Twila True
{{Short description|American businesswoman and philanthropist}}
{{About|Twila True, an American businesswoman and philanthropist||Twila}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Twila True
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = California, US
| other_names =
| occupation = Businesswoman, philanthropist
| years_active =
| known_for = True Family Enterprises
1500 Sound Academy
| notable_works =
| spouse = Alan True
| children = 4
}}
Twila True is an American businesswoman and philanthropist.
She is the chief executive officer (CEO)) and President of True Family Enterprises. She is the founder of True Children's Home orphanage, True Sioux Hope Foundation, and the co-founder of 1500 Sound Academy music school.
Career
She was CEO of Synthane Taylor, circuit board manufacturers. She resided in Hong Kong and China with her husband Alan where they operated True Innovations, a designer and manufacturer of office furniture, which was acquired by Li & Fung. After her return to the United States in 2012, she co-founded True Family Enterprises with her husband.{{cite web |title=CASE STUDY - Twila True Collaborations |url=https://www.tompkinsinc.com/Portals/0/Content/Case-Studies/Twila-True-Collaborations-Case-Study.pdf |publisher=Tompkins International |access-date=March 27, 2022}}
In October 2018, True signed a partnership deal with MonarchFx supply chain company, through her Twila True Collaborations banner.{{cite news |title=MonarchFx Announces Twila True Collaborations as its Newest Seller Client |url=https://www.mhi.org/media/news/36708 |access-date=March 27, 2022 |work=MHI.org |date=February 28, 2019}}
True's jewelry designs made debut at 2018 New York Fashion Week and featured along with the Zang Toi's collection.{{Cite web |last=Limited |first=Alamy |title=New York, NY - February 13, 2018: Model walks runway for Zang Toi Autumn/Winter collection with jewelry by Twila True at New York Fashion Week at Pier 59 Stock Photo - Alamy |url=https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-new-york-ny-february-13-2018-model-walks-runway-for-zang-toi-autumnwinter-174808911.html |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=www.alamy.com |language=en}}
=As philanthropist=
In 2006, while in China, she opened True Children's Home to provide medical care for orphans.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Suzanne |title=True Treasures of Hope |url=https://www.echinacities.com/expat-life/True-Treasures-of-Hope |access-date=March 27, 2022 |work=eChinacities.com |date=October 15, 2009 |language=en}}
In January 2015, she co founded True Sioux Hope Foundation, with a head office in Newport Beach, California, a nonprofit organization to help improve the lives of the communities in the Pine Ridge.{{cite news |last1=Chasing Hawk |first1=Ernestine |title=Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux entrepreneur creates foundation |url=https://www.indianz.com/News/2015/02/23/native-sun-news-oglala-sioux-e.asp |access-date=March 27, 2022 |work=Indianz |date=February 23, 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Pellizzon |first1=Michelle |title=True Sioux Hope: Shining a Light on the Pine Ridge Reservation |url=https://thrivemarket.com/blog/pine-ridge |website=Thrive Market |access-date=March 27, 2022 |date=November 19, 2015}} An emergency shelter for children, The Safe Home, was also opened by True at the Pine Ridge reservation in February 2017.{{cite news |last1=Annette Pember |first1=Mary |title=Members of Oglala Lakota Tribe Question 'Voluntourism' and Church-Based Charities |url=https://dailyyonder.com/members-oglala-lakota-tribe-question-voluntourism-christian-charities/2019/03/13/ |access-date=March 27, 2022 |work=The Daily Yonder |date=March 13, 2019}}
True has also launched the Twelve Cycles initiative to fulfil the basic feminine needs and education to the girls of the Oglala Sioux tribe.{{cite web |title=National Women's History Month Featuring Woman Who Walks Toward Future |url=https://8womendream.com/happiness-through-activism/national-womens-history-month-featuring-woman-who-walks-toward-future |website=8WomenDream |access-date=March 27, 2022 |date=January 22, 2019}}
She supports fundraising foundations including Oceana, and CASA.{{cite news |last1=W. Cook |first1=B. |title=The Crowd: Celebrities, environmentalists come together to fight ocean plastic |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/opinion/story/2019-10-11/the-crowd-celebrities-environmentalists-come-together-to-fight-ocean-plastic |publisher=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 27, 2022 |work=Daily Pilot |date=October 11, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=W. Cook |first1=B. |title=Column: The Crowd: CASA fundraiser nets more than $1 million |publisher=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/opinion/tn-dpt-et-the-crowd-20170512-story.html |access-date=March 27, 2022 |work=Daily Pilot |date=May 12, 2017}}
= 1500 Sound Academy =
She co-founded 1500 Sound Academy in 2018, music academy in Inglewood, California, with James Fauntleroy and Larrance "Rance" Dopson.{{cite magazine |last1=Mitchell |first1=Gail |title=1500 Sound Academy Raises the Volume on Educating Next Generation of Music Creators |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/1500-sound-academy-next-generation-1235007013/ |access-date=March 24, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 8, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Callwood |first1=Brett |title=Back to School: Inglewood Music Professionals Find Success in Education |url=https://www.laweekly.com/back-to-school-inglewood-music-professionals-find-success-in-education/ |access-date=March 24, 2022 |work=LA Weekly |date=February 4, 2021}} In May 2019, Roland signed a collaboration deal with the 1500 Sound Academy.{{cite web |title=Roland Announces Collaboration With 1500 Sound Academy And Acclaimed Production Collective 1500 or Nothin' |url=https://www.roland.com/RolandComSite/files/b8/b8ccc678-4a63-4dcd-9aab-45f860438a00.pdf |website=Roland Corporation |access-date=March 24, 2022}} In March 2021, the academy signed a deal with Yellowbrick to deliver on-demand online programs.{{cite news |title=1500 Sound Academy Partners with Yellowbrick to Offer Its Acclaimed Music Curriculum as an On-Demand Online Program |url=https://lasentinel.net/1500-sound-academy-partners-with-yellowbrick-to-offer-its-acclaimed-music-curriculum-as-an-on-demand-online-program.html |access-date=March 24, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Sentinel |date=April 29, 2021}} In June 2021, Arizona State University signed a deal to start the joint online music program Professional Certificate in Music Production through its Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.{{cite news |title=1500 Sound Academy × ASU — Music Program |url=https://www.the360mag.com/1500-sound-academy-x-asu-music-program/ |access-date=March 24, 2022 |work=360 Magazine |date=June 8, 2021}} In November 2021, Fender and 1500 Sound Academy announced a partnership deal to provide scholarships.{{cite news |last1=Wissmuller |first1=Christian |title=1500 Sound Academy Announces Continued Partnership with Fender X 1500 Sound Academy Scholarship Program for 2022 |url=https://www.jazzedmagazine.com/news/1500-sound-academy-announces-continued-partnership-with-fender-x-1500-sound-academy-scholarship-program-for-2022/ |access-date=March 24, 2022 |work=JazzEd Magazine |date=November 3, 2021}}
In March 2022, a Taiwanese campus was announced to be opened in Taipei, with Chen Zihong appointed as the principal.{{cite news |title=台灣音樂接軌國際 陳子鴻辦學院傳承經驗 {{!}} 娛樂 {{!}} 中央社 CNA |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/amov/202203150263.aspx |access-date=March 24, 2022 |work=Central News Agency |date=March 15, 2022 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}
Personal life
True is married to Alan True and they have four children.{{cite news |last1=Ferrell |first1=David |last2=Yamanaka |first2=Cindy |title=Twila True's Heart is in Two Worlds |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/10/30/twila-trues-heart-is-in-two-worlds/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=Orange County Register |date=October 30, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=W. Cook |first1=B. |title=The Crowd: Sioux gala functions as benefit and cultural exchange |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-me-1202-the-crowd-20161129-story.html |publisher=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=Daily Pilot |date=December 2, 2016}}
In October 2019, the couple sold their house on the Harbor Island, Newport Beach to Chinese billionaire Eric Tan for $37 million.{{cite news |last1=McClain |first1=James |title=Alan & Twila True request $60 million on Newport's Harbor Island |url=https://www.dirt.com/moguls/finance/twila-alan-true-house-newport-beach-15571/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=DIRT |date=January 5, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=McClain |first1=James |title=Chinese Tech Billionaire Buys $37 Million Newport Harbor Mansion |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/chinese-tech-billionaire-buys-37-122910163.html |access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=Yahoo! |date=October 30, 2019}}
Accolades
- 2015 Most Influential - Orange County Register{{cite news |last1=Ferrell |first1=David |last2=Skyler |first2=Heather |title=Most Influential 2015: Twila True |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/12/18/most-influential-2015-twila-true/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=Orange County Register |date=December 18, 2015}}
- 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year - Orange County Business Journal{{cite news |title=Orange County Business Journal Names Twila True Entrepreneur of the Year |url=https://www.truesiouxhope.org/single-post/2016/04/12/orange-county-business-journal-names-twila-true-entrepreneur-of-the-year |access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=True Sioux Hope Foundation |date=April 12, 2016 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Twila True |url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2020/may/06/twila-true/ |website=Orange County Business Journal |date=6 May 2020 |access-date=March 28, 2022 |language=en}}
- 2019 Outstanding Corporation - CASA{{cite news |last1=Trela |first1=Christopher |title=Benefit: CASA Black & White Ball Honors Local Philanthropists |url=https://www.newportbeachindy.com/casa-black-white-ball-honors-local-philanthropists/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |work=Newport Beach News 2 |date=May 10, 2019}}
Notes and sources
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:True, Twila}}
Category:21st-century Native American women
Category:21st-century Native American people
Category:Native American people from California
Category:21st-century American philanthropists
Category:Philanthropists from California
Category:American women company founders
Category:21st-century American businesswomen
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:Businesspeople from California
Category:American women investors