Wendi Russo: Spokesperson/Host-Mentor
Become an Everyday Hero: Mentor A Child
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life-we can never help another without helping ourselves." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wendi Russo is a full time Host at Shop NBC, the home shopping network airing in 50 million homes nationwide. Go to www.shopnbc.com for times to view Wendi in an on-line streaming video. Wendi specializes in apparel and cosmetics/skincare and can be seen presenting everything from dishes to diamonds and computers to cosmetics. To view her Mrs. Minnesota America blog, go to www.mrsminnesota2008.blogspot.com for photos and appearances!
Wendi earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Vermont, a certification in Broadcast Journalism from UCLA and is certified as an Accredited Jewelry Professional with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and currently becoming a Graduate Gemologist.
Passionate about Mentoring, Wendi serves Kinship of Greater Minneapolis as a Senior speaker on Mentoring, is an Ambassador helping to recruit mentors, and mentors 7-year old, Tyiteana.
One of my personal goals is to to encourage 100 new mentors in the state of MN to step forward: couples, individuals and families to become EVERYDAY HEROES and mentor a child in their community. Minnesota has 150 children from single parent families waiting for a mentor. These children do not have a male in the house as the result of divorce, war or incarceration. They need a positive role model in their lives. Single mothers who work 2 jobs often cannot spend enough quality time with their children and don't have the resources to take them to do activites you or I might take for granted...like going swimming.
I had no idea that a child of 7 would not know how to swim. At the pool at Lifetime I see many children who are 3 years old and swimming...but my mentee was afraid to get her head wet because she didn't have the opportunity to take swimming lessons. She also didn't know what camp was--something that I grew up taking for granted. Thank you to Foss Swim School in Chanhassen for donating free swim lessons to Tyiteana! She will be taking lessons until she learns to swim!
As an Alumni of Big Brothers Big Sisters, I actively promote their new Big Families program during my speaking engagements. And as a speaker/mentor for Children of the Night, a non-profit safe house for runaway children, my favorite thing was helping these children to see what gifts God had given them, whether it was a sense of humor, storytelling, dance, or being artistic.
Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Everyone has the power of greatness; not for fame, but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service.”
If you are interested in learning more about mentoring opportunities in your area, Please visit. www.Mentoringworks.org. The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota is committed to increasing awareness about mentoring in Minnesota and is collaborating with Minnesota Business Partnership to encourage more businesses to start mentoring initiatives and increase employee involvement.
January is National Mentoring Month: Barack Obama is asking each one of us to become mentors to kids who need additional support. Please Pay -it-Forward by contacting www.Kinship.org today!
Eden Prairie Magazine November 2008 Cover Story about Kinship Mentoring
My daughter and I in Eden Prairie Magazine
My husband and I during the evening gown competition.
Tyiteana with Santa at Bachmans
Tyiteana learned how to use a camera today and loved it!
In this life we cannot always do great things. We can only do small things with great love.
-Mother Teresa
I chose Tyiteana as my mentee because she showed so much self confidence in describing herself as smart & pretty and a great reader!! She is from a single parent home and looks forward to spending time with me doing things her mom can't take her to do. Tyiteana loves playing outside, riding her bike and playing double dutch jump rope.
Tyiteana and Chloe's Birthday at Libby Lu December 2008
Tyiteana wanted to go back to Libby Lu this year and dressed as a princess while Chloe was a rockstar! They had a ball getting their nails done and getting "crowned"!
Tyiteana's Princess Party with an appearance by Cinderella!
Erica Nero, Mrs. MN USA 2008/2009 is our Cinderella, reading "Fancy Nancy" to the kids! It was surprising that all the kids listened quietly!
Tyiteana's 7th Birthday at Libby Lu on December 13, 2007
Posing after getting dressed up like a rock star at Libby Lu at the Mall of America! Ok, maybe I indulged a bit in also picking up the gorgeous Star Doll from the Bratz collection..but it's tough having a birthday right before Christmas! Right??!!!
Kinship's Mentor/Mentee family Picnic August 2007
Where all mentors were recognized by their mentees
Tyiteana read me the thank you note she wrote about why she liked having me as a mentor... the activities we did...like swimming that was her favorite thing to do with me--she said she likes having a buddy to do new things with!
Last Year Tyiteana was in a life preserver, this year she got free swimming lessons donated by Foss Swim school and she is doing the crawl!
My daughter loves playing with "Tana" and asks to see her every week!
