At One Purse, we believe every woman deserves more than the opportunity to survive. She deserves the freedom to dream about what comes next.
That belief was at the heart of this year’s Freedom to Dream luncheon—a day of powerful stories, meaningful connection, and a shared commitment to helping women reclaim their lives and build financial independence.
Understanding the Journey
Our keynote speaker, Carrie Grace, trauma-informed consultant and founder of Valiant Hearts, brought more than 15 years of experience working internationally with survivors of sex trafficking—and a deeply personal understanding of trauma.
Carrie shared that her own father was imprisoned for child sexual abuse and spoke about her role in helping bring him to justice. Her experience has shaped how she understands the vulnerabilities that can leave women susceptible to exploitation.
For many survivors, she explained, the story does not begin with trafficking. It begins much earlier—with childhood abuse, neglect, poverty, unstable family systems, and trauma. Exploitation often takes advantage of vulnerabilities that have existed for years.
And healing requires more than escaping an exploitative situation.
One of the most important messages a survivor can hear, Carrie reminded us, is simple:“It wasn’t your fault.”
She also shared the story of a survivor whom she welcomed into her own family and the transformation she witnessed as this young woman moved from surviving to thriving—including ultimately achieving a dream of landing a job she had long wanted.
Her story captured something we see every day at One Purse: when a woman is surrounded by people who see not only what she has endured, but also who she can become, new possibilities begin to emerge.
If you are inclined to give to support our programs, now is a great time to do so, since your impact will be doubled!
Creating a Path Forward
One Purse was founded on a simple conviction: something as ordinary as a purse could be used to create extraordinary opportunity for a woman rebuilding her life.
Today, donated purses fuel a social enterprise designed to create tangible pathways toward financial independence.
Through our Employment Program, women gain paid employment, skills development, and a supportive workplace while helping operate our e-commerce marketplace. To date, the program has provided more than 31,000 hours of employment.
Through our Education Program, One Purse has awarded 866 scholarships for college and vocational education, helping women pursue credentials and careers that can change the trajectory of their lives.
And through our Empowerment Program, women participate in practical life-skills workshops designed to support their continued growth, including a new series focused on building healthy relationships.
Together, these programs address a critical reality: leaving exploitation is only the beginning. Sustainable employment, education, community, and economic opportunity can help women build a different future.
Celebrating the Freedom to Dream
Perhaps the most moving moments of the luncheon came as we honored three remarkable women with our Freedom to Dream Awards.
Pursued an extraordinary academic journey, earning two master’s degrees from Columbia University with support from One Purse.
Earned her bachelor’s degree and now works in human resources at a treatment center while completing her MBA. Along the way, One Purse provided both scholarship assistance and a community cheering her forward.
Became a real estate broker after One Purse helped fund her real estate education. She is now continuing her education while working to create a different future for herself and the generations that follow.
Each woman’s journey is uniquely her own. Together, their stories demonstrate what becomes possible when women have access to opportunity—and people willing to believe in their dreams.
The Next Chapter
Today, One Purse serves more than 250 women each year, yet more than 60 women remain on our waitlist.
We know we can do more.
Our current facility limits both the number of women we can employ and the donated inventory our social enterprise can accept.
A larger facility would allow us to expand employment, process more donated purses, generate more revenue through our e-commerce marketplace, and ultimately create more opportunities for women.
And right now, there is an extraordinary opportunity to help make that possible.
Every gift to One Purse will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $200,000.
That means a gift made today can have twice the impact as we prepare for the next chapter of One Purse.
Whether you become a Dream Builder through a three-year commitment, a Dream Giver through monthly giving, or make a one-time gift, you become part of creating something much bigger than a program.
You help create the opportunity for another woman to imagine what comes next.
Because freedom isn’t only the freedom to leave the past behind. It’s the freedom to dream about the future.
