For the second year in a row, TWLOHA was chosen as the featured charity for the Secret Rooms Golden Globes Gifting Suite. Chloe and I were able to introduce TWLOHA to the celebrities who attended and ask them to be a part of our Fears vs. Dreams Campaign, and thanks to our awesome photographer Jered Scott, we have photos to share with you.

No matter what someone's social status may be, at the end of the day, celebrities are people like us, humans who struggle with an array of different things. Admitting what scares us or what makes us feel alive might be intimidating or embarrassing, but there is power and strength in owning who we are. We're thankful for the attendees who were willing to share their fears and dreams.  May reading them be a reminder that grace is free and everyone deserves it.

--Katie

Comments (1) | Posted in General by Katie Nakken

On October 1st, we started accepting applications for our first ever high school campaign The Storytellers. Below is Part Two of a blog from our coordinating team for The Storytellers. Katie shares a bit about a high school friend and why co-leading The Storytellers matters to her.  (To read Part One, click here.)

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During my junior year of high school, I went to a basketball game with a group of friends. After the game, a bunch of us went to my friend Jessi's house. I had never talked to Nick before. I knew who he was, and we had friends in common, but our paths hadn’t crossed until that night. I spent the better part of the evening sitting on a couch, talking with and getting to know him. He was unbelievably genuine and incredibly funny.

It was the first and last conversation I’d have with Nick—six months later he died by suicide. I’ll never forget receiving that phone call just a few days before starting senior year. His death came as a surprise to everyone. I couldn’t piece together anything that made sense. Nick’s close friends knew there were some problems at home, but no one knew the deep loneliness he felt.

Losing him made me fully understand the concept of what’s going on in someone’s heart may not reflect what we see on the outside.

I’m passionate about The Storytellers because it’s a way to encourage your friends and classmates during a time that can be really difficult. It’s a starting point to a conversation that may otherwise never happen, a conversation that can change, and sometimes even save, a life. My hope for The Storytellers is that it helps high school students connect with each other beyond the superficial layers seen in the hallways.

—Katie

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We believe in the power of high school students. You all have a voice that can change your communities. We hope you will join us for the first term of The Storytellers or pass this along to someone you know that might be interested (in case you’re not in high school anymore). 

The idea is simple: invite people who are passionate about TWLOHA, who have a unique platform every day of the school year, to tell our story.  You, the high school students, get to use your creativity to decide how to tell the story, and we give you the resources to raise awareness and funds for an organization that matters to you. 

Applications can be submitted here until January 15, 2012. The first term will begin on February 1, 2012 and conclude on May 15, 2012. You can find more specific information here. For any questions, please read our FAQ section, and if you don’t see an answer to your question there, please email thestorytellers@twloha.com. 

With Love,
Chloe and Katie

P.S. We’re proud to announce the first 85 high schools accepted into The Storytellers. Two countries and 30 states, as far as Alaska, are represented in the list below. 

Welcome, Storytellers. : ) 

North Mac High School
Mauston High School
Topsail High School
Gulf High School
The Visual and Performing Arts Center High School & Early College
Minarets High School
Western Reserve Academy
Bradford Area High School
Canyon Ridge High School
Eau Gallie High School
Buchholz High School
Regina High School
Hulett High School
Franklin Community High School
Alamogordo High School
Bluefield High School
Licking Heights High School
Soddy Daisy High School
Pueblo Central High School
George Washington High School
Hemet High School
Putnam County High School
Alvirne High School
West Islip High School
Andover High School
East Hall High School
Wrangell High School
Richmond High School
Coopersville High School
Dysart High School
Colorado High School
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
Marengo Community High School
Bergen County Academies
Morgan County High School
Decorah High School
Portal High School
Positive Outcomes Charter School
St. Elizabeth High School
Keith Country Day School
Mountain Vista High School
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
Kennett High School
River Hill High School
Perrysburgh High School
John Paul II Catholic High School
Felicity-Franklin High School
Hermitage High School
Charter School of Wilmington
Bloomfield High School
Milton High School
Mountain View High School
East Rutherford High School
Blue Valley Northwest High School
Cole Valley Christian High School
Oakville High School
Pinckney Community High School
Scranton High School
AlWood High School
Celebration High School
Sherman High School
South Sumter High School
Oklahoma Christian School
North Davidson High School
Western Branch High School
Methacon High School
Udall High School
Billerica Memorial High School
école Secondaire Cochrane High School
Mackenzie Mountain School
Central Collegiate
Delta Secondary School
Serrano High School
Camden County High School
The Athenian School
Woodland Regional High School
Sebring High School
Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy
Waterloo West High School
Benjamin Franklin High School
Lawton High School
SOAR High School
Sanborn Regional High School

Comments (11) | Posted in General by Katie Nakken