bell and her fellow fairies await you!

See your child’s eyes and heart fill with wonder, excitement, curiosity…
hear what every parent longs to hear time and time again:
“Just one more chapter! Please??”

Brimming with adventure only fairies could unearth, you will journey into a world of dreaming, smiles, joy, and breathtaking Disney magic…
With every turn of the page.

Give them the gift of pure joy.
Give yourself the gift of keeping them a kid forever.
As long as you are in Never Land, you’ll never have to grow up...

Direct Mail Sample (Winery)

"The preparation of good food is
merely another expression of art~
One of the joys of civilized living." -Dione Lucas

Dear Dining Adventurer:

Nestled in the hilltops of the charming Uruguayan capital of Montevideo rests a tiny vineyard-- so tiny that you would likely pass it by if you didn’t know it was there.

Uruguay itself is easy to overlook, and you may have to pull out the map to find it! It’s a country no bigger than the state of Washington, between Brazil and Argentina. In fact, did you know that Montevideo, Uruguay hosted the very first World Cup? It’s their claim to fame! But now, there’s something else that is causing the world to notice this unsuspectingly charming and unique place.

An adventure that gives “going out to eat” a whole new meaning

You turn into a winding gravel driveway lined with miniature palm trees and grazing sheep. The springtime breeze is warm and soft. There you stand in front of a church-steeple structure: the pride and passion of this little farm. Inside? Hundreds of barrels- branded with the emblem
BOUZA
One of Uruguay’s finest, most delicate, and rare wines.

But we haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.

You stroll through the quaint countryside, alongside plantations of tannat, merlot, temprañillo, and albariño grapevines, near the banks of Río de la Plata—the widest river in the world. Brimming with tranquility, it feels as though time has taken its siesta here; a sanctuary from the chaos of honking cars, smog-filled sky, and a hyper-caffeinated pace of life. You breathe the pure, pristine air; you feel your shoulders fall, your body ease, and the warm sunshine dance across the peaceful smile that has crept upon your face.

This is just the prelude- preparing you for the most remarkable experience your taste buds could ever imagine.

Welcome to the tasting room of the Bouza Bodega Boutique.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A sumptuous heaven for the senses-- a charming restaurant resembling an ordinary living room and study. Shelves of books surround the cobblestone fireplace and a telescope is propped against the window. Minus the elegant dining tables, it feels as though the Bouza family has personally invited you to supper.

Pairing sips of Chardonnay, Merlot, Tannat and Albariño (both renowned, signature grapes exclusive to Uruguay) with fresh baked bread, an array of local cheeses, smoked prosciutto and crispy thin baguettes layered with brie, sautéed bell peppers, and oregano-- the first course is merely the warm-up!

“Work at a reduced scale always produces better outcomes.”
-The motto of Bouza

The wine is Bouza’s specialty, without a doubt. As a family, they produce the wines in small quantities, cultivating the grapes by hand rather than using a more industrialized process. They prove no task is too arduous in upholding quality and legacy.

They are so protective, so reverent of the wine that only select bottles are sold outside the country. In fact, the Albariño selection is only for purchase at the Bouza boutique itself.

As you savor the wine, breathing deep the aromas of thyme, hickory and terra firma, you sway with the languid cascades of a piano concerto in the distance and relax with each sip.

A tower of rich, juicy sliced red tomato, layered with eggplant and thick buffalo mozzarella, garnished with crispy wisps of green onion is placed before you; shortly after, homemade spinach raviolis brushed with a light pesto and garnished with fresh Parmesan. And let’s not forget the desserts (a tradition in Uruguay- they are, after all, of Italian descent!) Warm, savory chocolate brownie with freshly churned cream, dulce de leche (another Uruguayan specialty), and crisp apple tarts.

Ok, so now that I’ve got your stomach grumbling, I bet I know what your next question will be.
Exactly how expensive is this?
- 2 wine-tastings (6 wines total)
- A platter of cheeses/meats
- First and second course meals
- A sumptuous dessert

How much would this cost in the United States?

My guess is it’s worth at least $100 per person at a restaurant of this caliber.

But our total dining experience at Bouza?
Only $30 per person.
With their bottles of signature wine starting at $13.

Another great thing? No tourists! You truly become one of the Uruguayans- taking a reprieve from the city to enjoy some countryside hospitality. In fact, I discovered Bouza strictly upon the locals’ recommendations-- no tourist guidebooks. They’re the best when it comes to finding the best, and here are some of their thoughts on Bouza:

“It is a Montevideo gem. You will love it.”
-Gladys Lamanna

“A wonderful place with exceptional food and wine. The best way to spend a restful day and see the beauty of the country.”
-Federico Young

“I love everything about Bouza. Make sure to walk behind the restaurant where you will find an old bridge and waterfall. And there are lounge chairs to take a nap
after your lunch. It is like heaven!”
-Natalia Gomez

I am so enamored with Bouza, and so convinced you will be too, that I would like to extend a special gift to you:

A Complimentary Wine-Tasting Gift Certificate for Two!

Your certificate will be mailed directly to you after you have made your reservation at Bouza. Consider it a salute to your fine taste in adventurous dining.

So what are you waiting for? Book that plane ticket! Why not take a chance to see another part of the world that others have never even heard of? Experience the culture as one of the locals. Grasp the richness of tastes, flavors, aromas, laughter, smiles, and warmth—put them in your back pocket to save for that less than average day when you can recall a time you truly took advantage of the simple joys in life.

It’s very rare when someone can recall a specific moment when they did just that.

And what a special moment it will be when seeing the awed looks on your family’s faces upon discovering you’re taking them on a journey to a city with pure South American charm… a journey you will cherish for the rest of your lives.
¡Pásatelo bien! (Enjoy yourself!)

Warm regards,

The Bouza Family

P.S. Make your reservation today to discover all that I’ve mentioned about the Bouza Bodega Boutique and so much more! When you do so, we will put your certificate in the mail immediately so you won’t leave home without it!