Jewel
Kilcher (popularly know as "Jewel") is an American Grammy Award-nominated
singer, songwriter, actress, poet and philanthropist who grew up on an 800 acre
farm in a remote area of Alaska. She started writing poetry at an early age and
began writing songs at 17. After majoring in operatic voice at the prestigious
Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan on a scholarship, she wasn't sure what she
wanted to do with her life and for a while lived in her van, poverty-stricken,
while she traveled around the country and performed in small clubs. Finally she
was noticed and got a record contract at 19. Her first album, Pieces of You
had 3 top ten songs and went on to sell 12 million copies in the US. In 1998
she had a book of poetry published that was a New York Times bestseller, selling
a million copies. As soon as she had gained stability in her life, Jewel began
reaching out to help others. After her first album was released, she performed
in a musical performance at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund
which was broadcast on Turner Network Television, and started a nonprofit organization
called Higher Ground For Humanity with her mother and brother. In 1999, the organization
launched the Clearwater Project, which became it's primary focus. Jewel became
concerned about clean water issues while homeless in her van. She had a kidney
problem and had to drink large amounts of water -- it wasn't easy to get water
without money and she realized that it must be even harder for people in poor
countries to get clean safe water to drink. Since its founding, the Clearwater
Project has helped more than 30 communities in impoverished countries all around
the world to secure clean drinking water. Jewel continues to donate a portion
of her income to the nonprofit and periodically performs special benefits to raise
funds for it. In September 2006, Jewel delivered 12 million petition signatures
on behalf of Lifetime Television's Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign to Congress
in support of the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act. She is also
involved in the ONE Campaign to end world poverty, and was the honorary chairperson
of the 2006 Help the Homeless Walk in Washington DC. One of Jewel's songs also
helped to inspire the creation of a nonprofit organization -- Jewel fans inspired
by her songs created the EveryDay Angels Foundation to promote volunteerism and
inspire grassroots community building.
