We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Bowman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.
Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose at the very moment when my life felt the most broken. Leaving domestic violence, battling addiction, becoming homeless with my two daughters, and then facing the unimaginable pain of losing them to DCF shattered every piece of who I thought I was. But in that darkness, I discovered the first step toward purpose: I had to learn to love myself enough to ask for help.
Treatment gave me clarity. Sobriety gave me strength. And the community that wrapped its arms around me gave me hope. As I rebuilt my life one day at a time, I realized my purpose wasn’t something I needed to search for—it was something I was becoming.
My healing became my calling. The same compassion that helped save my life became the foundation of One Heart. What began as me trying to stand back up turned into a mission to help others rise.
I found my purpose by choosing love—love for myself, love for my children, and love for every person who feels unseen. And today, that purpose continues to grow every time I offer a hug, a meal, or a moment of hope.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Professionally, my heart lives inside the work I get to do every single day. I am the founder and CEO of One Heart for Women and Children, now the largest food pantry in Orange County, Florida, serving more than 20,000 people each month. What makes this work so special is that it was born from lived experience—once homeless, lost in addiction, and fighting to rebuild my life, I made a promise that if I ever stood back up, I would reach back for as many people as I could. Today, that promise is a full-scale movement of hope.
I am also a certified life coach, philanthropist, speaker, and soon-to-be published author. My upcoming book and my retreats focus on healing from within, reclaiming your power, and stepping into the life you were meant to live. I’ve been honored to share my message on national platforms like People Magazine, Good Morning America, and The Kelly Clarkson Show—and each opportunity has helped amplify the truth that anything is possible when love leads the way.
What excites me most is the transformation I see: families experiencing hope again, women rediscovering their worth, and communities coming together with compassion. We are currently expanding our programs, launching new empowerment workshops, hosting retreats, and preparing to grow our food pantry operations to meet the rising need in Central Florida.
At the heart of everything I do is one mission: Ending hunger. Building community. Empowering hope.
It’s more than a tagline—it’s my life’s work, and the most beautiful part is that it’s only just beginning.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Resilience — the ability to get back up, again and again.
My journey taught me that resilience isn’t something you’re born with — it’s built every time you choose hope over fear. When I was homeless, battling addiction, and fighting to reunite with my children, resilience became my lifeline. For anyone early in their journey: start small. Practice getting back up. Every comeback builds your confidence.
2. Compassion — for others, but first for myself.
I couldn’t help anyone until I learned to love myself enough to heal. Compassion is what turned my pain into purpose and my story into service. To develop this skill, give yourself grace. Speak to yourself the way you’d speak to someone you love. When we learn to care for our own heart, we can care for the world with deeper impact.
3. Vision — seeing beyond the moment you’re in.
One Heart began with nothing more than a dream to give others the support I once needed. Vision allowed me to build Orange County’s largest food pantry and become a life coach, speaker, and author. My advice: dream boldly, even when your circumstances whisper otherwise. Hold the picture of the life you want, and walk toward it one step at a time.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely. Collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. One Heart for Women and Children was built on the belief that together, we can do far more than we ever could alone. I’m always looking to partner with individuals, brands, and organizations who share a passion for ending hunger, building community, and empowering hope — those who want to make a tangible difference in the lives of families across Central Florida and beyond.
I also love collaborating with leaders and creatives who are committed to personal growth, storytelling, wellness, and empowerment — the kind of people who believe in lifting others as they rise. Whether it’s through retreats, speaking events, brand partnerships, or community initiatives, I welcome opportunities that align with love, impact, and purpose.
If you’re reading this and feel called to make a difference, I’d love to connect. You can reach me and my team through [email protected]
or visit www.helponeheart.org
to learn how we can join hearts and create lasting change together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helponeheart.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneheartmatters/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneHeartMatters/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/16090018/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@helponeheart
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