Stacey herself was incarcerated from 2002 until 2004. During that time she and five other women developed the idea for a program that addresses the many issues that incarcerated women face both during and after serving their sentence. In 2003, they officially began the organization inside the prison and began to map out plans for helping women reenter society and lead successful lives so they never return to prison. Upon her release from prison, despite limited resources, Stacey and the small group of women - all single mothers - worked to rebuild their lives and launch Redeem-Her. While holding down a full-time job and with no compensation for her work on Redeem-Her, Stacey successfully opened two transitional houses.

In addition, Redeem-Her helps formerly incarcerated women secure work-appropriate clothing and transportation to and from their jobs. The transitional residences provide a safe haven for women and use educational sessions to help them develop the skills to become contributing members of society. This transitional housing and support program can be instrumental in helping women make important, positive life decisions and build productive lives.

Thanks to her Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund award, Stacey will be able to purchase computers, high speed Internet and a printer/copier/fax machine for the Redeem-Her transitional house. This will enable the women who are just released from prison to look for permanent housing, employment and reconnect with loved ones. Any remaining funds will be put towards opening another transitional housing location. Stacey, along with the volunteer workers of Redeem-Her, will be able to continue empowering women to make better choices on the path to becoming independent, useful members of society.

Stacey's winning application to the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund met the criteria of clearly presenting unique and achievable objectives to empower women or girls and ultimately improve society. It was selected from a pool of over 1300 strong contenders by an expert panel of judges, including personal finance expert, Suze Orman, actress Phylicia Rashad and Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York. "Women coming out of prison are extremely vulnerable without support and the opportunity to learn while planning their next steps," noted Sarah Ferguson. "I think group homes have the potential to change women's lives in lasting and powerful ways."