www.enchantedmakeovers.org
Terry’s Journey
“Leap and the Net Shall Appear”
Hello, my name is Terry Grahl, and I’m the Founder,
Visionary and CEO of Enchanted Makeovers. I’m
also a wife, mother to four wonderful adult children,
warrior, storyteller, believer, contributor to several
books, lover of all things handmade & vintage, and
a passionate woman on a mission to inspire people
to dream while they are awake, follow their heart,
and most importantly, to see each other truly as an
extension of one’s self.
“A New Chapter is Written”
A polka-dotted pillow changed my life
and my journey.
You see, in December 2006, I received a call from a
gentleman asking for help. I was an interior decorator,
and he was a volunteer for a local shelter.
He said, “we would be so grateful even if you just painted one wall.” Honestly, at the
time, my first reaction was fear. I was fearful of going. I really didn’t know what to
expect. I had never been to a shelter.
I decided to make the visit and, as with all of the consultations I conducted with
my private clients in my decorating business, I took before photos to assist with any
necessary planning and visualization. at is, if I would actually accept the volunteer job.
I still wasn’t sure, and was leaning towards a “probably not”.
“A Dream Remembered”
A week had passed since my first visit to the shelter. I hadn’t given it much thought. All
I know is that I had this lingering feeling of despair knowing the living conditions of the
women and children. I began to reflect upon my own expectations for my life and the
dreams of a child. I was a big dreamer; my mother instilled this upon me and my siblings.
“e pictures, the pictures — I must look at these pictures.”
As I downloaded them to my computer, there it was, THE picture. ere amongst
black metal used prison bunk bed, a stained mattress and an unfinished sheet rock wall
was an answer.
ere amongst the harshness was something dear to my heart: a polka dot, a safe pattern
that has no sharp edges. ere on that seemingly ordinary pillow was an answer. It was an
answer from within me but not directly from me.
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When I saw the polka dots in that picture, I
heard, “Trust me.” I raised my right hand in
the air and said, “YES”. From that moment,
I knew I was prepared to do whatever I could
to bring hope to those women and children.
“Leap of Faith”
As I continued accepting work from private
clients, I felt something was missing. I had
taken on additional shelter projects in 2007,
but continued to hold onto the security
of my paying clients. In December, 2008, I decided to close my decorating business,
Terry’s Enchanted Cottage.
In August 2008, Terry’s Enchanted Cottage, established back in 2005, ultimately
became Enchanted Makeovers, a national non-profit 501 (C) 3 non-profit. Today, my
calling is to inspire communities to serve humanity with their God given talent, re-
ignite the greatness within women and children living in shelters, to see people living at
their fullest potential and most importantly, to see ourselves in one another.
Our Mission
Enchanted Makeovers’ mission is to create environments and programs
for women and children in shelters that educate, empower, open a path for
creativity, mindfulness and self-expression.
Who we are
Enchanted Makeovers has been empowering women and children
living in shelters since 2007. We are a national 501(c) 3 charitable non-profit
organization based out of Taylor, MI.
Who we serve
Women, children and female veterans. Many are battling human trafficking,
post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual abuse and domestic violence.
What is the social issue being addressed by Enchanted Makeovers?
e issue of homelessness is a very complex problem. Not long ago, women and
children were rare at rescue missions and shelters. e harsh reality is that today,
they are more common than ever. A recent report by the National Center on Family
Homelessness found that 1 in 45 children in the United States are homeless. at means
1.6 million children are facing a life without a stable environment.
Key Elements of Enchanted Makeovers’ Organizational Model
e effectiveness of Enchanted Makeovers’ unique model has been featured on the U.S.
Department’s Health and Human Services website for Homeless and Housing Resources
in the article “e Four Walls Around Us”. In addition, a study recently published
in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine “Creating a Healing Environment”
documented the correlation between a healing environment and overall patient well-
being. It also found that inner city children have greater disease burdens and worse
outcomes compared to children living in a nurturing environment. e article focused
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on the role of the “healing environment” and aesthetic surroundings as critical to health
outcomes and overall well-being.
Restorative/Healing Environment
Enchanted Makeovers’ unique model nurtures women and children living in shelters.
Many women and children living in shelters are there because they have escaped
situations of domestic violence, sex trafficking, family addiction, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) or other extremely challenging situations. rough various projects,
programs and makeovers of the physical space, women and children are introduced to
a way of life, a way of thinking that helps to shift their outlook about their lives and
possibilities for the future. A path is created for creativity, self-expression and worth.
Enchanted Makeovers Projects and Programs
Every bedroom transformation involves the community and their talent. Handmade
quilts, curtains, embroidered pillowcases, crocheted blankets, murals, painted vintage
furniture and handwritten notes filled with positive words. We believe handmade is
healing and especially when it comes to your bedroom, it should be filled with love and
positive energy.
“Everyone is worthy of surroundings that will nurture their soul
and allow their greatness to emerge.” –Terry Grahl
As children, we often play “dress up”. But beyond just having fun, the clothing or
costumes we put on our body send us a message.
Many children play “Superhero” because the messages that Superheroes “save the day”
is everywhere, but Enchanted Makeovers believes it’s not about calling on “superman”
or “supergirl” to swoop in. It’s about calling on our own strength, from within, that we
never knew we had. It’s about the power of our mind, tapping into our imaginations.
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It’s about putting on our daily armor and believing in ourselves. Every cape is handmade
by children and adults.
I had a mother at a Rescue Mission share with me how she put on her sons cape and
ran down the hall. I told her what an amazing and beautiful message you placed in
your sons heart. Her eyes immediately filled with tears. e cape speaks to all ages
no matter who is wearing it or making it. Terry Grahl
The Patch Project
A 5x5 piece of fabric,
with a powerful message.
For years my heart has held onto a day, a
feeling and an orange plastic Holly Hobby
jewelry box.
It was December 1977 and Christmas was
just around the corner. I don’t remember
much about this special day at our house
but I do remember an event I attended
with my brothers and sister. Just a couple
blocks away from our house there was a
group having a day for “needy” children to
come and pick out one toy for Christmas.
My mom gathered all of us and we walked
up to the event. Oh the excitement of what would be inside I couldn’t even imagine.
As we entered the building all children were gathered very quickly to stand in one line.
Volunteers stood against walls and watched. I immediately remember feeling much out
of place. Every child I watched and wondered, if they felt the same as I did, “awkward,
embarrassment and yes, shame. It’s terrible how poverty attacks ones heart, thoughts and
eventually identity. It was now my turn in line and this very tall man grabbed my hand
and said, “Come here girl pick out a toy.” As I looked into his eyes I wondered why he
never asked my name. I walked around with him glancing at every table looking for that
one special gift that spoke to me. Oh My! an orange plastic Holly Hobby jewelry box was
sitting there waiting just for me to love and take care of it. I grabbed her and immediately
gave her a hug. :) So very grateful for the gift that I still have today but oh how we serve
pierced my heart and planted a seed to be used for a greater purpose. It is time to shine
a light into corners of the heart that we are unaware we might fill with darkness. ese
special patches that are made and placed on capes for our Capes for Kids program.
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“Enchanted Makeovers has always included name tags for events or makeovers for
everyone to wear, but my heart is telling me this needs to be a hands on community
project to raise awareness on the importance of a name. It is where our story
begins!” –Terry Grahl
Sacred Sewing Room Program
“e Sacred Sewing Room program
was inspired by my mother’s story. Even
though money was very tight, my mother
made sure our family never went without
by making so many things for her children
by hand. I didn’t learn until I was older
about my mothers battle with depression.
I really understood the power of creativity
and sewing when my mother said to
me, ‘A sewing machine saved my life.’ I
knew I had to share the power of sewing
with women living in the shelters we are
transforming.”
is Enchanted Makeovers’ program does
not just set-up sewing rooms full of fabric,
patterns and machines. is program
shares the life skill of sewing that also
serves as an important coping skill. On
an on-going basis, Enchanted Makeovers’
volunteer sewing instructors hold classes
in the “Sacred Sewing Room”. As a result,
the woman are empowered with new skills
that will enable them to sew for their
families and can open doors to securing
employment or earning money by selling
their hand-made treasures.
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Media and Awards
Extremely blessed with a platform to share, teach, learn, and to inspire people to take
action. Every award we share with the volunteers, donors and the women and children
rebuilding their lives in shelters. #ittakesavillage
Woman’s World
First for Women
Huffington Post
Little ings
AOL Impact
Mashable
Today Show
Ladies Home Journal
Cottages and Bungalows
Paint Magic
Family Fun
Parents
Simple Grace
Where Women Create
Sew News
reads
PBS
US Departments Health
and Human Services
Seal of Approval, Good
Cause by Goodtherapy.org
Michigan Radio
Detroit News
Small Room Decorating
Yahoo Finance
Women Who Achieve:
PNC Bank National
Newsletter
Closer Weekly
Access Hollywood
South China Morning Post
Creating Country reads
(Australia Magazine)
Better Homes and Gardens
(American Patchwork and
Quilting)
Country Almanac
Beliefnet
2008 United Way Award
2009 Martha Stewarts People’s Choice Award
2009 Nature Made Award
2010 Powerful Difference by Pine-sol Award
2010 MLB/People Magazine All-Stars Award
After 7,500 nominations and 1.7 million votes Enchanted Makeovers was honored along
with 29 other nominees by PEOPLE Magazine and Major League Baseball at the 2010
MLB/All-Star Game in Anaheim, CA on July 13, 2010. e All-Star Game on FOX
again drew a large audience with nearly 30 million people tuning in to watch.e easy
primetime ratings victory marked the Network’s best primetime since the American Idol
finale on May 26 and the highest-rated primetime program since Game 7 of the NBA
Finals on ABC on June 17. Enchanted Makeovers was blessed to be nominated in the
Cleveland Indians category.
We were also selected as 1 of the 7 charities to be surprised with a special video
recognition at the game by a celebrity. Sheryl Crow shared our mission and story.
2013 Points of Light Award
2016 Siena Medal Award
e Founder, Visionary and CEO of Enchanted Makeovers receives the 2016 “Siena
Medal Award” at eta Phi Alpha National Convention in St. Louis, MO on July 15th,
2016. She joins a prestigious group of women who have received this honor dating to
1937. Past recipients of the Fraternity’s coveted Siena Medal include, Elizabeth Smart
and Nancy Brinker. ey are women of distinction in their profession, advocates for
social service and humanitarianism or personal role models.
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2014 Partnership
National paint company, Cece Caldwell Paint based in Arizona creates a custom color for
the mission, Enchanted Lilac. e mission is shared on every can of paint, color used on
every vintage chair painted for our Sacred Sewing Room tour and $5,000 was raised for
the mission.
2016 Partnership
Little Loving Hands selects Enchanted Makeovers as their charity to support in March!
On March 3rd, 2016 e love boxes were featured on Good Morning America ‘GMA’
Deals and Steals! Kits were sold for children to make pillows for children in shelters and
for parents to share the importance of kindness and compassion. Each box shared the
mission and the material to make a heart shaped pillow.
2017 Partnership
Employees from Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Tru by Hilton, partner
with Enchanted Makeovers, Capes for Kids and donated 10,000 handmade capes. Capes
for Kids kits were made by Hilton and shipped to their 3,500 locations nationally and
internationally. Awareness shared in every box about the mission and the supplies to
make a cape.
Contributor
‘’e Busy Mom’s Guide to Creativity.’’ by Bev Feldman
Gaining Clarity - Standing On e Shoulders Of Giants by Kevin Cahill
Miracles and Moments of Grace (Inspiring Stories by Moms) by Nancy B. Kennedy
Women Will Save the World (Best Seller Women’s Studies)
by Bestselling Author Caroline A. Shearer
e Wake Up and Dream Challenge. by Dr. Lavi, a Licensed Psychologist since 1978
Never Say “I Wish I Had.” by Wayne Kurtz
Inspirtment (a collection of affirmations from the web’s most encouraging virtuosos)
Finding Your Fire by Kathy Brunner
Act ree by Julie Shifman
Moms Mean Business: A Guide to Creating a Successful Company and
Happy Life as a Mom Entrepreneur by Erin Baebler and Laura Galloway
City at the Cusp by J. Allison Brown
