Mom and daughter pay it forward

Women with a Purpose was started by the mother-daughter combo of Stacey Nami and Andrea Nami-Paprocka.

The organization was founded in 2009 with a goal to help families, individuals and local businesses in great need or distress.

"We have always been of the philosophy to pay it forward, help someone in need, and give back to your community," Nami-Paprocka said.

The group has grown from 23 members to more than 2,000 local women around Mercer and Burlington Counties. They have raised and donated over $300,000 to date.

"We're helping local families and supporting local businesses," she said.

Each month, Women with a Purpose hold a fundraiser dinner, which draws about 150-200 guests. The event features discounted rates and a way to have some fun and network while giving back.

A local family or person are honored at the dinner each month. The recipient takes home the money that was raised that night.

"These families often are living with serious illness or experienced a catastrophic event, such as a house fire," Nami-Paprocka said.

This month's dinner, which is being held on Monday, April 27 at The Stone Terrace in Hamilton, will support Morgan Ackerman, a 5-year-old Bordentown girl. She has battled ailments her entire life and the latest affliction she faces is leukemia, which requires Morgan to take 40 different types of medications.

"The family's medical bills are overwhelming and we are honored to have the chance to help such a cute little girl and her family at our April 27 dinner at Stone Terrace in Hamilton, NJ," Nami-Paprocka said.

In addition to the transparency of Women with a Purpose, a big appeal is the fact that 100 percent of the donations go towards helping these community members in need.

Find out more about this great Garden State group and their upcoming event by visiting the Women with Purpose website and Facebook page.