Montalvan also hosts Orphaned Earring jewelry-making parties to raise money for her California nonprofit (she’s working to attain federal nonprofit status). She asks party-goers to bring an earring to the party, where she stocks a station with beads and other jewelry-making materials. At the end of the night the maker can buy the bracelet for $7 or donate it back to The Orphaned Earring.
Though she works full-time in public relations, Montalvan dedicates a lot of time to her project. Often she works 12 hours at her day job, then comes home and works until the early morning on The Orphaned Earring, writing blog posts and making and packaging jewelry.
