Sell your possessions and give to those that need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven that will never fail…
Purses of Heaven that will never wear out or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:33-34
Global humanitarian and entrepreneur, Candy Williams, brings her formidable experience in coaching/mentoring, consulting and financial management to Empowered Gifts (EG); giving women, displaced through domestic abuse, addictions, homelessness, or economic layoffs the means and inspiration to reclaim their lives and careers. Having dedicated herself to helping women recover their liberty and grace, this innovative and determined Trinidadian-American is a powerful and deeply spiritual leader. As EG’s founder, her professional background with Fortune 500 companies speaks volumes, and provides the organization with a solid foundation; holding management and consulting positions in companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, The Walt Disney Company, McDonald’s Corporation, 3D Systems, Estee Lauder Companies and more. Under her leadership, Empowered Gifts has grown from gifting a dozen or so handbags (to empower a small group of women professionally) to a global initiative – providing recommendation and referrals for all aspects of women’s career development.
Ms. Williams honored by Business Life Magazine as “2016 Woman Business Achievers” she continues to exemplify her life as mentioned “no person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”
— Calvin Coolidge
Williams comes from an prolific family. She credits her grandparents John and Joan Williams who were the pillars for there family, as the source of her entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropist aspirations. Music held a strong presence in the family and thus was the initial form of entrepreneurship. Her grandfather, John “Buddy” Williams a legendary calypso band leader has left a treasure chest of music in the New York Smithsonian. However, she credits her grandmother, Joan Williams as the true influencer of her charter and philanthropic endeavors. Joan a self-taught, career tailor from Trinidad, and the “go to” seamstress for all things fashion inspired her granddaughter to understand and value the importance of fashion in women’s lives, in general, and the unique importance of handbags as a symbol of where we carry our power. Her grandmother was a mentor to many women in her community and was an advocate for social economic justice. Thus, for Williams, there is a deep personal connection to handbags and helping women as inspiration and legacy; proving a fit starting point for founding her organization.
FOUNDER’S PERSONAL MISSION:
To push beyond believe the ideology that a women’s handbag carries power… Holds optimism of wealth… Can revolutionize economic growth in local communities and around the world.
#Employed Women Matter
We know that handbags and women are like inseparable twins. Women cannot live without a handbag… because it is more than an accessory it reflects a part of who we are and the power within. We accept new or gently loved Handbags and Wallets that are in good condition, and you yourself would be happy to receive. If so desired please include your email in your donation & we will provide a word of ``Thanks`` from the recipient...
We host events throughout the year to recognize, the accomplishments of the women we service has they complete skill based training, and receive jobs to take the next steps in their lives. Our events are done collaboratively in local communities with professional advisors, education donors and City/State leaders. In 2016 the Shelters that have or will benefit from our programs are as follows:
To further inspire the recipient of your donation, please place a anonymous handwritten note including one, or all of the following:
Alert Empowered Gifts when and where to pick up your donation and we will come to you with an In-Kind form for your generous taxable donation.
Note: Due to the many requests that Empowered Gifts have received, we accept handbags throughout the year
Where to Deliver Your Donated Handbags
As your heart desires please mail your donated Handbags to the following address:
3950 Laurel Canyon Blvd.
PO Box 50051
Studio City, CA. 91604
Empowered Gifts (EG), is a premier Initiative for empowering economically challenged women, through gifting opportunities-Handbags as a source of hope, empowering them to Walk Out of disparity, to Walk In to lives of prosperity as they enter the workforce.
Handbag Gifting
Empowered Gifts was created as a call to action to promote the achievements of disadvantage women entering the workforce. Handbags are given as the initial step in the interviewing process ensuring that each woman looks and feels the part regardless of career choice. Gifts are also given for employment longevity and for transformers of their local communities.
Job Placements (Coming Soon)
2017 will launch an expansion of our services entitled, Empowered Gifts Enterprise (EGE). We will provide jobs (internships and permanent placements) in the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan region. By matching specific skilled workers with clients, saving business time and money, while providing our workers with honesty and a dignified hand-up. Driving optimal levels of success, by engaging high-performance and inciting our workforce into greatness, aligning their talent with the company’s growth. EGTA aspires to provide qualified female staff the means to financial stability, to businesses increased productivity and to the City and State economic resurgence.
EG’s Empowerment Workshops
EG’s workshops are unique and innovative dedicated to inspiring and guiding women to re-connect their skill and to what is expected in the work environment. Through guest speakers, discussions and a variety of other dynamic activities, participants will develop tools to successfully navigate through issues every woman faces with finding and keeping jobs.
Handbag Donations (2013 - 14)
Handbag Donations (2015)
Handbag Donations (2016)
Happy Clients (Total 2013 - 2015)
On behalf of the House of Ruth families we would like to thank you for the handbag gift giveaway on Christmas day. The women loved the bags and have been using them ever since with great joy. It is friends like you that make the holiday season special and memorable.
Again, thank you for your support of House of Ruth. Please know that your generosity is deeply appreciated by those served.
Cynthia Barrios
Los Angeles House Of Ruth
Cynthia Barrios
I Never Understood the Value and Power a Handbag Possessed Until One Wonderful Evening During a Chrysalis Women's Empower Workshop When All Attendees Including Myself Received, Courtesy Candy Williams the CEO of Empowered Gifts.org, a Designer Handbag. To Say it Was a Shock is an Understatement. Before the Handbags Were Given to Us, Candy Asked an Important Question; A Questioned I'd Never Asked Myself. "What Outside of Yourself Empowers You?" I Thought Long and Hard Only to Discover Just My Amethyst Crystal (My Birthstone) and Tigers Eye (for Protection) Against Negativity. But When the Handbags Were Given, the Answer Candy Was Looking For Hit Me; a Handbag and Its Contents.
One Tear, Two Tears, Three Tears and Then More Fell From My Face Onto the Handbag. I Looked at the Tattered and Scuffed Up Bag (as I Called it) I'd Carried Around. Holding Back the Urge to Give a Good Cry, I Instead Decided to Embrace This Experience and Believe I Was Worthy of Having a Brand New Designer Handbag to Accompany My New Found Self Esteem, Self Worth and Value. Never To Looking Back on the Past But Instead Walking Into the Future With My New Handbag Chosen for Me to Brave the World With Confidence and Power.
Thank You Candy Williams, Empowered Gifts.org for My New Found Self and Handbag!
Robin E. W. -- March 2016
Robin Eugenia White
3950 Laurel Canyon Blvd., PO Box 50051, Studio City, CA. 91604
844-GIFTS-41
747-998-5164
info@empoweredgifts.org