Power to Change Contest ‘Wynn’er Announced

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By JOYELL?NEVINS
Record Herald Editor
Courtesy of the Record Herald; Printed 8.19.12

On July 21, MiltonNews DAILY ran a story about Treva Wynn and her quest to start a non-governmental organization (NGO) through the skincare company Strivectin’s “Power to Change” contest.
Although from the Dayton area, Wynn and her husband Riley have been living in Guatemala for the past year and a half teaching English to primary age children. Wynn applied for Strivectin’s prize of $30,000 in order to create an organization to increase the value of education through repairing existing schools, building new “green” schools in the outer lying areas, and leaving a continuing source of funding so the school can stay open. The Wynns’ vision starts in Guatemala, but would encompass all of Central America and beyond.
Out of 600 finalists, Treva was chosen for the top 15 in the Strivectin contest. Her video about how she would use the $30,000 was available for viewing and voting for the whole month of July. And on Aug. 7, she found out she was the winner of the “Power to Change.”
“They said that they’d been looking at my Facebook, and were confident that I’m a person who will do a lot of good with the money,” Treva said.
Although the announcement may have been made calmly by the Strivectin representative, Treva was immediately overwhelmed with emotion.
“I think ‘blubbering mess’ would be too kind to describe how I reacted,” Treva shared, “I literally had tears running down my face as soon as I heard the woman (of Strivectin) say ‘It is our great honor and privilege to tell you . . .’”
To Treva, this is something that’s been a dream of hers since she was a child, and now will be a reality.
“Now it’s not a matter of ‘how’, it’s a matter of ‘when’,” Treva said.
Her mom Sherry agreed, describing how Treva’s love of children and desire to help the underprivileged started in junior high when Treva would stand up for racial and prejudcicial injustice.
“She was always socially-minded,” Sherry said, “Treva was always fighting the cause. I loved it.”
Sherry also noticed through the Strivectin campaign that Riley has picked up that cause.
“Riley and her share that same passion (for the children),” Sherry said, “They worked hand in hand. They found their niche.”
What’s Next
Once Strivectin sends the prize check, Treva and Riley plan to travel around Guatemala and neighboring country Honduras to visit the different aldeas (a small village outside of town) and areas in need. In Guatemala, every child has the governmental right to a free education, and money is allocated from the federal budget to the schools. In reality, though, according to Treva, it’s a one-room school with six different grades, or the money is mostly used to line administrative pockets, or in some cases, the aldea doesn’t even have a school. So the initial step for the Wynns is to decide what school or aldea to help first.
“We will know when it’s the right place when we see and feel it,” Treva said.
Since the school season ends in October, Treva and Riley’s goal is to find the site in or around November. Once that’s determined, Treva plans to come back to the United States to file articles of incorporation, apply for 501(c) 3 status, and host some fundraising events in the Dayton area.
“Our goal is, we will break ground on our first project within 12-15 months,” Treva stated.
Although the Wynns cannot accept monetary donations until they are incorporated, Treva does ask for groups to collect school supplies for the children she works with.
“We don’t need to have a non-profit to give these kids little gifts like that,” she said, “A new notebook or shiny stickers are as good as gold for most of these kids.”
For more information about donating or the future NGO, contact Treva by “friending” her on Facebook or email wynn.56@buckeyemail.osu.edu. Be prepared to be swept up in Treva’s excitement and passion.
“Her excitement is contagious,” Sherry said.
Treva detailed, “I could not be anymore ecstatic and honored. I promised the sponsor they will not regret bestowing me with this huge amount of money because I plan to invest it in a way that will continue helping children for generations to come.”

 

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