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Q. Tell me why you started WoW Utah and how it functions?
A. When I started WoW Utah - also known as Women of Worth, Utah - I really wasn't fully aware of exactly what that looked like. I envisioned women going into an event, escorted down a red carpet, and coming out transformed into the women they were created to be. It just snowballed from there.
WoW Utah is now in its sixth year of existence as a 501c3 charity that assists women who have courageously left abuse and polygamy, overcome substance abuse, survived a debilitating illness, or simply cannot find their voice to believe in themselves. We are the middle part of the healing. It is once you find the support to get out of the situation, and have learned the basic tools to not be in crisis, but still do not know how to put all the pieces together to rebuild that new life, where WoW Utah helps.
How WoW Utah helps is through a one-year, women-supporting-women mentoring program, which is free to our women of worth. These women are supported throughout the year by trained volunteer mentors who help them learn tools to move them through tough triggers. They learn to set goals, boundaries and love themselves unconditionally from the inside out. They attend monthly worthshops to support the goals and dreams that they are working toward, all with support of their mentors and other women in WoW. This allows them to become who they were truly created to be; WORTHY, CAPABLE and ENOUGH.
At the culmination of the year, these women are honored at a red carpet, black tie gala, much like I envisioned. Our motto is: WoW Utah gives women a HAND-UP, not a handout.
Q. What is the Gala and its purpose?
A. The WoW Utah Gala & Silent Auction is the year-end culmination of our women of worth's journey. They are treated to manicures, pedicures, new hairstyles and full make-overs. They are adorned in an evening gown with their new look that now matches the belief of themselves inside. Pure beauty inside and out! They are celebrated at the gala event, which this year is Nov. 4, 2017, at Noah's Event Center in South Jordan.
A momentous event at the gala is when WoW participants proclaim individually on stage - in front of the community, VIPs and dignitaries - "I am a Woman of Worth," and they believe it to their core. But, the journey with WoW does not end there. They come back as volunteers, mentors and some have even become directors and board members. They are always welcomed at the following year’s worthshops to continue with the tools that help them to always strive to become better on their personal journeys. We are a family. We support our women as the years go by.
Interview with Wow Utah, Inc. Founder Judee Guay
By Jennifer Weaver
Giving Women A HAND-UP
Judee Guay,
Founder of WOW Utah, Inc.
16 THEBEAUTYBATTALION.COM