InBloom Heros: Celebrating those for whom service comes naturally.
InBloom Heros was created to raise funds and awareness for very special InBloom Jewelry customers. I greatly admire people who act selflessly in an effort to meet a need in their community, and who choose to see potential, opportunities and beauty instead of despair. Partnering with these community heroes is a great honor and pleasure.
You can help…..
- Help us raise funds, bring awareness and celebrate our Heroes' passionate efforts to serve others by purchasing a necklace designed just for them.
- All profits are directly donated to their organization.
- A direct donation can also be made by clicking the link to their organization's website.
Meet our inaugural InBloom Hero:
Shari Ostrow Scher
I’ve known Shari since childhood and always look forward to a visit with her. I can visualize the collective nod from her family, friends and colleagues when I say that in her presence, one only feels cherished.
Without hesitation she loves, she accepts, and always strives to lift others up. I’m so delighted to have her as our inaugural InBloom Hero, as she truly exemplifies our goal of “honoring those for whom giving comes naturally”.
When we first talked about this idea, I asked Shari to identify a theme for the piece we were to create together. She came up with "resilience". We found inspiration in the elegant lines of the ancient gingko tree leaf, and I designed this pendant we are offering for sale.
The children and families COIPP serves truly are resilient. When you purchase and enjoy wearing or gifting this pendant called “Resilience,” please know you are helping an extraordinary woman and her volunteers bring joy, encouragement and inspiration to a special group of children and their caregivers.
"Resilience"
Shown here Level 2 $340 Sterling with 18kbezel set.1ct diamond |
Available in 2 levels of support:
Level 1: Sterling Silver pendant. 16-18” adjustable snake chain $100
Level 2: Sterling Silver with 18k gold bezel set .1ct diamond accent (as shown) $340
Make your purchase at www.inbloomjewelry.com under InBloom Hereos Fundraisers
Direct donations can also be made via the website www.coipp.org
Enjoy this video of Shari speaking about why she created COIPP and all the wonderful things they do to support this group of children in Frederick County, MD.
About Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP)
Having a parent in prison is life changing for a child. Some children act out due to the trauma, while others never speak about it. However, all suffer worry and feel their life change. This happened to me, and happens everyday to thousands of children.
With this in mind, twelve years ago I decided that I could not wait any longer to start a group to support these children. Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP), a non-sectarian, non-profit organization, was born.
Our mission is to assist children and their caregivers who are impacted by the incarceration of a loved one and to raise community awareness of the needs of this population. Thanks to a group of incredible volunteers, much has been accomplished. This includes giving away warm, homemade ‘comfort blankets and quilts’ to children and caregivers, offering scholarships to women caregivers, offering a lending/giving children’s library at the local detention center, offering resource bag giveaways at our annual Resource Fair at the Detention Center, facilitating support groups for caregivers, offering weekly parenting classes to women at the local jail, and so much more.
We are about to begin child/caregiver weekend activities, free to all participants. Most importantly, caregivers now have a place to call when they find themselves in great need, emotionally, socially and even financially. In our country, we honor children who have a parent in the military, but we do not do so for those with a parent in jail. However, it is all about the same issue for the children- loss.
We are only at the beginning of what we can do, for many prisoners have many children- all of whom need attention, support and a hand up to meet their potential.
To Donate directly visit www.coipp.org
Get to know Shari Ostrow Scher in her own words.
I grew up in Brooklyn New York and lived there through college. I have also lived in Buffalo, New York,
Washington, DC, Charles County, Maryland and for almost thirty years in
Frederick. For all of this time, almost fifty years, I have been involved in
education, with a special interest in working with those families that struggle
financially or have special needs.
That interest started early and never
left. In truth, I never took a year off
as my career in teaching and administering programs took me to the inner city,
rural areas, and on national speaking engagements. I had the great honor of
working in childcare, public schools, community colleges, four year institutions,
and more. For twenty-seven years I had the honor of being the early childhood
curriculum specialist/family involvement supervisor for Frederick county Public
Schools, from which I retired less than two years ago.
My husband and I, and anyone else who wishes to come, travel to the DR at
least once a year, with books carried down in our suitcases, and add to our
library with new, Spanish resources. I have also traveled extensively to
countries all over the world, including places of poverty such as Uganda,
Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Ecuador, Viet Nam, Peru and more.
Whenever possible,
whenever traveling, I try to visit schools or orphanages, and carry down
supplies or assist with the building of a school, for I firmly believe that
education is the way out of poverty and therefore every child deserves the best
education possible.
Besides loving to travel, I am an avid reader, participant
in two book clubs, cook, pet lover, fast walker, eater of chocolate, Zumba and
Bang participant- and someone with, I am told boundless energy.
I adore my many friends and spending time
with them, usually with an iced tea in my hand. However, the very best part of
my life is my family that includes my husband Howie, who never, ever tires of
supporting my efforts, my fabulous children, Jedd, Ben and Jennifer, my
daughter-in-law Christina, my dog Greta, all of whom are my cheerleaders, and,
of course, a grandmother’s dream, the wonderful Anna.
CONGRATULATIONS SHARI!
Thank you for all you've done for your community!