There is more to Atlanta socialite and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, Marlo Hampton (@iHeartMarlo) than just her clothes, explosive personality and ability to speak her mind. After growing up in foster care and making her way to the top on her own, she was led to create the organization, Glam It Up, in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. The organization caters to teenaged girls who are growing up in foster homes, similar to her own upbringing. As the founder of Glam It Up, Marlo prides herself on taking the girls to the beauty salon, concerts, Sunday brunch and just being there for them when they need a shoulder to cry on- helping them feel like they are loved. Aside from Glam It Up, Marlo is also the creator of the Thanksgiving charity, Simply Giving, where she selects 20 families in the area and donates a full course Thanksgiving dinner to them. HelloBeautiful recently got a change to talk Marlo about her charity and how she plans to make a difference on this year’s Thanksgiving. Check out some of the excerpts below:
HB: I read that you are working on a Thanksgiving charity. Tell us a little bit about that.
Marlo: Yes, it’s called Simply Giving. Last year, I started Simply Giving and I had people write in if they had a neighbor, friend or family member they knew that needed food for Thanksgiving. I read through and I picked the families and took them to Publix Grocery Store and let them pick out food. This year, we’re going to do it again. I’m excited because it was exciting seeing the families come with their kids and pick out the food. Just to know they were going to sit there with not having a turkey and a full Thanksgiving and not being there with their family when I know that I’m going to be somewhere sitting and eating and having food galore. I’m going to make sure that 20 families have full course meals and dessert also. It’s the least I can do. It’s like a no brainer. It’s something you just have to do. You have to give back.
HB: What is the most important lesson that you want young women to take away from your own experiences and that you want them to learn from your charity?
Marlo: I want them to always be a leader and don’t follow. I want them to love themselves and not fault their mom and dad. For the longest, I had anger for my dad because he wasn’t on drugs and he had a good job and he was married but I felt like he could have been there for me. I could have had a better life. I wouldn’t have went through half the bad stuff I went through had he been there for me. The main thing I want for them is to be head strong and love themselves more than anyone could ever love them. That is the most important thing. Just believe in yourself.
HB: If anyone wants to get involved with your organization, how can they get involved?
Marlo: They can go to SimplyMarlo.com, my blog Musings From The Boudoir and they can just email marlo@marlohampton.com. They can email me at any of those contacts on my website.
You can read our full interview with Marlo Hampton here: Marlo Hampton Opens Up About Abusive Past: “My Dad Didn’t Love Me” [EXCLUSIVE]
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