I find myself seeking financial independence after my marriage of 7 years was torn apart. Before I had met my spouse I was very independent and excellent with my finances. I had married someone who was a narcissist and slowly isolated me from all that I knew to be stable and right in the world. I ended up quitting my career job and depended on him for everything. Only to be left alone with three beautiful children to raise on my own and back in my parents basement. I am working on healing, getting back on my feet and back to myself. This wonderful financial gift will be used to catapult me out of my shared debt (seeing no money from my ex to help) so I can get out on my own. I am working hard to show my children that I am strong and can do hard things. Thank you for awarding me with this gift that I am using to move not only forward but upward! Thank You,

— Shannon

I was raised in an orthodox Mormon home where I was taught that women should be stay-at-home-mothers in order to be righteous and that this was the only way to true happiness. Thankfully prior to becoming a mom I was able to complete my bachelor's degree but never had a chance to work in my field before giving birth. I was a stay-at-home-mom for 14 years until my husband informed me one morning that he had filed for divorce. I was devastated. I went back to grad school and worked part time as a special ed teaching assistant until I became sick with a disabling autoimmune disease and autonomic nervous system disorder. Unfortunately, I had no support from my family of origin and have since cut contact with them completely. I also did not qualify for disability because I was a stay-at-home-mom not paying into the system. It was heartbreaking. I drained my savings and retirement as I was unable to work for the last 2.5 years. I also left the high demand religion I was raised in. I have finally gotten to a place with my health where I just started back to grad school last month and I am working part time remotely. It is still very precarious financially and while my car just had to get new brakes and rotors, emissions, and registration, I am starting a new treatment protocol in hopes that my symptoms will be better managed, this money could easily be used for that as well. I hope more than anything though that I can put this money in savings to go untouched and start to rebuild a bit of financial security for me and my kids. Each month we get so close to the red it is terrifying and I'm beyond grateful for this generous gift. I hope more than anything and am determined to be a Rising Violet success story. That this gift will be the catalyst to our financial security, financial independence after divorce and being a stay-at-home-mom, and a stable financial future. We have come so far and with still so far to go, this is the most beautiful stepping stone in that journey and I cannot thank you enough. - Anonymous

For the past 3 and a half years I’ve been in a place that I never thought I would be in. I thought that I would have the perfect ending to my fairytale but life had a way of changing that story. For the majority of my marriage my husband has cheated on me, lied to me, and left me to fend for myself with our two small kids. I almost let myself be defeated but with this gift of $1000 I am picking myself up off the ground and going after a better life for me and my kids. I will be enrolling in a certification program, purchasing my kids and I some much needed essentials, putting some money away, and treating my kids to a fun day out so that they can feel like kids again and don’t have to hear mommy say “no, we don’t have the money right now”. I am looking forward to being financially independent and in a few months moving to a place of our own where we can live happily and freely!!!

— Anonymous

I was raised to believe that a woman’s highest calling was in the home. It was the best, most important thing a woman could do. I held tightly to that belief and stayed home with my son for the first 2 years, but then my husband left. He had a series of affairs, some pre-dating our marriage, and that left me alone, traumatized, and without income. I had full custody of my son, and was now tasked with being his parent and provider. While I was married, I didn’t seek any education because my intent was to be a stay-at-home mom and raise the babies. God placed a job in my lap and I was able to get my state insurance license and work in that field. Earlier this year, after five years of living with family, we finally managed to move out on our own! It has been a very important step for us, but it has also brought extra expenses. This financial gift will allow me to pay off some of the debt we have accrued, allowing us to continue to move forward and heal.

— Emma