Fundraiser empowers women entrepreneurs in Springfield
The 'Take the Mic Program' highlights and celebrates 12 women entrepreneurs in the Springfield area through a 'Empower Her' calendar fundraiser.
Attendees were able to support these local vendors and women featured in the calendar by purchasing their products and services. All proceeds go towards the 'Take the Mic' program, which helps young girls develop their public speaking skills.
Owner and Founder Ayanna Crawford told 22News, 'We want to make sure that public speaking, which is a soft skill to help you grow, whether you're going for a job, whether you're going for a college application, that you have the skills that you need to be successful.'
Mary Irizarry, Owner of Icy's Events and The Venue, adds. 'Being confident and feeling powerful, feeling that they're able to advocate for themselves and having that presence, finding their own voice is so important.'
The goal of the fundraiser was to raise at least $3,000 to make sure all public speaking programs remain free.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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