Crown Jewel Club Expansion

Crown Jewel Club is a non-profit organization that empowers young girls by teaching them basic social skills, how to build their self-esteem and self-confidence and how to succeed in school and in life.

Founder Jane Phillips found her passion in 2006. "It broke my heart to know that many of the girls in [the inner city] are homeless, 98% of these children's families are below the poverty level, the only meals some girls see is at school and it just killed me. This was a calling. I just can't walk away from it, from them."

Jane took this passion and created a curriculum to make these young, neglected "gems" feel loved and empowered. She partnered with long time friend and fellow advocate, Cheryl Abel, to spread messages of positivity, etiquette, communication and manners in after school classroom settings. Crown Jewel Club laid its roots first at Trinity Street Elementary School in 2006 and St. Eugene's School in 2010. With the help of volunteers, supportive academic administrations and many charitable donations, Crown Jewel Club has been able to positively affect over 800 girls in low-income communities. They hope to continue this work by expanding to Normandie Avenue Elementary, a school surrounded by street, gang and domestic violence, severe poverty and lack of resources. Myra Thompson, previous employee of Trinity Street Elementary and current school counselor at Normandie Ave Elementary claimed, "Most of our kids have seen a criminal act of some sort. So many of our kids see a lot of this stuff happening in their homes and neighborhoods and they don't know proper ways to balance school behaviors and what is acceptable in society with what they see on a daily basis at home. I would say not a week goes by that we don't have to call Child Services. Crown Jewel Club helps them find that balance, socialize the girls and equip them to succeed inside and outside of school." To address concerns of violence, Crown Jewel Club has added an anti-bullying and nonviolence component that they are excited to introduce in the 2015-2016 school year.

Crown Jewel Club needs your help to expand to Normandie Avenue Elementary School! With expansion comes the need for new projection equipment, computers and class materials. Join the Crown Jewel Club fight against poverty, violence and negativity by donating today!