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Melania Angelette isn’t yet old enough to drive a car, attend a high school prom nor do many of the things that other young people do.
But running a non-profit?
That’s not a problem at all. In fact, the one Melania runs is starting to gain in popularity and is doing a lot of things to unite the people of south Louisiana around a worthwhile cause.
A Holy Rosary Catholic School student heading to the sixth grade next fall, Melania created a non-profit organization this past spring with the help of her parents as a way to generate positive news for her community, while giving help to children in need.
Melania’s non-profit sells lime green wrist bands with the organizations namesake, ‘Together We Got This’ across the front – a saying she said shows that with God’s presence, humans can work together to generate good in the world.
Proceeds from the sales go 100 percent to Children’s Hospital, a benefactor the young lady chose because she wanted a place that assisted local young people in their times of need.
For Melania, the bands are a way of giving back. With more than 200 sold, the ‘Together We Got This’ movement is also unifying the community around the cause, while raising money in the process.
Not bad for someone who’s not even yet a teenager. Melania is about to turn 11.
“I felt like I needed to do something to help make our world better,” Melania said when asked why she decided to create the bands. “Seeing all the negative things happening around us made me think of something positive I could do to help.”
For Melania, getting to where she is today with the non-profit took hard work and adult-like dedication to the cause.
She went through the proper channels – including her parents – to get the job done.
Melania is the daughter of Cut Off natives Natasha and Paul Angelette. The proud parents have three children: Melania and two boys – Parker and Maddox.
Natasha said Melania has been driven and smart throughout her life – a diligent worker who has always had a heart to take care of others.
At school, she’s known as ‘Lil Momma’, because of the love she has for others – especially her brothers.
Melania is also a 4.0 student, an honor she maintains, while juggling dance classes several nights a week. When she grows up, the soon-to-be 6th grader said she wants to be an astronomer.
“She is always watching over her brothers,” Natasha said. “Even though one is older than her. We are so truly blessed to call her our daughter.”
So when Melania got the idea to begin creating the wristbands, she went through her parents to get the ultimate nod of approval.
Melania wrote a formal letter to her father, outlining what she hoped to do, while also hand-drawing what she hoped the bracelets would look like upon completion.
The family provided The Times with a copy of the letter, detailing the child’s requests. She signed her name below the request, while also drawing a cross and a heart on the side of her name.
“Hi, my name is Melania Angelette. I want to start a non-profit business,” the letter reads in neat, cursive hand-written font. “A person gives me money and I give them a bracelet attached with a letter. The money I collect will be given to local children suffering from sickness. …”
After the parents consulted, they green lighted the project and lent their support.
The family has agreed to donate to Children’s Hospital whatever amount Melania raises – a number that’s growing by the day as the bands continue to grow in popularity.
“Lucky me,” Melania said with a smile when mentioning her parents’ participation in the process.
From there, she designed the bands online with a vendor and got to work trying to sell them to friends, family and classmates who wanted to help the cause.
Melania said she fills with joy anytime she’s around the community and someone is wearing the band – a feeling of joy she said is hard to put into words.
The number of people wearing them climbs by the day, as well, as Melania said sales have been steady as word gets out about what she’s doing.
“The feeling I get when I see someone with my bracelet is amazing,” she said. “Knowing that person wearing the bracelet was willing to help me help others is awesome.”
The parents agreed with Melania’s words. They added the entire process is a sign of local unity and a community rallying together to help its own.
“We feel blessed to live in such a giving community,” the father said.
For more information about ‘Together We Got This,’ those interested are asked to email togetherwegotthis@gmail.com.
Donations are also welcome, and also go 100 percent to the hospital for children’s care.
