I Choose To Win

On May 23rd, A multigenerational audience of women (young and mature) filled the private room at Ambler’s Gypsy Blu restaurant to engage in a #letstalkphilly dialogue about what it would take to awaken young women to their unique purpose, power and potential. The mature women, ranging in age from 32 – 40, in the room had an opportunity to listen to the younger women, ranging in age from 10-22, to understand what they believed they need. Likewise, the younger women heard from the mature women. Overwhelmingly similar messages were felt throughout the evening (Click here for images). The question was “What will it take to awaken young women to their purpose, passions, power and potential?” And the consensus is this: A strong understanding of who we are A chance to learn who we really are while being who we are expected to be A few close friends or support system to check in and encourage us A place to talk and freely share when we need to An opportunity to be heard An outlet to release An invitation to deal with life’s struggles and to self-assess A safe place to try new things, gain new experiences and learn their interests (exposure) A program that is dedicated to teaching young ladies to build one another up A reminder of their potential in a world that sends mixed signals about value, significance and self worth A victorious mindset that removes limiting beliefs, self doubt and defeat before even trying A sense of balance (not being too ambitious and focused, but not being too chill, either) A movement that promotes positive messaging about us and our potential Wow! These young ladies provided examples, specific to their experiences of ways people, environments and messages have caused them to shrink, stop believing and cease striving. While some have chosen to fight through it, others have honestly shared they have not. So, the work, through conversation, has just begun. Stay tuned to see what happens next.

Tuesday, May 23rd, I Choose To Win will host a multi-generational conversation with middle school students, high school students, young adults and adults to understand what it may take to reach the young women with messages of empowerment and cause them to embark upon an empowered journey of their own. We will hear from young women at different stages of life for a rich and robust dialogue. This conversation is part of many conversations being held around the Philadelphia, PA area in partnership with #OntheTablePHL. There are over 150 organizations having civic dialogues and candid community conversations around varying topics to engage new voices and fresh insight with the hopes of forming innovative solutions for some of today’s problems or challenges. By no means is there an expectation that anything will be solved after these conversations, it’s just an opportunity to invite diversity of perspectives and thought leadership to help get our wheels churning with ideas that we may be able to execute. Our conversation will be held on Tuesday, May 23rd 6:00 – 7:30 pm in Ambler, PA at a restaurant to be disclosed only to the recipients who signed up.  

May 4, 2017 – I Choose To Win supported a local Montgomery County school district event that featured students who have embarked upon journeys in pursuit of their passions. At the event, guests and volunteers deposited words of encouragement to students aligned with their areas of focus and deposited quarters into piggy banks provided by the event host and sponsor, Beneficial Bank. I Choose To Win provided the quarters, a value of $120, which directly benefitted middle and high school student endeavors. Student ambitions, gifts and talents were diverse ranging from sports, baking, tee shirt designs, slime production and distribution, performing to video editing. All students were exceptionally prepared, focused and on their way to greatness. Students left the event with encouragement, boosted confidence and committed supporters who connected the students to opportunities aligned with their respective interests. It was a great evening. To God be the glory in the lives of these young ones, and the mature ones who supported on their behalves.  

April 2017 – Melonie Butler, Founder of I Choose To Win, engaged nearly 100 student leaders at Penn State Abington with a message she entitled “In the Room, At the Table.” Invited by the Student Affairs Department and the Student Government Leaders, Butler customized her message to speak primarily to graduating seniors drawing parallels for student leaders to see the correlation of student leadership to business leadership. The message was to remind the outgoing seniors to not only be in the room, but at the table where decisions are being made and there is an opportunity to influence those decisions through their demonstration of excellence in their knowledge areas and mastery of soft skills, such as communicating with confidence, art of persuasion and emotional intelligence, that will elevate them and afford new opportunities. A message Butler drove home was to “never compromise or abandon your truth, never shrink nor withhold your unique contributions and to boldly share differing perspectives as these could cause you to be the difference-maker or change-agent that VERY room needs.” Afterwards, Butler remained available to engage in one-on-one conversations with the students and enjoy fun photo opportunities, as shown below.

March 2017 – Melonie Butler, Founder of I Choose To Win, delivered a keynote address to approximately 200 women about living your best life now: mind, body and spirit at the WomanUp Hat and Tea Party, March 26, 2017, held at the Belmont Mansion. Sharing a poem she had written for this event,  she encouraged women to learn from the experiences of hardships that sought to break them or bring them down, but couldn’t keep them there. And, whatever lessons were learned, use them to remain uplifted, but to also lift their fellow woman Up.  Met with an overwhelming response, roaring applause and a standing ovation, many in the audience requested a copy of the WomanUp poem she read to conclude her speech. That speech will be made available in the future. Here is a brief press clip found in Philadelphia Style magazine.

Philadelphia, PA – On March 26th from 3 pm – 6 pm, join in on the festivities as we celebrate women making an impact during Women’s History Month. Event costs $20 to attend, lunch is included, and proceeds benefit the American Women’s Heritage Society, a nonprofit organization that serves as the curator for the historic Belmont Mansion and Underground Railroad Museum for the past 30 years. Melonie Butler, Founder of I Choose To Win, will be the event’s keynote speaker. Event organizers are seeking vendors and nominations on women to recognize and celebrate for their good work and service. Learn more at WomanUpHatandTeaParty.eventbrite.com.

March 11, 2017 — Special thank you to Ascend Mentoring Program run by the South Jersey chapter AKA Sorority for inviting I Choose To Win to facilitate today’s vision board party! Our lives move in the direction of our focus and the pattern of our habits! When we write the vision, make it plain, we have a constant reminder of the journey we plan to take. We hope you will allow the tool you created today be a reminder of what your future holds, God willing! Click to view more pics.

Philadelphia, PA — We, at I Choose To Win, would like to thank the Philly Zeta women for nominating and selecting I Choose To Win as the Nonprofit of the Year 2017 Winner on Saturday, March 11th at the Finer Womanhood Awards ceremony held at LaSalle University. “What an honor and privilege to be recognized for doing the work we are called to do. We are just grateful to God for the impact we are able to have with the lives we encounter,” expressed Melonie Butler, Founder, “we are overjoyed, humbled and grateful.” Click to view pics. Here is a brief press clip found in The Philadelphia Tribune.

February 27, 2017 – We had an amazing show of love and support on Wednesday, February 22nd at Stratus Rooftop Lounge, Philadelphia PA. I just wanted to thank the many attendees who showed up to celebrate that milestone with us. For those who were unable to make it, but would like to contribute, you may do so online at https://www.gofundme.com/ichoosetowin. To continue learning more about I Choose To Win, visit ichoosetowin.org. To view pictures from the evening, click here. For all others in attendance, raffle prizes will be in the mail next week. Congratulations to our winners of the Taste of Ambler Getaway package (Dinner, Movie, Overnight Hotel Stay, and Breakfast) winner, Sy M. Congratulations to our Suburban Retreat package (Overnight Hotel Stay, Brunch and a Matinee) winner, Karima. And to our Winner’s Choice winners Ava W., Cyndi B. and Charita L. A special shout out to our photographer Jen Strickland, our dance guru and instructor ModelKinese, our spoken word artist and vocalist S E R A I A H and our master on the wheels of steel, DJ HVNLEE. Thank you to sponsors for the evening Stratus Rooftop Lounge, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Gypsy Blu, Bridget’s Steakhouse and Be Cubed Marketing Group. For opportunities to partner and collaborate on empowerment projects, feel free to contact melonie@ichoosetowin.org. While we may not be able to entertain all requests, we will carefully consider those aligned with our mission to edify, empower and equip women to WIN. On behalf of I Choose to Win’s Board, we thank you! Sincerely, Melonie Butler, Candy Manning, Phil Butler, Mallory Clements and Michael Bowman