People magazine November 24, 2014

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. 

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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=