IT'S ALL ABOUT WOMEN
& CHILDREN

Michelle Graves' love for philanthropy started when she ​became president of her high school's American Red Cross chapter as a tenth grader; a position she held until she graduated three years later. Her focus at that time was to raise awareness among the student population of the plight of women and children in South America by raising small sums of money among the student population to send to them. From these small beginnings, the Chapter began reaching out (with tremendous success) to local corporations to donate medical supplies, medications, and clothing to families in Guatemala, which is a very poor nation. 

​She never lost her passion to help women and children improve the quality of their lives. Fifteen years ago, West African Women's Initiative was born to help women and their children in Burkina Faso, West Africa, the poorest nation in Africa, through the manufacture and sale of Shea Butter.  This remains a challenging but rewarding commitment to changing lives, one at a time.

Women from Burkino Faso, West Africa carrying Shea nuts.