TROY, MI – Kristina Marshall, 34, CEO of Winning Futures, a non-profit school-based mentoring program for youth and teens based on character values, goal setting, and strategic planning, received the Women Officials’ Network “Wonder Woman Award” for being a distinguished advocate for youth. Past winners include Justice Maura Corrigan of the Michigan Supreme Court, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, and State of Michigan School Board Member Elizabeth Bauer.
The Women Official’s Network is an organization of elected officials, present and past, to promote women leaders in the public sector. Each year its foundation holds a dinner to raise funds for the work of sponsoring young women to participate in events that lead to their growth. At the dinner, they honor women who have made a difference…to be exact, they honor Wonder Women.
“This award was unexpected and I am so honored to receive it. I am inspired every day to do what I do because of my husband. He overcame obstacles growing up that no child should have to deal with…all with the support of a mentor. I saw that one person could make a life changing impact on a teen who had no hope,” stated Kristina. “My mentor and founder of Winning Futures, Sam Cupp, gave me the amazing opportunity to empower thousands of youth through this program. Children in need have no voice, so we must be their voice. That is why for the past 13 years, I have been dedicated to engaging the public sector and private companies in supporting our goal-setting and mentoring programs through financial commitments and volunteer opportunities.”
The next step for Marshall is to raise an additional $75,000 to expand their mentoring, goal-setting, and scholarships programs in Birmingham, Detroit, Harper Woods, Pontiac, and Warren. She will continue advocate to city, state, and federal officials to ensure that quality program for youth remain intact.
Marshall was the first mentee in the Winning Futures program in 1994 at Warren Mott High School. Since graduating from Michigan Technological University in 1998, she has grown the organization to impact 20,000 youth, awarded $1.5M in scholarships, and implemented the Winning Futures goal-setting curriculum into 100 schools and non-profits across 30 states. She has won many awards including the prestigious Crain’s 40 under 40 in 2008. Marshall has her Masters in Educational Leadership from Oakland University, is the Chair of the Mentor Michigan Providers Council, is a member of EO Detroit’s Accelerators Program, has been married to her high school sweetheart for 12 years, and has a very active four year old son.
Winning Futures is an award winning nonprofit organization that makes a difference in the lives of young people by offering school-based mentoring programs and workshops for middle school and high school students in Southeast Michigan. Its programs focus on the life skills of character value identification, goal setting, career preparation, and strategic planning. Founded in 1994 by entrepreneur Sam Cupp, Winning Futures now partners with organizations throughout the country to implement our life skills workbooks and activities. For more information, visit www.winningfutures.org or call 586-294-8449.
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