Seeking stronger self-esteem

Real beauty doesn’t come from the latest fashions or a supposedly ideal body weight. Real beauty comes from within. Sharing that message is the mission of A Beautiful Me, A Macomb County nonprofit that conducts self-worth workshops for girls from 3rd through 12th grade.

“The root of many problems facing girls today is low self-esteem,” says founder Karen Palka of Washington Township. “Our workshops encourage girls to recognize their intrinsic value so they don’t try to find self-worth from external sources.”

Upwards of 7,000 girls have participated in A Beautiful Me’s four-part workshop series since 2009. Each two-hour session focuses on a different confidence-building topic. Workshops are especially popular among schools, Girl Scout troops and youth groups.

In celebration of our 100th anniversary, First State Bank applauds the organizations that make a difference in our community. We’re honored to give $5,000 to A Beautiful Me, our fifth of six centennial donations in 2017. Previous honorees were the Macomb Charitable Foundation, Friends of Foster Kids, KnowResolve and Care House.

It’s a privilege to be your neighbor. Thank you!

To learn more about A Beautiful Me or to donate, please visit www.abeautifulme.com.