Program helps women facing adversity

CELINA - A Celina woman has started a nonprofit organization, Project Everybody Beautiful, to help women overcome obstacles and feel beautiful from the inside out.

When Kristin Rutledge and her husband, Gregg, started F45 Training in Celina three years ago, Rutledge said she envisioned the gym becoming "a safe place where people struggling with bad addictions can turn their addiction into a healthy, fit addiction."

Probation officers coincidentally began working out at the gym and partnered with her to develop a court-ordered class for juveniles on probation.

"We saw positive changes and encouraging results," Rutledge said. "Kids who first walked in wearing jeans and street shoes are now wearing athletic apparel, tennis shoes and smiles."

Rutledge said she was inspired by the results and wanted to take it a step further. So she began rewarding the hardest-working girls inside and outside of the gym with free hair services at her salon, Identity Salon, in downtown Celina.

Rutledge still wanted to do more, however, and envisioned Project Everybody Beautiful, which would "help every woman overcome abuse, addiction and unfortunate circumstances."

She developed a clothing line to raise funds for the organization. A percentage of each purchase helps provide free services at the salon to girls who need it the most, she said.

Rutledge said PEB so far has provided services to more than 1,200 women. One of them is her friend, Paige Waterman, 31, a recovering addict who lives in Celina.

Waterman said she started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol when she was a teenager. As Waterman got older, she experimented with other drugs. Her drug use affected her daily life and she became dependent on it, she said.

"This wasn't the life I wanted to live," she said. "I struggled with all of the questions of 'can I do this?' "

Waterman said she was in jail in 2016, and Rutledge reached out to her to offer support. She also offered Waterman a haircut and color.

"It helped give (me) more self confidence," Waterman recalled.

She now has been sober for two years and stressed, "I am worth the fight."  

"I have finally got my life back and actually living," she said. "I am paying bills, and I have a job that I love going to every day. I actually enjoy waking up every day clean and sober."

Stylists Alyssa Hines, 21, and Haley Dicke, 20, both said helping the women regain their confidence has been a rewarding experience.

"It's nice to learn everybody's story and learn where they've come from and where they are now," Hines said.

Dicke agreed, saying "it's inspiring to see them go from the bottom to where they are now."

The nonprofit has partnered with Olive and Ash owner Stacey Brunswick in downtown Celina to offer a giveaway. They want the public to nominate a woman "who has risen above, is seeing her way out of addiction, abuse or any unfortunate situation and someone you consider a survivor."

Brunswick said she feels passionate about the cause because "someone in my family has been through hard times and is doing great now."

"It's great seeing that transition. It shows them they are worthy and gives them a boost of confidence. When you look good, you feel good," she added.

The winner will receive a free haircut/color and manicure/pedicure, as well as be styled from top to bottom at Olive and Ash.

Nominations can be sent to Project Everybody Beautiful, 105 N. Walnut St., Celina, OH 45822 or Projectb@yahoo.com.

All nominations must be received by Dec. 20, and the winner will be announced on Christmas Day, Rutledge said.

"This woman deserves to have her confidence boosted," she added.