The Promise That Became a Foundation

Amy in an orphanage in Iran.

I was in the PICU elevator, going down, when a memory from many years ago came rushing back.

“How is she? I have to help her…”

I was so lucky to grow up with my grandmother, an angel on earth. She was the founder of an orphanage in Iran, a woman with a heart of gold who taught me kindness and showed me the world of charity. As a child, after my father’s passing, I received a small monthly deposit from his retirement account. I still remember telling my grandmother,

“Let’s give this money to a family member who needs it more.”

She was so proud of me and always encouraged me to keep giving.

As I grew older, I continued to follow in her footsteps. I supported an orphanage, visiting the girls, buying them lunch, helping where I could. Among them, there was one little girl I’ll never forget. She was only three or four years old when I first met her. She had survived a terrible accident at home that left both of her hands badly burned. I remember one day, when I took the girls out to lunch, she kept her little hands buried deep in her pockets, too ashamed to let anyone see her scars. My heart broke for her.

Years later, when my own daughter was in intensive care, that memory came back stronger than ever. I promised myself that if she got better and we could go home, I would find that little girl and help her.

Thankfully, my daughter recovered. I reached out to a family friend in Iran and asked about the girl. She was now a teenager, around 13 or 14, still living in the orphanage, and still without treatment. I sent a message to 20 of my close friends asking for help. Together, we raised over $4,000, enough to pay for two surgeries. While her hands never became perfect, they improved dramatically.

I’ll never forget her joy. She was no longer hiding her hands. She could move forward with more confidence.

A few years ago, I heard that she had grown up, married, and even had a child of her own. That little girl, now a woman, had her own family.

That memory will stay with me forever.

In 2020, when I was facing another loved one’s health struggles, I found myself broken, questioning why I should even keep working if the people I love were suffering. To pull myself out of that dark place, I turned to meditation. And during one of those sessions, an idea came to me clearly: the Brax Girl Foundation.

I opened my eyes, called my lawyer, and started the process the very same day.

Since then, the Brax Girl Foundation has helped orphan girls, supported college students, and partnered with other nonprofits. My dream is to one day support hundreds of girls every year — giving them the confidence, opportunities, and hope they deserve.

To everyone who has trusted me with their jewelry and supported Brax Jewelers: thank you. You have given me the ability to make this dream real, and we are only at the beginning.