Company: Save Your Do LLC, Walnut Creek, CA, U.S.A
Company Description: Save Your Do GymWrap is a stylish headband developed with a patent- pending revolutionary Edge Control Technology that minimizes sweat absorption into one's hair through a unique blend of materials that allows heat to escape while letting cool air in. Founded in 2011, Save Your Do's mission is to help women enjoy life while giving back as 10% of proceeds benefit Sophie's Voice Foundation
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Consumer Products –10 or Less Employees

Nomination Title: Nicole Ari Parker, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur since the beginning of July last year (up to 500 words):

Save Your Do™ GymWrap is the brainchild of Nicole Ari Parker. Wife, mother, actress (currently on Broadway in “Streetcar Named Desire”), activist and fitness enthusiast Nicole Ari Parker has revolutionized the way women workout with her new product Save Your Do™ GymWrap. Designed for women, Parker honed in on an ongoing health issue amongst women and created a solution. As a first time entrepreneur, Parker has put time, sweat and capital into making Save Your Do™ GymWrap a reality.

The idea for Save Your Do™ GymWrap began in early 2011 when Parker developed a prototype at her kitchen table having noticed a common excuse emerge (herself included) from the busy everyday woman looking to workout. “Hair is an issue for most women and after washing, blow-drying, flat-ironing, curling, braiding, twisting and spending the time and money on it, who wants to mess it up by sweating and having to do it all over again?” explains Parker.

Parker could not have predicted what happened next. That summer, the Surgeon General issued a statement saying “...Women have got to stop using their hair as an excuse not to exercise.? The statement compounded by the growing statistics that 85% of women don’t work out because of their hair, accelerated Parker’s efforts to get the much needed Save Your Do™ GymWrap out in the market. This nationwide call to action really inspired Nicole to finish working on the GymWrap with her business partner and design team. As health issues had reached a state of emergency because of one little detail being hair, Nicole wanted to use her celebrity to bring forth a product to benefit the world.

Save Your Do™ GymWrap is available in three styles: Full Triangle Wrap, Wide Band and Narrow Band and comes in a variety of colors. Ideal for all lengths, styles and textures, Save Your Do™ GymWrap retails for $24.95 -$29.95 and is available at www.saveyourdo.com .

Save Your Do is a woman owned and run company with a charter to empower women through the Save Your Do™ GymWrap products. Launched at the World Famous Bronner Bros. International Hair Show in February in Atlanta, Parker has since sold 15,000 GymWraps online for sales just under $500,000 through PR and social media efforts alone (no paid advertising).

In addition, 10% of proceeds from Save Your Do™ GymWrap benefit Sophie’s Voice Foundation (www.sophiesvoicefoundation.org), a non-profit organization founded by Parker and her husband, Boris Kodjoe, in honor of their daughter Sophie who was diagnosed with Spina Bifida at birth. Sophie’s Voice Foundation (SVF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to elevate the quality of life for children and adults diagnosed with spina bifida and to raise awareness of its prevention. SVF has established a national Center for Spina Bifida Research, Prevention and Policy in Atlanta, which is a partnership with Emory University and the CDC.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

As a seven-time NAACP Image Award nominee, Nicole is best known for her outstanding performance as ‘Teri Joseph’ of Showtime’s award winning original series “Soul Food”. This year she made her Broadway debut as “Blanche DuBois” in the Tennessee Williams’ production A Streetcar Named Desire opposite Blair Underwood.

Nicole established Sophie’s Voice Foundation a non-profit she and husband Boris Kodjoe started to raise awareness about children and adults living with Spina Bifida.

Nicole has been honored at the Heart & Soul Awards for her focus on health and wellness and received the Diamond Award from the Women Empowering Women Organization.