| Media Contact: Steve Creech 949 643 = 7070 | |
Meet our Youth Ambassador for the=20 Planet02-05-2009 Paris Shewfelt, age 7 = Founder of=20 www.greatkidscare.com,br> I am the Green generation making = it a=20 better day in a earth friendly way. I am passionate and = dedicated=20 about raising awareness in how kids can give of their creative = time and=20 talents to be the inspiring ambassadors for the eco-friendly=20 generation. My mission: To attract and empower other kids = to=20 explore new ways to be green and use their artistic ability to = gather=20 interest in encouraging others to protect and preserve our oceans = &=20 mother earth. I recently returned from 3 exciting weeks in = Beijing,=20 China after being awarded the Wyland Foundation "Hands Across the = Oceans"=20 Ambassador for the Plant medal. Along with kids from 204 Olympic = countries=20 from around the world, I helped paint a variety of ocean life = portrayed in=20 native aquatic wildlife from each country on 54 separate canvass = totaling=20 over 1 mile. The themed aquatic mural was created for the first = "Green=20 Olympic" by world renowned ocean artist Wyland to focus the = world's eye=20 towards the important issue that " Water connects all people and = countries=20 of the world". I had the opportunity to paint with other = ocean=20 loving kids who all shared the same Artistic interest, with the = same=20 deepest personal passion to be green leaders of our green = generation. This=20 was more than I could have ever dreamed of when I started painting = ocean=20 life at the age of 4. "This changed my life, it showed me so much = more of=20 what is out in the world for me to do",br>. I am proud to = be part=20 of the team of peers, that came together from around the world to=20 collaborate and help with this historic project commissioned for = the=20 Beijing Games' Cultural Festival. It was so magical as I = learned so=20 much about how to draw and paint various images of sea life onto = these=20 huge 50-foot canvases. Being guided by and painting with my ocean = mentor,=20 Wyland and painting under his giant whales, dolphins, octopuses, = jellyfish=20 and other aquatic beasts. I woke up motivated & excited to = greet the=20 new day that I knew would be filled with adventure and new = lifelong=20 memories. To be with kids, making new friendships made it = so much=20 easier surrounded by energy all going in the same direction. I = felt=20 stronger and part of the teamwork needed to get the message out. = We shared=20 such fun & laughter, success stories, got new inspirational = ideas,=20 learned artistic secrets from each other and I can home with new = higher=20 goals to share. I see how important water is, not only to = the ocean=20 I love so much, but to us as people and our pets who need clean = water to=20 survive everyday. I experienced daily how China was a country who = had=20 limited clean water. I was remind every morning as I had to brush = my teeth=20 with bottled water. I felt bad even using the many plastic bottles = of=20 water I had to use all day long. They hadn't caught on to the idea = of=20 refilling reusable water bottles or having clean water for the = people to=20 drink, cook, bath or even swim in. As a kids who loves..... loves = the=20 water.... This was the first time I had ever seen this traveling = around=20 the world. Their recycling programs are not the same as back home = in=20 America. Now that I am back home, I am looking forward to = continuing to=20 spread the word about the importance of the 3 R's ( reuse, reduce = and=20 recycle) not only to my friends but back to other kids in China = (my=20 heritage). I am following in Wyland=E2=80=99s footsteps.... = Painting with=20 my mentor Wyland and knowing he was the original leader who paved = the way=20 for me is like following a double-sided rainbow. "It's like = following a=20 dream and making it come real" "When kids come together = with a=20 message, people want to listen" |