Madison Brewer, Plant City, FL – Madison is a little dynamo that has vision, compassion and a work ethic that far exceeds her years. Two years ago when Madison was 6 years old she created Madison’s Mission that helps local families in need. When most girls her age are playing, Madison can be found creating a cookbook with proceeds benefiting her work or placing milk jugs in area businesses for donations. She has a blog and a Facebook page for raising awareness and money. To date, she has raised over $5,000 and helped 300 homeless people.
Sylvia Lehtinen, Hudson, NY – Sylvia has a long history of helping women in need. While working and attending school to become a certified alcohol and substance abuse counselor, she also volunteered for a hotline for rape crisis victims. Manning the night shift for over five years, she often went to hospitals and police stations to help the victims. She created The Batterer Accountability Program. This innovative approach helps the legal system address how they minimize the impact of domestic violence and is an alternative means for the judge to hold the batterer accountable.
Beth Davalos, Winter Park, FL – Through her work as a social worker and Students in Transition co-coordinator for Seminole County Schools, Beth has taken raising awareness of the issue to a whole new level. Beth feels that media is a very powerful source for change. She has appeared twice on 60 Minutes with a segment spotlighting the national problem of homelessness in children. She also creates outlets in her own community to address the issue. Beth continues organizing opportunities for student and community involvement to maximize awareness.
Cindy Carson, Spring Hill, FL – As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Cindy used her own experience and money to start a Thrift Store with the proceeds going to help local domestic violence victims. She hopes to start her own non-profit and open housing for Survivors to live in for up to two years.
Nicole Behrens, Southhampton, NY – Nicole is a survivor of ten years of ongoing domestic violence. Once she was free of abuse she rose above it to help the domestic violence victims in her community. She volunteers as a speaker, sharing her personal story to create awareness of domestic violence. The issue is part of her life’s mission. Over the past decade, she has volunteered with eastern Long Island’s only domestic violence shelter in every capacity they needed help with.
