Shortly after I moved my fashion business to the United States in 2003, I was invited to join a group of friends to spend some time with the kids in the cancer ward of Children’s Hospital.  Not knowing exactly what to expect, I tagged along.  My friend and I arrived and spent some time with the kids, playing games and handing out presents.  After we had given out some of the presents, I noticed that one of the girls, she couldn’t have been more than 8 or 9 years old, wasn’t playing with her gift.  She had unwrapped her gift, a beautiful doll, but didn’t take it out of the box.  I was worried that she didn’t like the gift so I asked her if something was wrong with the doll.  She gave a smile and assured me that the doll was beautiful.  I asked her why she didn’t take it out and play with it like the other kids.  She looked me in the eyes and calmly said that the doll was very beautiful, but she wanted to make sure that it stayed in good condition for the next kid who would get it.

My eyes started to tear up and she gave me a hug.  She pulled out a Life Savers gummy candy and handed it to me.  She said “Don’t be sad.  Here, this will make you feel better.”

I put the candy in my pocket and hugged her good bye.  When I got home, I fell asleep on the couch, emotionally drained.  The next morning when I woke up, I was changing and noticed something sticky in my pocket.  I reached in and pulled out her candy.  But, the candy had started to melt and looked like it read “Love Savers.”

I immediately went to my sketch book and designed the LOVE SAVERS® pendant I wear now.  Over the course of several years, my fashion clients would notice my pendant and ask me where I got it.  After I would tell them the story, they all wanted me to make them one so they could be part of the “LOVE SAVERS ® circle”, in honor of the young girl.  I never learned her name, but her wisdom, love and courage remain a part of me.

As a result, I designed this line of LOVE SAVERS ® jewelry.  A portion of all our sales goes to benefit children in need.  As we expand, our outreach will also grow. When you buy a piece of LOVE SAVERS ® jewelry, you become part of the circle.  Please join our blog so you can see the good that your contributions are making possible.

Thank you, and please share your wisdom, love and courage with someone.

Ari Sheuhmelian