avery
ferrigno
GROWING UP: My life has always been very fun. My father tells jokes and plays
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING: I started volunteering in fifth grade, as Student Council
sports with my brother and me. My mother is very sweet and kind. She plays
Secretary. Every year, the student council and I went to Wallace-Gregg Elemen-
with us and helps with our homework. Plus, she loves to shop with us and plan
tary School to give bags of coats to the principal, who would give them to kids
exciting family vacations. My family and I always get along and have fun with
who needed them. It feels amazing to see the wide smile on the principal’s face
each other.
and know that I am helping kids stay warm.
MY PASSIONS: Dancing, singing, acting and, most importantly, helping others.
I would gather up supplies and pet food to take. We also donated through All
I began donating to the Humane Society at a very young age. My family and
Saints Episcopal Day School. It is so important, because these poor animals
ON BEING CREATIVE: I love to choreograph dances and plays and create songs.
have no home and no loving family. Giving them things they need to survive is
During the summer, I help teach at the School of Dance Arts. I love encouraging
the least we could do. I love animals. My cat, Chubby, is a total goofball! She is
the smaller children as they dance and have fun. I enjoy dancing, singing, and
always doing funny and crazy things that make me laugh.
expressing the things that I choreograph. Seeing celebrities and Broadway stars
I have participated in the Help4Kids project in Florence for two years, as well.
doing what they love and having fun with it inspires me. Our family friend, Jan-
I helped organize a craft fair the last two years as Student Council Secretary
ice Tobens, encourages my creativity and taught me to sew.
and President at All Saints. The money we made was used to fill bags of food
for underprivileged children from Wallace-Gregg Elementary School to take
MY FUTURE PLANS: I want to attend College of Charleston and eventually go to
law school. As a lawyer and leader in the community, I would encourage people
to solve problems logically and settle things peacefully.
home to eat for the weekend.
This past year, I enjoyed participating in “Zumba for a Cure for Alzheimer’s” .
I currently help my father’s office organize an annual food drive and donate the
supplies and food to the House of Hope. I would love to volunteer and help out
DREAMS I HOPE TO FULFILL IN THE FUTURE: To become a Broadway star! I
with other charities, especially the American Heart Association and the Amer-
would also love to have a big family that gets along well.
ican Cancer Society.
LOOKOUT, BROADWAY: I have an ultimate aspiration of being on Broadway
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME: My family. They are all super sweet and kind,
and traveling the world. I have been to New York once, and I saw Cinderel-
and they support me no matter what, especially with my singing, dancing, and
la and the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. NYC is a wonderful, exciting
acting career. The women in my family are all devoted. Plus, they make the
place filled with very creative, trendy people. My favorite play is Wicked.
family livelier! My mother is the biggest supermom out there. She is always
The acting, singing, and dancing was amazing! All of the costumes were
working long hours, taking my brother and me places, and cooking dinner for
beautiful, and the play was overall awesome! My favorite song was “Pop-
our family. “Nannie” is super funny and is an awesome grandma! Aunt Ang-
ular,” which I sang as a solo in a SCISA competition and won a gold medal.
Ang is super funny, too. She is the fashionista and loves to shop. I got my love
of dance from Grandma Linda, my dad’s mom. The women in my family are
MY HERO: God. He will always be there for me, and He sent His only son to die
so inspiring because they taught me how to be strong and hardworking and
for me. He is my #1 hero.
that God can get you through anything. Being raised in a supportive, loving
family has been amazing. They have all encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
IF I COULD CHANGE THE WORLD: I would give everybody a home and put an
I feel very fortunate to have this wonderful support system. They comfort me
end to world hunger. The rate of homelessness in our country is unimaginable.
when I am sad, make me happy and make me laugh. We all get together on
Lots of people worldwide go hungry every day.
the holidays, and I love seeing all of my extended family. I hope to carry on
these traditions to my children and grandchildren one day. The holidays are
MY INSPIRATION: Sadie Robertson from “Duck Dynasty.” She is true to her
my favorite time of the year. Overall, I love my family so much. I thank God for
faith, donates to many charities and volunteers in various places with her family.
them every day.
Avery Ferrigno resides in in Florence with her parents, Dr. Mike and Michelle Ferrigno, and her 9 year-old brother Nicholas.
SHEMAGAZINE.COM
DECEMBER 2015
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