FOUR TAMPA AREA WOMEN ARE CHOSEN OUT OF 140 ESSAYS
Tampa, FL (March 13, 2023)— Each year the WFLA Remarkable Woman Franchise seeks nominations for women who have made a tremendous difference in community impact, self-achievement, exhibit innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. A perfect fit for this nomination was Lt Col (Ret) Karen Mertes; and WFLA agreed! On March 8, 2023, WFLA shared the news that Karen was named one of their four finalists for their 2023 award. Mertes’ life-story embodies the five elements of the WFLA Remarkable Woman.
Finalist Lt Col (Ret) Karen Mertes was just months away from fulfilling 20 years of service in the United States Air Force and on target to become a full colonel when her life suddenly changed. Traveling on Interstate 75, Mertes’ car was rear-ended by a drunken driver traveling at over 100 mph.
“He broke my axle, shoved that into my transmission, so I didn’t have brakes or steering. I slid the equivalent of three football-field lengths before ever coming to a stop,” says Mertes. The frightening accident left Karen with her brain bleeding inside her skull, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a desperate promise to God that if her life were spared could spend the remainder helping others.
Mertes keeps that promise by motivational speaking, authoring books and devoting much of her life to her non-profit, Fulfill Your Destiny and its signature initiative, the $1,000 Business Builder Grant program. Mertes looks for local entrepreneurs whose lives will be meaningfully impacted by a $1,000 grant intended to help them take their business to the next level.
Karen generously invites locals and businesses to partner with Fulfill Your Destiny by sponsoring a grant. Sponsorships can be anonymous or can include the donor in all promotions and announcements of the sponsored grant. Sponsorships are tax-deductible and are personally matched 10% by Karen Mertes. For maximum exposure, Mertes invites businesses to incorporate the awarding of the grant into one of their events or meetings. Mertes makes this tax-deductible opportunity easy and a win-win for all. Fulfill Your Destiny does all the behind the scenes leg-work and requires very little from the sponsor. She understands that entrepreneurs are busy and over the years has perfected the program with an application and selection process. Please consider partnering with FYD and sponsoring an upcoming grant.
WFLA News Anchor Rebecca Barry interviewed Karen at Josephs Tea Room and Shop in Clearwater. Owners, Shannon and Gerby Joseph are former Fulfill Your Destiny grant recipients. WFLA will continue to reveal the remaining three finalists at 4pm each Wednesday throughout March; culminating on Mar 29th with their announcement of the local winner on their 5pm show. Tune in each Wednesday to learn more about each of these WFLA Remarkable Women Finalists. Watch WFLA on Wednesday, March 29th and learn who they have chosen as their 2023 Remarkable Woman who will then go on to compete at the national level.
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Fulfill Your Destiny gives a “Second Chance” to citizens whose ability to work has been cut short by injury or unforeseen circumstances. Operating with zero administrative overhead, we extend help to underserved citizens with nowhere to turn. Since 2010, we have offered “Second Chances” enabling citizens to achieve independence and fulfill their destiny. Fulfill Your Destiny’s signature program is its ‘Business Builder Grants’. Fulfill Your Destiny has pioneered ‘Business Builder Grants’ awarding these grants to proven entrepreneurs who have experienced life changing events and desire to take their businesses to the next level. www.fulfillyourdestiny.org
For more information, press, grant sponsorship or charity allignment only:
KAREN S GILLMAN
813.716.1166
KARENSGILLMAN@GMAIL.COM