Homeless Turned Business Owner Empowers Local Women
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: April 17, 2012
PEORIA- A homeless woman turned business owner is empowering women in Peoria.
The 34th annual YWCA leader luncheon took place at the Peoria Civic Center at noon Tuesday.
The luncheon is the largest fundraiser of the year for the YWCA. More than 300 people arrived to eat and hear encouraging words from guest speaker, Lucinda Yates.
Yates was homeless until she founded a multimillion dollar jewelry company . She says her message is clear: "Never give up. "
"Just don't do that. because that's what kept me going. i never thought for a million years that that was going to be my life forever. And it doesn't have to be," Yates said.
"I think seeing someone go from a situation of being homeless to actually running her own company and being able to tell what that journey was like is a powerful message," said luncheon chairperson Joy Duling.
YWCA expects to make nearly 30-thousand dollars from the luncheon.
The 34th annual YWCA leader luncheon took place at the Peoria Civic Center at noon Tuesday.
The luncheon is the largest fundraiser of the year for the YWCA. More than 300 people arrived to eat and hear encouraging words from guest speaker, Lucinda Yates.
Yates was homeless until she founded a multimillion dollar jewelry company . She says her message is clear: "Never give up. "
"Just don't do that. because that's what kept me going. i never thought for a million years that that was going to be my life forever. And it doesn't have to be," Yates said.
"I think seeing someone go from a situation of being homeless to actually running her own company and being able to tell what that journey was like is a powerful message," said luncheon chairperson Joy Duling.
YWCA expects to make nearly 30-thousand dollars from the luncheon.
