Rising Stars Co-Founder Paul Savramis Promotes Empowerment Workshop for Girls

Young women have so many obstacles in their path as they try to define “beauty,” says Paul Savramis, co-founder of Rising Stars Foundation. Airbrushed magazine covers and other altered realities make it difficult to know what real beauty looks like, or that it comes from within. Recently, Rising Stars hosted “Beautiful Me,” a workshop for girls aged 10 to 17 to help them discover what is really beautiful about themselves. Here, Savramis addresses the issue and explains the program.

Q: How did the participants define beauty of the beginning of the program versus the end?

Paul Savramis: We asked over 60 female student-athletes from early adolescence through the age of 17 to describe beauty. At first, names of celebrities were tossed around, and not much else. However, once these young ladies were offered a different perspective, they began to understand the value of their own unique looks and personalities. At the end, each girl had a list of beautiful things about themselves to reflect upon.

Q: Why is it so important to focus on individuality in girls?

Paul Savramis: Teenage girls are statistically more prone to depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse than their same-age male counterparts. This is largely due to the pressure these girls feel to be “perfect” like the women they are compared to on television. A single “flaw,” whether it’s a few extra pounds or an out of place birthmark can make a young woman feel like less of a person.

Q: How did the workshop advocate teamwork?

Paul Savramis: All of our programs at Rising Stars center on working utilizing the power of teams to bring youth and families together and try to  make the world a better place. We teach our student-athletes the value in maintaining diverse relationships and focusing on a common goal.

Q: What is the Hance Family Foundation?

Paul Savramis: Our partner, the Hance Family Foundation, is a charity founded by Warren and Jackie Hance to honor the memory of their three young daughters, who tragically died in a vehicle accident in 2009. Funds raised by the program are used to provide resources for innovative self-esteem programs geared toward young girls.