Post by Nicktendonick on May 13, 2009 12:32:11 GMT -5
www.ocregister.com/articles/heijkoop-money-says-2365086-life-contest
I wanna spread this message around. Maybe, just maybe I can help someone else with this. (to see more and get more infomation, click on the link)
I wanna spread this message around. Maybe, just maybe I can help someone else with this. (to see more and get more infomation, click on the link)
Sherry Chin Heijkoop grew up poor. Her dad womanized his way out of her life when she was 2, leaving behind his Chinese wife and nine kids in a Malaysian shack, a place with a dirt floor, no electricity or running water.
The family meal usually was little more than white rice. Shoes were rare. They had no mattresses.
But living with little, Heijkoop says, gave her a singular thought as a child: "I want to grow up, travel the world and become a successful millionaire."
So she did. And, today, Heijkoop has achieved a financial life that's beyond most people's dreams. Money, she says, is no longer an issue.
Still, until recently, Heijkoop felt like she lacked direction, that at age 50 she still was seeking a purpose.
Heijkoop now believes she has found her calling.
The multilingual, self-made millionaire wants to teach young adults how to succeed in life – financially and otherwise.
Choosing Orange County as her launching pad, Heijkoop is starting a contest that figures to change the lives of a few deserving students.
The stakes?
A potentially life-changing $100,000.
While Oprah has had her "Big Give" TV contest, Heijkoop calls her non-TV contest simply the "Big Idea."
The contest — which starts today and ends July 16 — works like this: Students must write a biographical essay on why they deserve the money. Their life story should be compelling, and they need to outline clear goals for their education and long-term life strategy.
Heijkoop will select 10 winners. First-prize gets the $100,000, and all the mentoring (from Heijkoop) he or she needs to become a millionaire. The nine others get $2,000 each, plus free mentoring.
Heijkoop has set up an organization, Mentor Unlimited USA, to make sure the money will be used for tuition and living expenses. The Orange County-based nonprofit is aimed at helping students who are at a crossroads — students seeking a sanctuary to build their self-esteem and self-confidence in a competitive world.
Heijkoop's goal is to get the winning student through school, and to give him or her the tools to succeed on his or her own terms.
Interestingly, these days, Heijkoop's notion of success seems less centered on money itself than on what money can — and can't — buy.
"I could go out and buy a Ferrari, bigger diamond rings or more designer handbags, but that wouldn't be fulfilling," Heijkoop says.
"I'd rather spend over $100,000 to do something I have always wanted, from the bottom of my heart – to make a positive impact on someone's life."
The family meal usually was little more than white rice. Shoes were rare. They had no mattresses.
But living with little, Heijkoop says, gave her a singular thought as a child: "I want to grow up, travel the world and become a successful millionaire."
So she did. And, today, Heijkoop has achieved a financial life that's beyond most people's dreams. Money, she says, is no longer an issue.
Still, until recently, Heijkoop felt like she lacked direction, that at age 50 she still was seeking a purpose.
Heijkoop now believes she has found her calling.
The multilingual, self-made millionaire wants to teach young adults how to succeed in life – financially and otherwise.
Choosing Orange County as her launching pad, Heijkoop is starting a contest that figures to change the lives of a few deserving students.
The stakes?
A potentially life-changing $100,000.
While Oprah has had her "Big Give" TV contest, Heijkoop calls her non-TV contest simply the "Big Idea."
The contest — which starts today and ends July 16 — works like this: Students must write a biographical essay on why they deserve the money. Their life story should be compelling, and they need to outline clear goals for their education and long-term life strategy.
Heijkoop will select 10 winners. First-prize gets the $100,000, and all the mentoring (from Heijkoop) he or she needs to become a millionaire. The nine others get $2,000 each, plus free mentoring.
Heijkoop has set up an organization, Mentor Unlimited USA, to make sure the money will be used for tuition and living expenses. The Orange County-based nonprofit is aimed at helping students who are at a crossroads — students seeking a sanctuary to build their self-esteem and self-confidence in a competitive world.
Heijkoop's goal is to get the winning student through school, and to give him or her the tools to succeed on his or her own terms.
Interestingly, these days, Heijkoop's notion of success seems less centered on money itself than on what money can — and can't — buy.
"I could go out and buy a Ferrari, bigger diamond rings or more designer handbags, but that wouldn't be fulfilling," Heijkoop says.
"I'd rather spend over $100,000 to do something I have always wanted, from the bottom of my heart – to make a positive impact on someone's life."
