TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING COMMUNITY HERO
Tampa Bay Lightning
Karen was honored by the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning as a Community Hero during their first season of recognizing unsung heroes in greater Tampa Bay who have made significant contributions to the community.
HEROES AT WORK
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Karen Mertes was 1 of 31 veterans honored by the Tampa Bay Business Journal at their Heroes at Work Inaugural Event. The Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Heroes at Work Awards seek to recognize Tampa Bay veterans who, through their professional and personal efforts, are making a positive impact throughout the community.
WEDU BE MORE…ENTREPRENEURIAL C1 BANK ENGAGED PHILANTHROPIST AWARD
WEDU
This honor is bestowed upon the individual, family, or organization that has lent a unique voice to bring awareness, credence, support, or action to an issue or cause faced by our citizens and thus making a tremendous impact in our community.
CABOT CREAMERY CO-OPERATIVE NATIONAL AWARD
Cabot Creamery Community Celebrity
June 2017
Karen Mertes is grateful and honored to have been selected and nationally recognized as a Cabot Creamery Community Celebrity for her extensive volunteer contributions to her community as Founder & President of Fulfill Your Destiny. Karen was 1 of 60 volunteers from across our country who were honored in 2017.Cabot Creamery Co-operative, through their Gratitude Department, has a unique corporate culture of recognizing and rewarding individuals who volunteer at the highest levels in their communities.
Thank you to the entire Cabot Creamery Co-operative team for being different by standing out which makes Cabot the best at what they do! Please visit http://www.cabotcelebritycruise.com/about to read more.
CABOT CREAMERY CO-OPERATIVE NATIONAL AWARD
Richter Publishing’s 3rd Annual Author Awards & Book Gala
Richter Publishing awards Karen Mertes #1 Amazon Best Seller for her book Plaintiff 101: The Black Book of Inside Information Your Lawyer Will Want You to Know… Read More.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL STORY FINALIST
Jamie Meloni
Thank you Jamie Meloni of That Business Show with Jamie Meloni for nominating Karen and Fulfill Your Destiny as 1 of 5 finalists for the award Most Inspirational Entrepreneurial Story based on his guest list from 2015. All finalists were recognized at the 1st Annual That Business Show Awards Dinner.
2015 MGC – MOST GENEROUS CHIC
Charity Chics
The members of Charity Chics voted and selected Karen Mertes as the recipient of the 2015 MGC – Most Generous Chic award for her sustained philanthropic contributions to our greater Tampa Bay community through her organization, Fulfill Your Destiny.
2015 MGC – MOST GENEROUS CHIC
PLAINTIFF 101 Wins #1 Best Seller
and #1 Hot New Release Award
We’re thrilled to announce we won the #1 Amazon Best Seller & #1 Hot New Release award at Richter Publishing’s 2nd Annual Tampa Bay Author Award Ceremony & Book Gala! This event recognizes published authors from the Tampa Bay area who are making a difference in the community with their books. We’d like to express our sincerest gratitude to our family and friends as well as thank all our supporters for making this achievement possible! As always, we’re grateful for your generous kindness and support. We appreciate your enthusiasm for justice!
LOCALSHOPS1’S BEST IN BIZ, BEST NON-PROFIT FINALIST
Fulfill Your Destiny was honored to be selected as one of ten finalists for Best Non-Profit!
INSPIRE! WOMAN OF THE YEAR FOR THE 2015 ICONIC WOMEN AWARDS
St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, 2015 Iconic Women – Celebrating Women with Vision Awards
Recognizes women who have risen above significant personal challenges to achieve their goals and serve as role models for what focus, perseverance and determination can accomplish.
WOMAN OF DISTINCTION 2015
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Recognized by the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida as a 2015 Woman of Distinction for success in her chosen field and serving as an inspiring role model for girls locally.
CHIC OF THE YEAR 2014
Charity Chics
The Charity Chics founding chapter awarded Karen R. Mertes, Lt Col (Ret), USAF the honor of Chic of the Year 2014 for her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to our community. Since 2009, women across Tampa Bay have experienced the joy of philanthropic giving through Charity Chics, where like-minded business women come together and connect for a cause. Karen Mertes is one of our founding members and is a valued asset to the chapter.
SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Presented to an individual, group or family that has recognized a charitable need and developed a unique approach to advancing philanthropy in the community. The award recipient exemplifies the spirit of giving above and beyond.
MOST ONLINE VOTES
Tampa Bay’s Dancing with the Stars
Presented to the ‘Celebrity Dancer’ who is the top online fundraiser July 9 – October 3, 2014 in Tampa Bay’s Dancing with the Stars charity event hosted by Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay. Karen had 10,006 votes, more than twice the next celebrity dancer, raising thousands of dollars for Hands Across the Bay and this year’s seven beneficiary charities.
C1 BANK COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
C1 Bank
The C1 Bank Community Service Award is presented to a member of the women’s business community who goes above and beyond to make a positive impact in Tampa Bay through non-profit service. The award is presented annually during an award ceremony at the Working Women State Conference. Award recipients are nominated by members of Working Women of Tampa Bay.
INSPIRE! WOMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST FOR THE 2014 ICONIC WOMEN AWARDS
St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, 2014 Iconic Women – Celebrating Women with Vision Awards
Recognizes women who have risen above significant personal challenges to achieve their goals and serve as role models for what focus, perseverance and determination can accomplish.
2013 GIFT OF GENEROSITY
Charity Chics
December 2013
Charity Chics presents Fulfill Your Destiny with our 2013 Gift of Generosity Award for Fulfill Your Destiny’s extensive contributions to our greater Tampa Bay community. Fulfill Your Destiny has made many significant positive impacts some of which have even been life changing for a number of it’s recipients in our local community. Charity Chics honors Fulfill Your Destiny for it’s philanthropic contributions.
INSPIRED BY HER
Getaway Fitness HER HEALTH Magazine
Inspired by HER recognizes amazing women who are survivors. Getaway Fitness proudly recognizes Karen Mertes in our feature Inspired by HER for her philanthropic efforts within the community.
BE MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL FINALIST
WEDU
This award recognizes an individual who has distinguished himself or herself in the nonprofit community by engaging entrepreneurial skills to build a successful nonprofit endeavor.
MVC – MOST VALUABLE CHIC
Charity Chics
“Karen has done an amazing job growing her non-profit over the past year and is to be commended by all for her dedication.” — Charity Chics.
BPW OUTSTANDING WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Business and Professional Women Tampa Bay
We honor Karen Mertes for her dedication and commitment to enrich the lives of people in and around Tampa Bay by bringing together business and community.
BAY NEWS 9 EVERYDAY HERO
Charity Chics
December 2013
Charity Chics presents Fulfill Your Destiny with our 2013 Gift of Generosity Award for Fulfill Your Destiny’s extensive contributions to our greater Tampa Bay community. Fulfill Your Destiny has made many significant positive impacts some of which have even been life changing for a number of it’s recipients in our local community. Charity Chics honors Fulfill Your Destiny for it’s philanthropic contributions.
CHAPTER HONORS AWARD
eWomen Network Tampa/St. Petersburg Chapter
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS INAUGURAL HONOREE
Centre Club Executive Women’s Council
AWARDS GIVEN BY FULFILL YOUR DESTINY
Fulfill Your Destiny presents H.E.R.O. – ‘Hands Eagerly Reach Out’ Awards to businesses, individuals and organizations who have been instrumental in providing opportunities for Fulfill Your Destiny to carry out its mission and assist others. When we dare to care, our hands eagerly reach out to help others in need. Imagine how strong every community can become if hands eagerly reach out to help others when and where needed.
Many of these recipients have donated money and/or in-kind services to Fulfill Your Destiny enabling us to better help those individuals and organizations receiving assistance from Fulfill Your Destiny.
Listed here are those businesses, individuals and organizations that have received Fulfill Your Destiny’s H.E.R.O. Award:
Businesses:
- Seven Marketing & PR
- Fox Fitness
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Kendra Scott
- Richter Publishing
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Invent Your Image
- Balanced Accounting and Tax Services
- Sew Be It
- Jennie’s Flowers
- The Empress Tea Room & Event Dining
- Independent Financial Services
- Macy’s Westshore
- Minuteman Press of Town & Country
- Canvas Zoo
- Painting With a Twist
- The Manhattan
- MamaRazzi Foto
- Whiskey Joe’s
- Powell & Espat
- Charity Chics
- Doormet
- The Rolling Pin
- tcP! sweets
- Mary Ann Halpin Photography
- Julie Heidelberg
- Terri Sullivan
- Bobbie Williams
- South Tampa Chamber of Commerce 19th Annual Fall Golf Classic Committee
- Wheels of Success
- Tampa Bay Lightning
