Jewel Kilcher
(1974-)

birthdate: May 23
birthplace:
Payson, Utah

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.

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