The Challenge: Several years ago Sasha was diagnosed with a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, a condition that affects millions of women nationwide. PCOS is a hormonal and reproductive disorder that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, ability to have children, hormones, heart, blood vessels and appearance. While dealing with the condition herself, Sasha developed a passion and vision to help other women living with the disease.
The Opportunity: Sasha started a non-profit organization, PCOS Challenge, that has grown to become the largest support network and organization assisting women with PCOS.
To learn more and help support PCOS Challenge visit: http://www.pcoschallenge.com, http://www.pcos.tv, http://pcoschallenge.net and http://www.pcoschallenge.org.
Words of Wisdom and Lessons Learned: “Women with PCOS should always keep in mind that they ultimately are the experts of their own bodies. I named the company PCOS Challenge because PCOS is a challenge to deal with. However, I wanted to turn the word challenge into an action. Challenge your bodies, challenge your doctors, challenge your struggles with PCOS and don’t let it get the best of you. You are stronger than whatever symptoms you have or issues you may be going through. Find the strength within you to challenge PCOS.”
Extraordinary Profiles
The Challenge: Once a victim of domestic violence for several years, Diane Samoff knows firsthand the devastation that it can cause physically to one’s selfesteem, sense of pride and the desire to dream big.
After finally escaping from her own devastating experiences Samoff was faced with the challenge of finding a job. She was given a suit and a pair of red shoes. This act of kindness gave her a sense of great hope and inspired her to share that same sense of hope with other women who experience domestic violence.
The Opportunity: In 2005, Samoff started Society of Women Who Love Shoes (SWWLS), a non-profit organization that raises awareness about domestic violence through networking and social events.
To learn more, visit: http://mystorybookshoes.org and http://www.societyofwomenwholoveshoes.org
Words of Wisdom and Lessons Learned: “I hope we can change laws and work situations where if a woman has been abused, she can still be paid when she’s not working. I want women to know that there are people who care, and that’s what we’re hoping our group will show them. Just know you are loved, and we do want to help you overcome the devastation of domestic abuse. Go to your church. I know it’s hard, believe me, but there are ways to cope.”
The Challenge: Diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 32.
The Opportunity: As a survivor of breast cancer, Maimah Karmo has dedicated her life to educating and advocating for young women who have breast cancer to receive the care and attention they need to overcome the disease.
Karmo is a testament to living her life with courage. As the founder of the Tigerlily Foundation, she is committed to empowering women around the world to live extraordinary lives. She is using her life experiences to help other women affected by breast cancer to become strong and beautiful.
To learn more about Maimah Karma and to support her efforts to help young women survive breast cancer visit: http://tigerlilyfoundation.org.
Words of Wisdom and Lessons Learned: “I encourage young women to have hope and faith in themselves and their strength to get through the experience; they are larger than the breast cancer. There is life after breast cancer and as difficult as the experience is, reach within yourselves and find a way to use the experience as a catalyst to lead a better life.”
Extraordinary Profiles
The Challenge: Tawana Williams was born with no arms and impaired use of her legs. As a young woman, her life became shattered by abuse at the hands of robbers who broke into her home, tied up her husband and gang raped her repeatedly. She is also a survivor of rape by her father. During her senior year in high school, Williams tried crack cocaine and became addicted immediately. It was an experience that took her on a horrible roller coaster for ten years.
The Opportunity: She may have been born without arms, but her condition has not kept her from achieving amazing feats. She is an author, motivational speaker, a wife and mother, an artist, a poet, a vocalist and CEO of her own company, Tawana Williams Outreach, Inc. Her life and magnificent story are one of triumph, determination and faith.
To learn more about Tawana Williams visit: http://www.tawanawilliams.com
Words of Wisdom and Lessons Learned: “You’ve got to decide that it’s possible for you because that’s what I had to do. I had to make up my mind that all of the things and the desires of my heart and the dreams that I had were possible, because I almost talked myself out of my dream. How is it going to happen? Where’s the money going to come from? Who will listen to me? Who will pay me to speak to them? All of these doubts came out of my mouth and I almost missed it. You’ve got to make up your mind that it’s possible for you.”
The Challenge: Susan Ellis’ son Ryan was diagnosed with autism at three and-a-half years old. Ellis knew she had an uphill battle, but she made a commitment to herself and to Ryan that she would help him live the best life possible. Ellis, a dedicated and determined mother, has turned her challenge and her son’s challenge into an amazing success story.
The Opportunity: She and Ryan’s therapist, Marnie Danielson, started the company, The TV Teacher, aimed at helping kids with special needs and learning disabilities learn to write through creative videos. Their products include Alphabet Beats, Number Beats, and Strokes, Shapes and Scenes.
To learn more about Susan Ellis visit: http://www.tvteachervideos.com.
Words of Wisdom and Lessons Learned: “I’m helping children that I’ve never met. When I get an email from a parent in Montana or a city where I’ve never been, just the fact that what we have developed has touched a family so much and has reduced frustration for a child -- it just makes our day.
I have learned to have patience more than I ever thought I would. I look at a lot of things differently now. I have become much more accepting of differences, a lot more relaxed about differences than I ever have ever been, especially when I was in the corporate world.”
Extraordinary Profiles
The Challenge: Donna Reed, an author, artist, motivational speaker, and business woman was once a battered wife who escaped the horror of domestic abuse. As a divorced mother at 23 and on welfare, Reed decided that it was time to change her circumstances by enrolling in college, and while raising her daughters she began using her natural gifts to make arts and crafts.
The Opportunity: Reed is the founder of Women Inspiring Sisters Everywhere (WISE), and co-founder of Teach Boys and Girls Success, Inc., an organization that teaches at-risk youth how to develop their skills and talents to create a life of success.
To learn more about Donna Reed and to help support her organizations visit: http://www.yenergyfoundation.org, http://www.teachboysandgirlssuccess.org and http://awisechoice.org
Words of Wisdom and Lessons Learned: “One of the important things in life is, if we can look at the bright side of a circumstance we’ll be able to see that the sky is the limit in everything that you can do. There’s nothing that can happen that someone can’t reach and see God in it, how they’ll come out of it, and look back and see a brighter side.
The path to my current success has been far from smooth. Many times self-determination and perseverance have had to substitute for money and resources. But as a Christian woman, I know that I am ‘Too Blessed to Be Stressed!’ and every time I was down to nothing, I realized God was up to something.”
