FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fort Washington, PA – February 12, 2025 – I Choose To Win, a Philadelphia-area 501(c)(3) narrative-shifting, power-building, and transformational nonprofit organization, is thrilled to announce the celebration of 10 years of impact for the BIPOC women and girls in our community. Since its founding in 2015 by Melonie Butler, Executive Director, I Choose To Win has been dedicated to edifying, empowering, and equipping women and girls to WIN in life, fostering leadership development and paving the way for economic independence. With the support of the Greater Philadelphia Region, the organization has proudly impacted the lives of 8,335 women and girls, and is poised to scale its efforts even further in 2025.
To commemorate this milestone, in January I Choose To Win launched Cultiv8 Hope, a $10,000 hope-building initiative for BIPOC youth. Supported in part by The Philadelphia City Fund, Health Spark Foundation, and the Forfeiture Fund’s Violence Prevention Microgrant from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (DAO), participants in grades 9 – 12 will submit their ideas to cultivate hope in their lives and communities for a chance to win $1,000 in funding. Their hope-building idea will be shared widely and voted on in June to potentially win one of ten slots for $1,000 in funding to invest in the areas where they believe hope can thrive.
Cultiv8 Hope is a 5-month initiative with a virtual and in-person programmatic component and an innovative visual storytelling competition for high school youth. Our in-person sessions will be held out-of-school time at Our House Culture Center in the Germantown section of Philadelphia for bi-weekly meetups from February to May, with the open house taking place February 12th from 4-7 pm. I Choose To Win is inviting high school youth to see their ideas for hope-building come to life. “We are excited to hear directly from the youth about what hope means to them and how we can better support them in cultivating it,” said Melonie Butler, Founder and Executive Director of I Choose To Win. “This initiative is just one example of how we are continuing to empower the next generation to lead, think critically, and invest in their communities.”
In addition to Cultiv8 Hope, I Choose To Win will launch several new programs to reflect its growth and expanded reach over the past decade. The event lineup includes:
Feb. 22nd: 10-Year Anniversary Brunch in February at North Hills Country Club
June: Cultiv8 Hope Culmination Community Event
Quarterly Win from Within retreats in the Pocono Region
Spring and Fall signature It’s My Time cohorts 6-week virtual program for goal-getters
August: A reboot of I’m Ready to Choose Women’s Conference at the P4HUB
October: The 4th Annual Bold, Brave & Brilliant Awards Gala at The Switch House by Cescaphe
“We envision a future where more women and girls are walking in their purpose, pursuing their passions, and owning their power to realize their full potential,” said Butler. “The past 10 years have shown us that this vision is becoming a reality, as we’ve seen the hopes and dreams of our women and girls materialize. We look forward to making this possible for even more individuals in the years to come.”
I Choose To Win is grateful for the ongoing support of the Greater Philadelphia community and looks forward to the continued growth and impact of its programs in 2025 and beyond.
For more information about I Choose To Win, the Cultiv8 Hope initiative, or upcoming events, visit www.ichoosetowin.org. For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact Melonie Butler at melonie@ichoosetowin.org.
About I Choose To Win
I Choose To Win is a 501(c)(3) narrative-shifting, power-building and transformational nonprofit organization based in the Philadelphia area actively working to strengthen the mental well-being, resilience and economic position of Black Indigenous People Of Color (BIPOC) women and girls as future leaders and owners on a path to personal fulfillment. Through signature programming, leadership development and community building, I Choose To Win edifies, empowers and equips BIPOC women and girls to become leaders and owners to realize their full potential.
Contact:
Melonie Butler
Founder & Executive Director, I Choose To Win
melonie@ichoosetowin.org
www.ichoosetowin.org
Follow on Instagram: @ichoosetowin