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$1M Grant Goes to Bernardsville Native's 'More Than Me'

Katie Meyler and 'More Than Me' foundation sweeps $1 million in Chase Giving Awards.

By Linda Sadlouskos
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December 8, 2012

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Katie Meyler, right, a Bernards High School graduate and Bernardsville native, whose foundation to educate and give better lives to girls on the streets of West Point in Liberia in Africa won $1 million in Saturday night's televised Chase Giving Awards. Katie Borghese, board member for the More Than Me foundation, was with Meyler at the live event, televised on NBC. Courtesy of Katie Meyler

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Katie Meyler, right, a Bernards High School graduate and Bernardsville native, whose foundation to educate and give better lives to girls on the streets of West Point in Liberia in Africa won $1 million in Saturday night's televised Chase Giving Awards. Katie Borghese, board member for the More Than Me foundation, was with Meyler at the live event, televised on NBC.

Credit Courtesy of Katie Meyler

Katie Meyler, right, of Bernardsville, whose "More than Me" organization that educates girls in Liberia, Africa, on Saturday night won $1 million in the Chase Giving Awards. Kelly Kieck Ketterson is on left, and Katie Borghese is in the center.

Credit Elizabeth Meyler

"More Than Me" Founder Katie Meyler, in an interview at Starbucks Coffee in Basking Ridge, before one of her trips to continue her foundation's work in Liberia.

Credit Linda Sadlouskos

Some of the girls in Liberia attending school through the "More Than Me" foundation, organized through the efforts of Bernardsville native Katie Meyler. The foundation is the only from New Jersey that was eligible for the NBC Chase American Giving Awards, in which the charity that receives the most votes can win up to $1 million. The deadline was at the stroke of midnight at the end of Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Credit Katie Meyler

More Than Me Foundation's board member Katie Borghese, founder Katie Meyler of Bernardsville, and Joel McHale, host of the Chase Giving Awards.

Credit Courtesy of More than Me

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Bernardsville native Katie Meyler and her "More Than Me" foundation won $1 million in Saturday night's Chase Giving Awards televised live on NBC.

A tearful and excited Meyler said she will use the money build a boarding school to put 1,000 girls in school in Liberia, Africa, and it should be in place within five years. The foundation already has been working on educating girls in Liberia for several years.

Earlier in the evening, the foundation won in the category won our $125,000 in our category or Educators & Mentors. The foundation was among the final competitors for the $1 million as of just before 10 p.m.

‏MoreThanMeORG tweeted a few minutes later: THANK YOU everyone!!!! We couldn't have done this without YOU!!! pic.twitter.com/jL8U7TYC

Ready to 'shake the world'

"I don't even have words to describe," Meyler said in an email at 10:12 p.m. "We are THRILLED for what comes next — we are ready to shake the world! Let's take this even further for these girls!"

Meyler's comments from the televised program also are on the More Than Me Facebook page.

Meyler and More Than Me later sent out a special shout out to "our insanely awesome partners," Shine on Sierra Leone, HSN, SOAR Nation, MME, Casa di Francesca, and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Related Topics: Chase Giving Awards, Local Connections, and More Than Me

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Valerie Simon

1:41 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012

Congratulations!

Nancy

1:41 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012

I am so happy for Katie. She has so much energy and compassion. I know she will 'do good' with the grant. She spoke at my church and she was inspiring. And she is a wonderful role model for our children. Thank you Katie for giving of yourself to help others.

Colleen Epple Pine

2:47 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012

Thank you to Katie and the entire More Than Me Foundation for inspiring Girl Scout Troop #60040 and Scouts everywhere to take responsibility in helping girls all over the globe be the best they can be. Good luck with future endeavors and thank you for living by the Girl Scout Law as you have undoubtedly made "the world a better place".

Enoch B Greenfield

2:55 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013

...Great...

$1M Grant Goes to Bernardsville Native's 'More Than Me'