Writing on Jennifer Heil for her blog on Marcelle’s website, I was fortunate enough to talk to her before and after almost every race for the last two years. What struck me from the very first phone call we had was how passionate she was about her discipline, how much love she had for her sport. Then as she began to win, and win, and win again en route to yet another Crystal Globe. The amazing thing about her was how humble she stayed about her incredible career. There was pride and enthusiasm, of course, because she had worked so hard to get there, but the pride never became cockiness, and the enthusiasm was always under control.
The one topic we would talk about, where that enthusiasm would turn to just sheer joy, is her involvement with Plan Canada’s “Because I’m a Girl” campaign. Just hearing her on the phone, you could clearly imagine the sparks in her eyes and the emotion in her smile. Jenn had received so much praise and happiness as an athlete, she just had to give as much time and energy as she could to a cause she believed so sincerely in.
Jennifer’s goal is to raise a million dollars, and she started that funding effort by donating 25,000$ of her own pocket – her 2010 Olympic earnings, as it turns out. “I’m trying to raise a million dollars over the next five years for the campaign, and already have some of my sponsors on-board who are matching my donation from the Olympics”, Jenn says on the “Because I Am A Girl” website. Marcelle has in fact chosen to support her by launching a special effort on May 9, 2011: $0.50 will be donated to “Because I Am A Girl” for every purchase of one of our three best-selling products. Marcelle’s Cleansing Cloths, a limited edition Multi-Colour Powder Blush and Lux Gloss Sheer - Sorbet (Jenn’s favorite gloss!) will be easily recognizable in their special pink packaging.
If you were wondering how to help “Because I Am A Girl”, this is an easy first step. As part of the campaign, Jenn will return to Burkina Faso next August with three young Canadian women. And if you want to support “Because I’m A Girl” even more and on a regular basis, check out the “What Can I Do?” section on their website. Nothing would make Jenn happier than to be joined in that particular cause. Because you are girls, too. And because when it comes to matters like these, there’s never enough help.