Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
Sharing the Successes of Life The Noël Foundation Gives Back to the Wor ld Back to the Wor ld B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D oël Hentschel, founder of American Tours International oël Hentschel, founder of American Tours International (ATI) and owner with her husband Gordon of Carmel (ATI) and owner with her husband Gordon of Carmel Valley's Stonepine Estate, was moved to launch the Valley's Stonepine Estate, was moved to launch the Noël Foundation in 1989 after she met and was inspired by Saint Teresa Noël Foundation in 1989 after she met and was inspired by Saint Teresa Noël Foundation in 1989 after she met and was inspired by Saint Teresa of Calcutta, known to the world as Mother Teresa. Hentschel's foundation of Calcutta, known to the world as Mother Teresa. Hentschel's foundation is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping "the most vul- is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping "the most vul- is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping "the most vul- nerable in society: unwanted babies, elderly, mentally ill, runaway nerable in society: unwanted babies, elderly, mentally ill, runaway teenagers, refugees, victims of human trafficking." teenagers, refugees, victims of human trafficking." teenagers, refugees, victims of human trafficking." "I see the three entities — ATI, the Foundation and Stonepine — as "I see the three entities — ATI, the Foundation and Stonepine — as interconnected," Hentschel says. "My husband and I strive to employ all interconnected," Hentschel says. "My husband and I strive to employ all three to help make the world a better place." three to help make the world a better place." The foundation is not merely an example of "checkbook philanthro- The foundation is not merely an example of "checkbook philanthro- py." It provides vocational training for women and young people and py." It provides vocational training for women and young people and helps homeless and poor families with transitional assistance and lends helps homeless and poor families with transitional assistance and lends a hand to US military families with counseling, educational and econom- a hand to US military families with counseling, educational and econom- ic opportunities. "This is a world-wide outreach," Hentschel says. ic opportunities. "This is a world-wide outreach," Hentschel says. By any measure, Noël Irwin Hentschel has led a remarkable life. A By any measure, Noël Irwin Hentschel has led a remarkable life. A By any measure, Noël Irwin Hentschel has led a remarkable life. A native of Los Angeles, she worked in small parts in film and television as native of Los Angeles, she worked in small parts in film and television as native of Los Angeles, she worked in small parts in film and television as a child actor from infancy into her teens. As a young woman on a a child actor from infancy into her teens. As a young woman on a "Europe on $5 a day" trip with a friend, Hentschel was reading "Exodus" "Europe on $5 a day" trip with a friend, Hentschel was reading "Exodus" and the pair decided to visit Israel. and the pair decided to visit Israel. "I felt so at home as soon as we arrived," she recalls. "We got jobs work- "I felt so at home as soon as we arrived," she recalls. "We got jobs work- ing at a hotel on the Red Sea in exchange for room and board. It was there ing at a hotel on the Red Sea in exchange for room and board. It was there that I realized that the travel and tourism industry was the path I was sup- that I realized that the travel and tourism industry was the path I was sup- posed to take and had the vision to create ATI." Headquartered in Los posed to take and had the vision to create ATI." Headquartered in Los Angeles and Orlando, Florida, ATI specializes in bringing visitors from around Angeles and Orlando, Florida, ATI specializes in bringing visitors from around 168 168 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 N