Nichole Galicia may be best known for her role as Sheba opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 acclaimed film Django Unchained, but it’s her role as mentor that has become most important to her.
Four years ago, Nichole co-founded The Orchid Foundation with a mission to mentor underserved high school girls on their way to college. The foundation offers college boot camp, career days, tutoring, and most importantly sisterhood.
The Orchids, all ten of them, have truly blossomed over the past four years. Starting in their freshman year of high school, Nichole has been with them every step of the way. Some amazing people have opened their doors to the Orchids, among them Daymond John from Shark Tank, The Code Academy, Coller Capital, Emmy winner Chris Silber, Grammy winner Printz Board, Journalist Michaela Guzy, Academy Award nominee & director Taylor Sheridan, celebrity photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth, America’s Next Top Model’s lead stylist Ty-Ron Mayes and art historian/venture capitalist Kent Alessandro who set up a scholarship fund for The Orchid Foundation.
When prom season was approaching Nichole reached out to designer Carmen Marc Valvo who dressed her for many of her red carpet appearances to see if he’d lend a gown to one of her girls. Prom is a rite-of-passage but for many parents it’s an extraordinary expense. Valvo did one better and gave all the girls gowns to wear and keep.
The Orchids have also made it a point to give back to others. This year they raised funds for homeless kids at Covenant House by setting up a crowdfunding page, soliciting their community for help and putting on a bake sale. And the girls are there for Nichole too, helping her read lines for her upcoming projects like the next Tarantino flick Once Upon A Time in Hollywood where she will be reunited with DiCaprio and an all-star cast.
As the first class of Orchids graduates and heads to college, Nichole begins the journey again with 6 freshman girls. To find out more about how you can support The Orchid Foundation go to www.theorchidfdn.org.
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