Tamara Habib
No one expects someone who endured three rounds of chemotherapy to have the time -- or energy -- to raise money for their cause. Tamara Habib apparently didn't receive that message. Diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20s, she raised over $100,000 for the Avon Foundation for Breast Cancer.
Even more resiliently, however, Tamara has turned that energy for fighting personal disaster into helping with disaster relief on a large scale. She literally embodies repairing the world, having assisted with relief and recovery efforts for 12 national disasters and through Firelily, a crowdfunding platform she co-founded that allows individuals affected by disaster to raise funds to rebuild their lives. A regular volunteer with the American Red Cross, Tamara also donates a percentage of Firelily's revenue to local Red Cross chapters.
Age:
30
Primary gig:
CEO and Co-Founder at Firelily
On the side:
Consultant in emergency planning and response for governments, nonprofit organizations and early childhood education centers.
Relationship status:
Engaged
How do you give back?
Giving back is deeply engrained within my life. I own and operate a social enterprise that helps people recover from disasters, ensuring access to financial, educational and emotional resources. I’m an active volunteer with the American Red Cross, helping to fundraise and increase millennial involvement through the Auxiliary Society. I actively fundraised to support breast cancer in 2012 and 2013, putting together a team that raised more than $100,000 for the Avon Foundation. I’m also a donor for several causes that are important to me, including the World Jewish Congress, Planned Parenthood and the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation to support childhood diabetes.
Describe yourself in 10 words or less:
Passionate entrepreneur dedicated to helping others.
Chicago's Jewish community in 10 years:
Thriving. Many of the people I meet at 20s/30s events at Temple Sholom are dedicated to ensuring the survival and growth of the Jewish community in Chicago. It gives me great hope that in 10 years the Jewish community in Chicago will serve as leaders in philanthropy and giving back in the future.
