“I am a travel enthusiast,
photographer, runner, foodie, writer, teacher, adventure-seeker, lover of
laughter, lover of people, and lover of life. In the last five years, I have
especially found that life is full of great adventure and satisfaction when you
say “yes” to the opportunities that you are given and in return you give back
to those in need.”
Sarah was raised in Minnesota and at
the impressionable age of fourteen she traveled with her Father, an
Ophthalmologist, on a medical mission trip to Ghana, Africa. Having lived a
comfortable life in suburban Minnesota, she was overwhelmed with the poverty
that she saw on her first trip to the third world. It greatly impacted her life
decisions moving forward and it was because of the experience and the inspiration
of her Father that she wanted to pursue a career that would help others. As a
result, Sarah attended Bethel University and graduated with a BA in Elementary
Education. She taught first and second grade for seven years in both Minnesota
and Illinois. She received a Masters in Education and was part of leadership
initiatives.
In 2007 after losing her husband,
Mark, in a plane crash, she decided to change careers. At this time she
was informed that the photographs she took in Africa for her Mother In-Law’s
charity, Hands of Hope, helped to raise thousands of dollars for them. As a result, she decided to pursue photography as a profession by enrolling in classes
at Columbia College. The following years Sarah spent traveling around the world
taking photographs for various charities as Sarah Wauterlek Photography. She
has exhibited her work downtown LA and was chosen as a semi-finalist for RAW
artists.
Sarah met Tania Martin on a trip to
India in 2009 and in discovering their combined passion for travel and charity
work, they founded Traveler’s Gift Vacations. With extensive travel experience
and knowledge of charity work world wide, Sarah and Tania design custom
vacations in countries all around the world for individuals, corporate, and
alumni groups seeking to combine purpose and luxury in travel. In 2011
Traveler's Gift Vacations was selected as a winner for the British Airways Face of
Opportunity contest and has been featured recently on KTLA morning news, Rudy Maxa, AFAR magazine, Jetset Extra, Lifestyle + Charity, and Faith+Travel.
Sarah is an avid runner having
completed six marathons, including Boston Marathon in 2010. She is also a
published writer having written articles for Charity organizations, maintains three blogs, published an essay in Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith, and has recently published her first book, Young Widow: A
Memoir. Sarah has helped organize and host fundraisers in Chicago, Los Angeles,
and New York for various charities. She has also helped lead the Young
Professionals Group for Hands of Hope, which organized and hosted numerous
charity events. Raised in Minnesota, having spent five years in Chicago, she now
currently resides in Los Angeles when not traveling the globe.
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