Convent of the Sacred Heart Upper School hallways now sparkle even brighter as more students don junior Katrina Rodriguez’s homemade jewels.
Katrina’s grandfather passed away March 17 due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). After his death, Katrina developed the idea to make and sell necklaces in order to provide funding for the COPD Foundation.
The COPD Foundation’s mission is to prevent COPD and improve the lives of those with the disease, according to copdfoundation.org.
Katie Nail ’16
To date, she has sold 45 necklaces at $25 apiece to Sacred Heart students, and has sent all profits to the COPD Foundation.
“After I saw people wearing Katrina’s necklaces around the school, I knew I had to have one,” junior Cynthia Thomas said. “They have such a unique design and knowing they are for a great cause makes purchasing them even more meaningful.”
COPD is an illness that blocks airflow and leads to lung deficiencies. It is currently the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to lung.org.
Katrina was not aware of the gravity of a COPD diagnosis until doctors gave her grandfather five years to live as his initial prognosis.
A popular necklace she bought from etsy.com last year inspired her to make and sell similar necklaces to Upper School students.
“I want to sell these necklaces because I want to help people who suffer from the same disease my grandpa suffered from,” Katrina said. “My whole life, my grandfather took care of me. Although he is no longer here, it is my turn to help people who suffered like him, as he always did for me, in order to honor his legacy.”
After a detailed search, she found the supplies she needed: metal coins, jump chains, jump rings, clasps and extenders. Katrina then researched how to make the necklaces online. After she produced her first piece, she posted a picture of the finished product to her Snapchat story, allowing prospective buyers to contact her for order information.
This summer, Katrina plans to set up an Etsy shop on etsy.com, a website that provides a marketplace for artists and craft makers, in order to expand her clientele.
Please contact Katrina at [email protected] in order to purchase a necklace.
– Katie Nail, News Editor
King Street Chronicle
King Street Chronicle
Necklaces for charity sparkle in the hallways
Over 35 Convent of the Sacred Heart Upper School students have bought junior Katrina Rodriguez’s hand-crafted necklaces.
Katie Nail ’16
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