Jake and the Small Business

A word from Lil' Oprah about Jake:

Jake has come in and out of my creative life for the past eight years, always with unbridled enthusiasm and an amazing smile on his face. Whenever I hear from him he's about to hop on a plane, give to some great cause or participte in a fantastic project. He's a fire eating wild child, a travelling artist, and a kindred spirit.

Jake's Story:

El Batey is a local grocery store in Echo Park, owned by a Latino family for 30 years. The owner - one of the nicest women I've ever met, and who asked not to have any pictures taken of her, nor her name used - is an Echo Park legend. She knows everyone, and seems to really care about the local community and its well being. The store has great prices, and great selection, but ever since the gentrifrication of Echo Park started several years ago, business has been down. This is due to two issues - 1) the increase of corporate supermarkets (i.e. Vons, Ralphs, 7/11, etc.) throughout the Echo Park area, and 2) the fact that she cannot afford a credit card system, and thus takes cash only. Most of the new residents in Echo Park tend to use their credit cards, and thus she loses out on a ton of business.

My original idea was to give her the $20 towards a credit card system for the store, and put out a donation box for just this purpose. Running the idea by her, she said that she had been saving up for one, but did not want to ask for any type of donations. She is probably one of the most prideful people I've ever met, and thus it is understandable why she would not be comfortable asking for any type of help with this necessity.

After much convincing, she finally did take the $20, and thanked me profusely. It was a great feeling to not only help local, small business, but also a woman that I have grown very close too in a short period of time.

Jennifer and the Dalmation

A word from Lil' Oprah about Jennifer:

Getting to know Jennifer over the last 6 or so years has been like slowly unwrapping a wonderful present. She's an incredible portrait artist, throws a fabulous party that is planned perfectly to the tiniest detail, and is killer on a tambourine. Each time I spend time with her and her husband Andy, I feel wrapped up in goodness and am charmed by her gentle spirit and her awesome sense of humor.

Jennifer's Story:

When I first got Kalimba’s email about the $20, my immediate thought was that I’d turn her down, thinking that I didn’t have time to come up with a plan for the money. Then an idea popped into my head. From time to time at work, when I need an escape, I enjoy going to the website of a SoCal Dalmatian rescue organization and looking at the Dalmatians who are up for adoption. I look at their sweet, innocent faces and dream of the day when Andy and I have the home and financial resources that will allow us to adopt a rescued Dalmatian. I particularly remembered one Dalmatian girl, whose story nearly made me cry when I read it a few months ago:

“Beautiful Violet was found the day before Thanksgiving 2007 emaciated, starving, drinking dirty water off the city streets and barely able to stand & walk. She was about 24 hours away from death. There were people all around but everyone ignored her until a wonderful kind hearted soul turned her car around and rescued her. She then contacted Save the Dalmatians for help. Once we heard Violet's story we knew immediately we had to find a way to help this poor girl, who was also covered with infected sores and was blind in one eye. She obviously had a strong will to survive. For all that she has been through Violet has one of the sweetest and most loving temperaments anyone could ask for.

Save the Dals brought Violet to the vet and found that she is approximately 7 to 8 years old. She was put on antibiotics to help clear up her infected sores. We had blood work performed on her and she was seen by an eye specialist. It has been determined that she has glaucoma (a painful condition) in one eye and is completely blind. She is currently on medication that hopefully is alleviating her pain. Glaucoma is not common in Dalmatians and it is believed she may have had an injury to the eye that was left untreated. The best course of treatment for her is to surgically remove the eye. While her care and surgery will be costly at nearly $1,000, we are compelled to help this beautiful and sweet tempered Dalmatian find another chance at a wonderful and pain free life and ultimately adopted into a loving permanent home.”

After remembering Violet’s story, I knew I wanted to give Kalimba’s $20 to this organization, a non-profit group run solely by volunteers. Though Violet has already had her surgery, I know the $20 will go towards helping another precious doggie in need.

Kristina and the Pilot

A word from Lil' Oprah about Kristina:


Being in Kristina's presence is like eating the finest piece of dark chocolate in the world. She's sensual, and sweet, powerful, and totally and completely unique. I always leave spending time with her feeling totally indulged and wanting a little more. She's amazing. Not only is she a teacher at the "S" Factor, but she's a serious theatre lover and a gifted director. Here's what she did with her $20.







Kristina's Story:

I paid it forward by doubling what you gave to me and sending a care package along to one of our hard-working soldiers in Iraq found through the website http://www.anysolder.com/ . She's a female helicopter pilot working with a bunch of guys, her name is Jennifer. It felt great to do it and was really fun. Thank you!!

Cynthia the "American Mom"

A word from Lil' Oprah about Cynthia:



Cynthia has the gift of "getting it done". When she puts her mind to something, consider it accomplished. She can be tough as nails, but she is also one of the most sensitive people I know. That duality was a huge blessing during our trip to Asia last October and I felt incredibly blessed to have her as my travel companion. It was a life changing trip for both of us.

Cynthia's Story:

A few months ago, Kalimba and I went on a fantastic adventure to Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. While we were at the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia, we ran into 2 sweet children selling postcards. Although we resisted buying their trinkets, we did end up inviting them to have lunch with us so they could practice their English. Somehow Angelina, I mean, Kalimba, picked up 2 more children along the way. We quickly decided to ditch our sightseeing plans and spent the rest of our time in Cambodia with the kids (who now included 2 siblings, bringing our flock count to 6). We committed to send the children to English school (only $120/year for each child) and upon our return, Kalimba and I sent out e-mails to family and friends to gather donations. I formed a charity, Davana Foundation, for the children as well as other projects close to my heart.
Now, Kalimba and I are the proud "American Moms" of 8 children (yes, we added 2 more!), who are now attending English language school in Cambodia. All the joys of parenthood without the stretch marks! My $20 went to Davana Foundation. Thanks Lil Oprah!

Dennis and the Chef

A word from Lil' O about Dennis:

I've found that it's rare to have a long term friendship in Los Angeles. I met Dennis at a party 10 years ago that neither of us were invited to, and somehow, we've been friends ever since. Maybe it's his biting wit, or his adventurous personality. Perhaps it's his love of travel, or his sweet, sweet moves on the dance floor. Or perhaps it's his beautiful red hair. I'll never know for sure what's kept us in contact for so long, but I do know that I am SO grateful to have him as a friend.

Dennis's Story:

so i have a friend named doug. he is a great guy who loves to cook for his friends. his food is great. doug has been a bartender at a bar he hated since i have known him - about 6 years. after many times trying to get him to quit his job and do something else, hopefully cooking, i had given up and thought that he would continue working as a bartender and living a life he did not enjoy. it was not good for his health.

then he quit. then kalimba asked me to be a part of this. then i could not think of anything super cool and unique and incredible to do. then i remembered the whole idea of a small drop of water...namaste. so i told doug about this and that i wanted the money to go to a fund to get him into culinary school or to cooking classes of some sort. he was into it. his roommate said he would give to the fund too and that his parents were coming to town and they would too. after i gave him the initial twenty i added a twenty of my own. so it begins to hopefully fund a new life for a good friend, chef, and man.