Meyler was also an honoree at the 2012 Garden State Seeds of Hope, New Jersey Monthly’s annual recognition of outstanding community leaders.
Meyler, who grew up on food stamps in an affluent town, has a long history of volunteering in the United States as well as abroad. On assignment in Liberia’s capital city, Monrovia, where girls are sometimes sexually exploited for necessities like clean drinking water, Meyler met Abigail, a girl who told the Jersey native that all she wanted was to go to school. Meyler granted Abigail’s wish, paying for her tuition and mentoring her for a year, and realized she could do the same for other girls. After getting over her fears and insecurities about being one person trying to do something great, Meyler established More Than Me in 2009.
Meyler’s “I am Abigail” campaign, during which she and many of her supporters wrote those words on their foreheads for photos and videos, helped win her votes in this most recent competition dubbed “a celebrity tribute to community heroes.” Five people were chosen for the $2 million worth of funding. No surprise to us, Meyler stood out and took first prize.
Her foundation has sent more than 100 Liberian girls to school, and now it’s well on its way to building its own boarding school serving 1,000 in Monrovia. “My dream is to end educational injustice for girls around the world and make it impossible for children who are overlooked to fail,” Meyler said in an interview after she had been told she would be a Seeds of Hope honoree.
We hope she succeeds.