Heidi Breeze-Harris
Cofounder and executive director of One by One
Nominated and chosen by Cookiemag.com readers
Mother of Coleman, 2
"When I was three months pregnant, I saw a special on Oprah about obstetric fistula, a traumatic childbearing injury caused by protracted labor that affects women in developing countries, causing them to leak waste and often be cast out of their communities. It woke up an old part of me. I thought, This whole thing about the women and the girls getting the short end of the stick, I'm so over it! With my best friend, Katya Matanovic, who has a background in nonprofit work, I began doing research, and in March 2005 we launched One by One in Seattle, under the fiscal sponsorship of the U.N. Foundation. And it just exploded. We were amazed at how many people walked in the door, wanting to give money but also wanting to give in other ways. Doctors volunteered to perform surgeries; architects offered to help build clinics. We developed giving circles where 10 people give $30 each—totaling the cost of one fistula surgery—and basically save a woman's life. Our primary purpose will always be to help women suffering from fistula, but we also want to help people in the developed world feel like they can contribute—yes, Warren Buffett is giving $10 billion, but $10 can still make a difference."
Next Page: Liya Kebede
