I was going to edit the Letter to take out the the coding, but had wanted it to remain as it was to ensure its efficacy.![]() In response to the November 24 issue with Brooke Shields.
Teri Shields was many things. Strong willed, over-protective, and at = times provocative. Teri saw in Brooke what we all did- one of the most = beautiful faces and used that to succeed. For Brooke and herself. Teri = had married into a rather wealthy family, and after being married for a = short time Teri wanted for Brooke the life she was born into having. = Unfortunately the marriage failed and Teri was very very independent. = As a former model herself, she saw not only what could be, but what = should be. A lot had happened in that long illustrious controversial = career, but in the end Brooke has the life Teri wanted- including the = social registry associated with the Hampton=E2=80=99s family. =20 Many have commented and criticized Teri for managerial skills, but noe = can deny her maternal skills. Brooke went to a normal high-school, did = normal things from cheer-leading to riding her beloved horses. Teri=E2=80= =99s maternal skills far outweighed her survival skills as I am here to = prove it. I was a broken little boy whom she took it upon herself to = makes sure I was properly cared for. And in Teri=E2=80=99s spirit and = my obligation to pay-it forward, this 1214/ December 14 in honor of the = Sandy Hook Elementary School victims we will be launching a national = campaign that #STOPBullyingSTOPSchoolViolence on the second anniversary. = We understand that bullying is the biggest instigator in this pandemic = of school shootings, and we believe if we can get every student to sign = a contract to be kind and to promise NOT to bully we will not have an 88 = school shooting since Sandy Hook. =20 As a 12 y/o little boy I was abused by a neighbor 38yrs to my junior. I = obviously didn't understand rape, let alone it being by a man, so to say = the least I did not bode well. I became a self isolated kid who = eventually spent the year in and out of the hospital as I suffered deep = emotionally. I had seen Blue Lagoon, and the only way I was to survive = was that I had to dream- I too was on that Blue Lagoon and played some = Risky Business. After a failed suicide attempt I began to escape into = the hollywood dream world, and began to send Brooke Shields messages. = It wasn't anything creepy- a basic fan letter. Those letters soon began = being answered and eventually I felt safe enough o share my innermost = secrets.. Brooke Shields' mother Terri would call 1x or 2x a week after = receiving a letter that gave the impression I was being abused. Mrs. = Shields would talk to my folks to explain the 'secret' and helped me = accept my abuse which allowed me the steps to heal. It seems crazy that = in the 80's, that Brooke and her mom would take interest in a broken = boy. But, they did. They sensed my pain and wanted to extend = themselves to show that people really do care. It saved my life. I = spent the next few years speaking treatment. About 15 years later I = would befriend an ex salesman from Gucci who were the Shields' go to = guy. He laughed saying that Brooke was very conservative and didn't = indulge much, but Teri, Terii would order 3pairs of crocodile loafers at = a time.. The interesting fact of all this was that I told this guy my = story, and that I was alive today because of the kindness of a stranger = and shared what Mrs. Shields had done. The salesguy then explained that = he remembered Mrs. Shields sharing the same story and needed some = advice. Skip ahead to right before my Sophomore year. =20 pt2 It was right before My sophomore year, I was hit by a drunk driver = and broke my neckx2 and shattered bother the fibula and tibia. The next = full year was in and out of the hospitals. 12months later I was walking = without even a limp and fully healed. To say I defied logic was an = understatement. The doctors were beyond shocked as they had told me I = would lost my left leg, and that I would most likely be crippled from = the neck down. With my new season on life, thankful to be alive, and = remembering the kindness of a stranger, I set out to LA. I was 2b the = next TomCruise. It wasn't until I did several tv shows, dated = HalleBerry, & was up for AFewGoodMen, that I didn't have to be a star to = do good. I met Matthew Broderick at a hollywood house party and he = shared with me his charity work with YoungArtistsUnited. I asked how I = could help, soon joined Matthew and from there I went off onto my own = and have lived a life of service. I didn't appreciate my life as a kid = because I was broken. Now that I learned the importance of humanity I = wanted to help all kids from ever feeling as I had growing up. 1214 = December 14 SandyHook/the world experienced one of the most horrific = events in history. Within days I had left NY&stayed in Newtown, CT. = Representing the town, the families and realizing the importance of = combating abuse/violence I am building a 25- 30 million dollar = KidsCenter. =20 I went from trying to end my life every way imaginable to then fighting = to keep it. If Teri Shields hadn't cared for a total stranger, I would = not be here today. If that kindness wasn't matched with a life changing = event I wouldn't have been compelled to a life of service. And with all = that we are honoring the victims of SandyHook& paying tribute to all who = suffered school violence/shootings. It's a pay it forward. =20 Best,=20 John Rinaldi=
0 Comments
|
Archives
February 2020
Categories
All
|