By STEPHANIE BEECKEN
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A Knoxville man's volunteering eventually led him to a full time career. Jeremy Curl is now an entrepreneur who continues to give back to the community.
Curl opened his shop, The Fortunate Traveler, about two years ago, but the idea came after a trip to Guatemala in 2006.
"I spent two months in Guatemala volunteering with different mission groups and through them, met different mission organizations around the world," Curl said.
He returned several times and began volunteering with orphanages.
Friends and family were helping fund his trips so to say thanks, he'd bring them back gifts.
"When I started bringing stuff back, people were really showing interest in the stuff I brought back because it was so unique and different than stuff you could find in Knoxville or even the U.S.," Curl said.
The demand to bring back items from the countries where he was volunteering continued to grow.
"So that kind of gave me an idea to bring back stuff to sell to raise money for the orphanages, but also provide for myself as well," he said.
So Curl started buying more items when he was overseas and eventually opened his store. Now he sells items from all over the world including masks, dolls and clothes.
The Fortunate Traveler brings in enough money now for him to make a living while taking trips to volunteer on a regular basis.
Each quarter, Curl donates 10% of his earnings to orphanages. "To see the joy in their eyes, it means everything," he said.
The Fortunate Traveler is located in the Turkey Creek Public Market at 11221 Outlet Drive.
Curl will be back at an orphanage in Guatemala in February.
Jeremy Curl continues to volunteer on a regular basis and each quarter, he donates 10% of his earnings to orphanages.
