Truly Valued Brings A Taste of New Orleans to Sarasota
Truly Valued mentees with “Champions”: Dorothy Lewis, Leslie Harrell, Tamara Williams, Courtney Smith, Founder Shavonne Simon and Victoria Smith-Murphy.
Truly Valued, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering and educating adolescent and teenage girls in the community, welcomed its 2nd Annual Taste of New Orleans event to the citizens of Sarasota and Manatee Counties on September 22nd. Founder Shavonne Simon emphasized on the true, altruistic purpose of that festive occasion:
“Our vision is that all girls value themselves and live healthy and productive lifestyles. This is why we are here, we are here to share this work and vision with you and give you a chance to partner in changing one life at a time.”
Guest Speaker Captain Todd Shear of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, provided an uplifting and captivating message to the audience about the importance of having influential and motivational figures in the lives of our youth and the need to support organizations that strive to be that positive impact: “Life is about learning, adopting, converting all of the struggles that we experience into something positive…Truly Valued is making a difference. This organization is bringing light into this world. Join with me and consider supporting this organization,” he said. The event was a hit as guests enjoyed a full night of authentic Cajun dishes, classic New Orleans music and an inspirational call to action. To reinforce the focus of the event and show gratitude for the organization, Truly Valued mentees and volunteers shared their experiences and the impact that the program has had on their lives.
“Through this organization, I learned to know my worth, be understanding of others and as a young lady to be the best that I can be in every aspect of my life,”
said Keimyha, a mentee, who was introduced to the program in 2016. Treshay, a volunteer, shared how she has built unbreakable bonds with the girls through her experience at Camp Grace. Throughout the night, attendees showed their support by donating funds that would go towards future programs and services and Truly Valued also received a $5,000 match by the Amicus Foundation.
“Truly Valued transforms young ladies through love, guidance and correction,”
said Simon, who created this event as a means to connect with and celebrate the loving support of the community. “What motivated me was that there are young ladies that may not have a positive environment to express her concerns about issues that impact her today. I consider Truly Valued to be that place where girls feel safe and where they can share, learn and grow without feeling judged.” One of the current fundraising initiatives is for a twelve-passenger van to coordinate trips and provide additional support to families who need assistance with bringing their girls to the program. To learn more or donate and aid in making a difference in the lives of young women in the Sarasota and Manatee counties, visitwww.trulyvalued.
org. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 381 Palmetto, FL 34220 or call 941-222-0645.
