At 13 years old, Ariella Wilner runs a trademarked business (Wilner Wrist) with custom packaging and pop-up shops throughout Montreal. But what sets her apart isn’t just her entrepreneurial savvy.

“I like being an entrepreneur, and I like making money so I can donate more money to charities,” Ariella says.

For two years, this young entrepreneur has transformed colourful clay beads into bracelets, keychains, and necklaces, with profits supporting Hope & Cope. Her journey shows how inspiration and giving flow between generations.

The Entrepreneur

Ariella started making bracelets at age 11. “I wanted something to pass time with, and I like doing crafts, so I chose to make bracelets,” she says. She invested her own money in materials, filed for a trademark, and launched Wilner Wrist.

“I set up pop-up shops and I sell them to anyone who wants to buy them,” Ariella explains. At these events, she creates custom designs on the spot, personalizing bracelets with names.

“Recently, I had my own stand in an event for the holidays. I was selling amongst other big companies,” she says about a recent favourite pop-up shop. Fallon, her 11-year-old sister, occasionally helps during busy order periods.

This isn’t Ariella’s first effort of the kind. Two years ago, she and her friends organized a lemonade stand that raised $1,000 in just two days for Hope & Cope. A stranger drove up, saw their “Hope & Cope Lemonade Stand” sign, and handed them $100 without taking any lemonade.

This past summer, she donated 20% of the proceeds from every bracelet sold at a local artist event. “Whenever there’s a pop-up shop to sell my bracelets at, I always donate to Hope & Cope and different charities. But mostly Hope & Cope,” she says.

The Inspiration

When asked who gave her the entrepreneurial bug, Ariella’s answer is immediate: “My grandma. She started her daycare business, so then I also wanted to start a business,” she says.

Evelyn Wajcer’s influence runs deeper than business inspiration. She is a cancer survivor. During her treatment, she encountered Hope & Cope volunteers.

“I liked the fact that there were friendly people who were handing out sandwiches and soup,” she recalls. “I didn’t know much about Hope & Cope. Then I found out that these volunteers were working for the organization.”

When a friend on the board suggested she join as a survivor representative, Evelyn said yes. But joining wasn’t enough.

“I said that I wanted to actually work with people and not just sit on the board,” Evelyn explains. So she also became a volunteer.

For six years, Evelyn has served in both roles. As a volunteer, she facilitates an informal support group for women with triple-negative breast cancer.

“I have a group of about 15 women. They’ve all had triple-negative breast cancer, which is a very aggressive breast cancer,” she says. She organizes gatherings at restaurants or the Hope & Cope Wellness Centre. “I do get-togethers. It’s a chance to talk and share.”

“I like the people. I certainly like Sheila,” Evelyn says, referring to Hope & Cope’s founder, Sheila Kussner. “I also love the energy, the objectives, and what the program tries to do.”

The Ripple Effect

Ariella has given bracelets to every Hope & Cope board member. Evelyn’s entire support group wears them. Evelyn herself wears two: one from Ariella’s clay bead collection and one string bracelet from Ariella’s younger sister, who started her own bracelet business at age 11.

“She already started a business. It’s a bracelet business too, but she makes different types of bracelets, string bracelets,” Ariella says.

When asked what advice she’d give other kids who want to help organizations like Hope & Cope, Ariella is clear. “I would say that you don’t have to wait till you’re older to make a difference. You could start with something that you care about and it doesn’t have to be perfect, but just making it happen is really good. And even if it’s small, like making bracelets, it makes a difference.”

As for her?

“It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping other people who are going through rough times. People that Hope & Cope helps.”

Ariella’s story shows that making a difference doesn’t require grand gestures or waiting until you’re older. If you have raised funds that you would like to donate to Hope & Cope, please contact Marcelle at the Wellness Centre by calling 514-340-3616 or emailing donations@hopeandcope.ca.