EVENTS
2026



S.A.F.E PLACE
Volunteer of the year
Anne Schwarz was a valued board member beginning in 1985. Her commitment and dedication to S.A.F.E. Place began as one of the founding board members and continued as president of the board. She was instrumental in raising funds for the original shelter. She truly represented all the dedicated volunteers who serve S.A.F.E. Place, and we are pleased to have established this award in her honor.
This year, we were thrilled to present the Anne Schwarz Outstanding Volunteer award to Cara Gandy.
Awhile back, our staff identified a need among the adults and children in shelter for haircuts as cost is often a barrier. We put out a request and Cara immediately responded and has remained a dedicated volunteer for over a year. Cara volunteers each month to provide free haircuts to survivors and their children staying in our shelter.
While this is an incredibly selfless act, Cara's warm and engaging approach makes the experience more than just a haircut for those we serve. We all know how much our hair can be part of our identity, so it is truly an incredible gift to our clients to help them maintain that piece themselves. After getting their hair done, many of our clients share feeling safe and cared for during their time with Cara and that is what makes her truly special.
Confidence & Conversation
Woman's Event
I want to speak to the woman in the room who has ever questioned her worth… her voice or her place.
The woman who has ever looked around and thought,
“Do I belong here?”
“Am I enough?”
“Does anyone even see me?”
My “I Am” statement for this season of my life is…
I am seen.
Not because the world validates me.
Not because I’m perfect.
Not because I’m everything to everyone.
But because I’ve learned to stand confidently in who I am — and that is more than enough.
We live in a world of comparison.
A world that tells women we must be everything, everywhere, all at once.
Perfect mother.
Perfect leader.
Perfect friend.
Perfect body.
Perfect business owner.
Perfect everything.
And comparison let’s be honest is a thief.
A thief of joy.
Comparison convinces us that who we are is somehow not enough.
It whispers, “Look at her… she’s doing it better.”
It whispers, “You’re behind.”
But here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way:
If you could be anything… be yourself.
Because the right people will love you for exactly who you are.
Confidence doesn’t come from outperforming others.
It comes from letting go of the pressure to be anyone but yourself.
I’ve been in the beauty industry for 20 years.
Twenty years of standing behind the chair.
Twenty years of listening, encouraging, lifting, and loving women through every season of their lives.
And somewhere along the way, I realized something:
The best way I built myself up…
was by building other women up.
My confidence didn’t come from achievements, titles or from being the best in the room.
It came from serving.
From pouring into others.
From surrounding myself with people who were positive, uplifting, and encouraging.
People who aren’t threatened by my growth — they celebrated it.
People who don’t compete — they collaborate.
People who shine, and make room for me to shine too.
That’s when I found my joy, my purpose and my confidence.
Because confidence isn’t loud.
It isn’t flashy.
It isn’t about being the center of attention.
Confidence is being your authentic self… and being okay with that.
Confidence is not perfection.
Confidence is not comparison.
Confidence is not being the best.
Confidence is alignment.
Confidence is integrity.
Confidence is identity.
Confidence is knowing who you are — and who you are not.
Confidence is saying:
“I don’t have to be everything.
I just have to be me.”
Confidence is choosing purpose over pressure, authenticity over approval and growth over comparison.
confidence is built —
It’s built through small choices.
Small boundaries.
Small acts of courage.
Small moments of showing up even when you feel unseen.
Women often walk through life feeling invisible.
Invisible in their homes.
Invisible in their workplaces.
Invisible in their dreams.
But here’s the truth:
You are seen.
Even when you feel overlooked.
Even when you feel behind.
Even when you feel like you’re not enough.
You are seen by the people you’ve impacted.
You are seen by the women you’ve encouraged.
You are seen by the lives you’ve touched.
You are seen by the God who created you with intention and purpose.
And when you start seeing yourself clearly — everything changes.
So today, I want to leave you with this:
Stop trying to be everything.
Stop trying to be perfect.
Stop trying to be her.
Be you.
Be the woman who leads with heart.
Be the woman who lifts others up.
Be the woman who walks confidently in her purpose.
Be the woman who knows she is seen.
When she embraces her authentic self…
She becomes unstoppable.
And so today, declare it with me:
I am seen.
I am worthy
And I am just getting started.



