Sterling effort:

To share good fortune, 'Extreme' family designs jewelry for fundraiser.

Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Publication Date: 05/16/2007
COPYRIGHT 2007 Times Union
Byline: Amber Mile


May 16--Debbie Oatman walked into Northeastern Fine Jewelry, keys in hand, eyes scanning the room, slight smile on her face, eager to find the person or people in charge.

Her four sons trailed behind: one walked with a hop, ready to see what all the fuss was about; the other three were nonchalant. After politely turning down offers for chocolate chip cookies and drinks, the boys perched in front of the store's television while their mom took care of business.

In March, the Oatman-Gaitan family was the recipient of a new 3,700-square-foot home, courtesy of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," and other gifts estimated at $1 million. Now was their chance to give something back.

The family was invited to team with Northeastern Fine Jewelry's master jeweler, Olivier Francois, to design a brooch as a fundraiser for Camp Heartland. The camp, with locations in Carmel, Putnam County; Malibu, Calif.; and Willow River, Minn., is free for children with AIDS and the human immunodeficiency virus, and also caters to their siblings and family members. For more than a decade, the Oatman-Gaitan family has attended the camp because two of her four sons are HIV-positive.

Northeastern Fine Jewelry planning to sell about 100 brooches for $30 each. All proceeds from the purchase of the jewelry will go to support Camp Heartland, which depends on donations to keep running.

"There's no way we can thank the entire community enough for all of their love and support, but when people help you, you in turn want to help others," said the 49-year-old Colonie mother.

Giving back to Camp Heartland is twofold, not only because the family has benefited from the services, but also because Neil Willenson, founder and CEO of the organization, nominated the Oatman-Gaitan family for the makeover show.

"This is definitely a way to pay it forward," Oatman said. "I'm excited because Camp Heartland will benefit, and, as a result, more children will benefit."

Making contributions

Francois and other members of Northeastern Fine Jewelry wanted to contribute to the Oatman-Gaitan family because of its inspirational story -- a divorced single parent with four sons, three adopted with multiple disabilities, including the two who are HIV-positive. The company is one of many that, since "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" made a local stop, has extended a hand to the family.

There was a time when Oatman and her family weren't readily accepted by all. Years ago, ignorance about their situation caused some people to avoid them. And Oatman knows there are still those who aren't educated about the daily struggles her family and others in similar situations face, but she's hoping they will learn.

"I hope when people see the brooch, it will serve as a reminder to accept people for who they are, but also give everyone a better understanding about HIV/AIDS, whether they have it or not," she said.

On the afternoon the Oatman-Gaitans arrived for their jewelry design appointment, Francois emerged from the back of the store with a piece of paper and pencil in hand. His original idea, a sketch of an Adirondack chair, wouldn't be the final design, but the brainstorming process flowed freely from that moment.

"I want something that's not gender-specific, because I want anyone to be able to wear it," Oatman said.

Something special

She also wanted the piece of jewelry to mean something special -- as do her ruby-centered Italian gold earrings, left to her in her grandmother's will; the star sapphire ring her father gave her in high school; and the orange plastic bracelet in remembrance of Seana, a young family friend who died of leukemia.

"It doesn't have to be the typical red ribbon, does it?" she asked Francois, breathing a sigh of relief when he answered no.

After all, if they were going to design a piece of jewelry, they wanted it to be unique. With a few quick moves of the pencil, and after only about 15 minutes, the design was complete. The family liked Francois' sketch of the chair, but they wanted something that caught potential buyers' attention. Francois marked an X through the chair, and the wheels continued to turn. A tree?

"I don't know. I'm not good with my imagination," said 10-year-old Scout Oatman-Gaitan. His mom suggested a leaf. "Whatever kind of leaves you'd find on a tree in New York," she said.

But no one could think of the right type of tree. After surfing the Internet on the store's computer, they found it: sugar maple.

The piece of jewelry would be in the shape of a sugar maple tree leaf, representing the state tree and the rustic, Adirondack theme of Camp Heartland's New York site, and the same theme of the made-over home.

Inscription

They also decided the piece of jewelry would be versatile. It would be a brooch with a hook attached for those who want to add a chain for a necklace. An inscription on a scroll below the leaf will read "miracle/believe."

Each of the boys said they would prefer to wear the jewelry as a necklace rather than a brooch.

"With the pin, you could probably forget it and accidentally leave it on your clothes and it would get washed," said 16-year-old Kevin Oatman-Gaitan.

But it was the inscription that brought the biggest smile to Oatman's face. "It's a true miracle these kids survived," said Oatman, who months before the show wondered how she and her family would continue to live in their home with its sinking foundation, cracked walls and harmful mold and mildew.

"You have to believe in God and believe things will work out. And it will. I know."

The leaf will be silver, but an option for a silver or gold scroll will be available. The boys and their mother nodded their approval.

"It's pretty cool," Scout said. The rest of the Oatman-Gaitan brothers -- Kevin, D.J., 20, and Brian, 15 -- agreed.

Francois stood back and smiled. The master jeweler, who has designed and supplied jewelry for royalty, including the royal family of Belgium, said this project was just as special.

For Francois, it was important to express the family's personality.

"I tried to find a symbol that went with the Adirondack theme, but I didn't want to create animals or anything common," he said. "I wanted to find something unique."

When Willenson nominated the family for the home makeover, he never dreamed the pay-it-forward concept would unfold like this.

"We're truly thankful to Debbie and Northeastern Fine Jewelry for this noble effort," Willenson said. "More than 80 percent of our families that attend Camp Heartland live in poverty, and this is a free camp, so we rely on fundraisers like this for help. These efforts will absolutely transfer over to helping more kids and families."

Amber Miles can be reached at 454-5460 or by e-mail at amiles@timesunion.com.