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Winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund - March 10, 2009
Jill Sheffels Honored with $5,000 Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund Award
March 10, 2009

Sprague, Washington Resident Wins Cash Award To Expand Physical Fitness And Health Education Program For Low-Income Women


(New York, NY, March 10, 2009) – Sprague, Washington resident Jill Sheffels, 48, is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of creating a better tomorrow for her community. Jill was named this week’s winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, a weekly $5,000 cash award program from Avon Products, Inc. to support individuals in their work to empower women. She is the second recipient of a Hello Tomorrow Fund award in Washington since the program launched in 2007, and was selected by an expanded panel of judges that includes Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, and actress Phylicia Rashad. Jill will use her award to expand a physical fitness and health education program for low-income women in the rural town of Sprague and the surrounding areas.

Obesity is an epidemic that continues to grow in the United States. In fact, over half of states in the nation have an obesity rate of over 20%. The causes of obesity can vary from genetics to poor diet, but lack of knowledge about nutrition is one of the main barriers against making healthy lifestyle choices. According to a report published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, women living in low-income families are at high risk for obesity, as financially disadvantaged populations are more likely to live in communities that do not support healthy choices. In her community in rural Washington State, Jill knows many women from low-income families who struggle with obesity, and was inspired to do something to help change their lives.

A year ago, Jill began a program that targets low-income women who struggle with their weight. A personal trainer herself, she created a fitness program to help these women lose weight, and to teach them healthier life choices. In the beginning, she held classes in free facilities, like local churches and schools, but since the program has grown in popularity, they outgrew the small space and needed to find a more permanent place to hold the classes. Jill was inspired to share the feelings of empowerment from physical exercise with as many women as she could, though she lacked the funds to support it sufficiently. That is where the Hello Tomorrow Fund can help.

With help from the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, Jill will now be able to offer a four-month exercise program to women ages 18-60 in the Sprague, Spokane Valley, and Cheney areas of Washington. The funds will be used to hire two certified personal trainers to conduct the physical fitness classes, and to purchase exercise bikes, yoga mats, exercise balls, and weights. Additionally, Jill will use a permanent facility to hold the program twice a week. To encourage participation for mothers, the funds will also go towards hiring a childcare worker to supervise children while their mothers attend classes. Jill is confident that these women will see results by the end of the program; both physical and emotional.

“Through physical fitness, women become physically healthier, but they also increase their self esteem,” Jill says. “Healthy women equate to healthier children, families, and eventually healthier communities.

Jill’s winning application to the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund met the criteria of clearly presenting unique and achievable objectives to empower women or girls and ultimately improve society. It was selected from a pool of strong contenders by an expert panel of judges, including personal finance expert Suze Orman, actress Phylicia Rashad, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, and experts in business and grantmaking. “Bringing physical fitness to women and empowering them to participate is a great idea,” commented Lynn Stekas on Jill’s proposal.

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