Fanchon Stinger has spent much of her adult life mentoring young women, dating back to her days as a broadcaster in Indianapolis, when those days were winding down, she had a burning desire to take that encouragement nationwide.
That mission is what became Grit & Grace, Stinger’s organization that equips young ladies to lead with courage and become leaders.
“There needs to be intentional mentoring, encouragement, love, opportunities, regardless of who they are, where they come from any of those things,” Stinger said. “I know the power of the encouragement and nutriment my parents gave me. Not every young lady is getting that same thing.”
In recent years, suicide and depression rates among young girls have gone up, which has only made Stinger more entrenched in her mission to spread faith, family and freedom.
“I don’t want to continue to see young ladies on the news or in stories with a tragic end,” she said. “It doesn’t have to happen, if those of us who will commit to pouring in some of the lessons and wisdoms we’ve learned, we can give young ladies all across this country to be encouraged and an opportunity to be rewarded for making the right choices.”
The PBR works closely with Grit & Grace, which at first seems like an odd match. But for Stinger, bull riding is a metaphor for life. You’re going to have heartbreak, you’re going to get knocked down, you’re going to get stomped on.
“What do we always see with a bull rider, we see them do what? Fight to get back up, never quit, ride to the end,” Stinger said. “That’s the visual I want these young ladies to walk through life with.”