Combined event honors all ages

Chrissy Vickers, founder of the nonprofit Women and Men of Purpose & Destiny Inc., presents an award to Jaliyah Vega. [Photo courtesy Women and Men of Purpose & Destiny Inc.]

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Posted March 24, 2025 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

In 2010, Chrissy Vickers started the Women of Purpose and Destiny Inc., nonprofit to empower women and teen girls to reach their purpose and destiny in life. Ten years later, she said she saw a need in the community to help motivate and encourage men and young boys and girls.

“I used to teach parenting classes to men incarcerated in the Marion County Jail and this touched my heart. Seeing grown men cry because of the mistakes they made and wishing they could turn back the hands of time inspired me to add a men’s division, along with me becoming a big sister to so many young men who come to me for advice. When I decided to add the men’s division (2020) and a children’s division (2021), it was a great opportunity to motivate, inspire and encourage everyone,” Vickers shared.

Since 2019, the nonprofit Women and Men of Purpose & Destiny Inc. has been hosting the Superwoman Awards, Superman Awards and Superkids Awards. This year, Vickers decided to combine all three award ceremonies, which were usually spaced throughout the year, into one event. The inaugural Super Awards gala was held March 8, 2025, at the Appleton Museum of Art.

“There were 43 award recipients at the inaugural event, of all ages, which included a 5-year-old girl name Jaliyah Vega who is a Nike shoe model and loves karate, to many others, like retired NFL player Don Nottingham, known as ‘The Human Bowling Ball,’ as well as Rashad Jones of Big Lee’s Serious About BBQ. Also, Judge Leann Mackey Barnes, pastors, businessmen and businesswomen, community advocates, children from the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, Joiner Martial Arts, Ocala ITF Taekwondo and more,” Vickers said.

Each recipient received an award, a certificate and a letter of recognition from Florida State Representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson.

“The event had many exceptional performances by Dance By Sheila, The Art District (TAD) and Karate 4 Christ. It was an absolute success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the WMOPD Team: Monique Weeks, Jordyn Riley and Christina Cruz. Ocala City Councilman Ire Bethea provided motivational words to the recipients,” Vickers added.

Vickers noted that Women and Men of Purpose and Destiny Inc. helps connect people to the right resources in the community through partnerships, which are vital to helping reach the entire community in one way or another. The organization meets periodically throughout the year and offers mentoring to youth, self-defense classes, self-development workshops and seminars for men and women. They assist individuals with personal goals and, in the future, plan to help with career goals.

“During the holiday season, the organization assists homeless and low-income families with food and personal hygiene items. Long-term, the goal is to provide scholarships and grants to women and men who want to go back to school or start a small business and provide scholarship opportunities for teens who want to further their education by going to college,” Vickers explained.

“This will be one of our main ways of helping adults and youth reach their purposes and destiny. As we continue to expand, more volunteers will be needed in different areas, such as helping mentor youth. We would also love to have more sponsors for the big events like the Super Awards, which would help us be able to provide scholarships to well-deserved women, men and children in the community,” she added.

To learn more, find the organization at fb.com/profile.php?id=100064347956010