LOCAL TAMPA PHILANTHROPIST MOVES ON TO NATIONAL COMPETITION
Tampa, FL (March 30, 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. Last night WFLA announced that Mertes won the local competition and will be moving on to nationals.
WFLA shares that the competition is part of a nationwide search by WFLA’s parent company Nexstar Media Group, Inc for one woman who fulfills select criteria such as community contributions, self-achievement, and impact on families. Nexstar selects four local women from essay nominations entered online from each of its media markets. Panelists scoured through nearly 150 local Tampa Bay essays about remarkable women throughout the region.
Each local winner travels to Los Angeles to be considered for “Nexstar Woman of the Year.” Mertes will compete with 110 other remarkable women winners from across the country. Join us in cheering her on in hopes of bringing home another win for all of ‘Champa Bay’.
After an unforeseen tradgedy, Lt Col (Ret) Karen Mertes dedicates her time to 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.
We look forward to sharing the exciting events of the national competition upon her return.
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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.
For more information, press only:
KAREN S GILLMAN
813.716.1166
KARENSGILLMAN@GMAIL.COM