February 22, 2004|By
Michelle Sheldone Special Correspondent
"People fighting in a war
are the most innocent people," said Webster, whose grandfather
lost seven of his 12 siblings serving the German Army in World
War II. "I won't stop until all arms and hostilities in this
world are laid to rest for good."
The Cease Fire House,
founded in 1993, provides shelter and rehabilitation to
disabled and homeless American war veterans. The nonprofit
organization relies exclusively on community donations and the
support of its residents, founder and president Chris Noel
said.
Webster has formed a
necklace of at least 151 feet and has sold at least 1,373
beads. She plans to take part in the Hatsume Fair at the
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach on Feb.
28-29 and, after that, to provide the Cease Fire House more
than $1,200 from money raised. By year's end, Webster expects
the necklace length to increase to 1,000 feet, at which time
she will register with Guinness World Records and continue the
effort.
"What an incredible person,"
Noel said. "I never even met her, and I can't believe she's
still doing it."
Webster is a German fine
pearl jeweler in the United States on a green card from
Wurzburg since 1987. She established the project in 1998,
selling the beads at a Wellington nature store she owned until
the business closed in January 1999 for economic reasons.
She sent a check for $74 to
the Cease Fire House and began focusing on getting back on her
feet. Then the terrorist attacks occurred on 9-11.
"That was a day like nothing
else, when every nation had a dark shadow," she said. "I
thought, something's got to be done."
Webster has exhibited at the
Palms WestFest in Wellington and the Italian Festa and Bed
Race & Festival in Delray Beach, selling an average of 70 to
80 beads at each event. She donates 100 percent of sales to
charity, she said, and has not yet established the Love &
Peace Project as a nonprofit organization, because she doesn't
have enough time or money to do it.
Phil Scruton, a certified
business analyst at the Florida Atlantic University Small
Business Development Center, said it costs $78.80 to
incorporate as a nonprofit organization and overhead is paid
for by donations.
For every $1 taken in
dedications, Webster estimates she has spent $2 to $2.50 of
her own money, in part for event booths.
She has come to feel like
the guardian of people's memories.
"The dedications make them
feel better, in part because they are giving part of their
memory," Webster said.
Buyers hail from
throughout the world and are eager to share their stories.
Margrit Treff, who lives
west of Delray Beach, purchased a red heart bead for her
husband, Mel, just because she loves him. Merryll Warner of
Boca Raton bought beads in memory of her younger sister,
Diane, killed by a drunken driver at age 18, her late
mother-in-law, Florence, and her late dog, Stella.
Stella White of Delray
Beach had been teaching her son, Erik, 9, why war veterans
should be thanked, and she purchased beads in his honor.
"I couldn't find any other
beads, so I decided to spell my name," Erik said. "I felt I
did something good when I left ..."
For information, call
Webster at 561-793-8646 or visit the Web site
www.addbeads.com.
