CHICAGO - Toni Shelton knows the challenges of being homeless
with children, and now that she has found success in her life
she is opening her three homes to refugees from Hurricane
Katrina.

“I’ve been in a homeless situation myself with my children, so
every time I see what is happening to so many people it makes me
cry,” said Shelton. “I just kept asking God what can I do to
help, and the answer came back that I should open my homes that
I’ve been blessed with.”

Shelton, a fashion model and modeling consultant, is the author
of a book on how to become a model called “Rising Star.” She has
two homes in Chicago and one in Los Angeles. She is willing to
allow complete strangers to move in with her and her children,
and to let people she does not know move into her other two
homes as well.

“I don’t want money. I just want to help. These people have lost
everything and need a way to get their lives back together. I
have houses that have plenty of empty rooms,” said Shelton.

She is getting help from Chicago’s Channel 2 News. They showed
her homes on television and made her offer of help known to the
Red Cross and other agencies that are helping people. Now
national news organizations have joined in the effort to find
people to fill those empty rooms.

Airlines are providing free transportation to people left
homeless by Katrina, as long as they have a verified place to
go. Shelton’s offer will make that possible for about 20 people.

“I’d rather do this than donate money. I want to do the most
good I can, and God has blessed me so now I can bless others,”
said Shelton.

Shelton did what she had to do as a single mother of four
children, including work on the back of a garbage truck for a
time. Her goal of success as a model has always been her driving
force and kept her going through thick and thin. She has turned
her life around, going from homeless to philanthropist.

Shelton’s many efforts to give back to her community won her the
“2001 Women Who Make A Difference Award” presented by the Make a
Difference Youth Foundation. She never gives up, and she never
allows the challenges of life to stop her pursuit of her goals
and aspirations for herself and her children.

“Rising Star” (ISBN 1-4134-6235-9, Xlibris) breaks down every
aspect of the modeling business and offers readers an overview
of the industry, as well as a realistic method to assess the
characteristics needed to succeed.

All four of her children are working models appearing in
national print ads. Her son Dave Dylan is featured in a dynamic
portrait on the cover of the book. At just 18, Dylan has a
promising career in front of him and is an example of the rising
stars Shelton writes about. Dylan has been in many national
advertising campaigns, and he is also gaining attention as an
actor and rapper.

More information about Shelton and her book “Rising Star” can be
found at

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