When I first learned about Saving Our Daughters (SOD) in 2015, I knew I had to be a part of it.

Very quickly, I discovered that SOD empowers young girls from diverse backgrounds through the mediums of theater, film and television, as well as through literary and culinary avenues. Put into place, these initiatives act as tools of empowerment to help young girls overcome turbulent obstacles such as bullying (cyber, gossip, face-to-face), dating abuse, domestic violence and other esteem-eroding experiences. Furthering this venture, SOD went on to develop an additional facet of the organization (co-founded by Keke Palmer in 2014) called the 'Saving Our Cinderellas Arts Program'. This program, using the Arts, has proven to be a remarkable vehicle for change. After learning all of this and more, I found that SOD's platform touched me deeply, as a bi-racial, multi-cultural CODA (Child Of Deaf Adults) that personally experienced a childhood heavily weighted by the effects of bullying. Needless to say, joining forces with Saving Our Daughters to become an Ambassador and Mentor to these incredible girls, was a no-brainer. 

In that same year, along with Angie Harmon and AnnaLynne McCord, I was humbled to accept the Glamour & Investigation Discover ‘Inspire A Difference’ award for the work we completed that year. That night, we shared about the profound origins of the organization and its founders, Curt and Debbie Benjamin. We recounted the moving story of Ilyss Marie, their youngest daughter, and her brave, lost battle with a malignant brain tumor. Ilyss' powerful journey and valiant life inspired the organization’s inception and forum, which has changed the lives of countless young girls.

In 2016, alongside the groundwork with Saving Our Daughters, Trai and I joined the Celebrity MasterChef Cook-Off Competition for a chance to win $25,000 for our girls’ programs. (Spoiler alert - we won!)

For more information on Saving Our Daughters or on how you can be involved, please click here.