“To much is given, much is required.”

While I have always been involved in the community and civic service, I wanted to make a greater impact in the lives of kids. So I followed my passion and started Extra-Ordinary Life (XOL) to make a difference in the lives of teen girls living in foster care in DC. I recognize how incredibly blessed I was to have been adopted as a baby and grow up in a loving home with a family that gave me the best opportunities in life through education, travel and exposure to opportunities that shaped my confidence and positioned me to be successful.

Foster kids lack what most of take for granted, due to NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. Can you imagine growing up without a consistent, caring adult figure in your life and a permanent home? How can you focus on school when you are worried about being moved to another home (for the 3rd time in a year)? These are basic human rights that these kids do not have.

Through XOL, I seek to inspire these young ladies to dream BIG and overcome extraordinarily negative circumstances to live extraordinarily positive, fulfilling and successful lives. Every child needs guidance, support and a chance…so XOL exposes them to people, places and opportunities that expand their perception of the world, their lives and their potential… and put them on a path to college. I strongly believe that travel is an impactful means to broaden the perspective of youth and literally teach them that "the world is your oyster". So in July 2010, I took eight young ladies to South Africa during the World Cup for a cultural, historical, social, and community oriented adventure. It was an amazing experience for them and one of the most rewarding and special moments in my life.

Extra-Ordinary Life was launched in 2009 as a charitable program within the Pursuit of Dreams Foundation, an established 501©(3) based in Austin Texas. Given its success and Washington DC area focus, Extra-Ordinary Life is in the process of receiving independent tax-exempt status (TIN# 274325636). For more information, please visit: www.extra-ordinarylife.org.