HISTORY
AWOM, an acronym for Angel Watching Over Me, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Sarah Akiba, 27 year old, power house from Paris, France raised in Miami, FL who lost her father to lung cancer in 2013.
She started this foundation in honor of her father, Charlie Akiba, who passed away from lung cancer. Knowing what it felt like to need others supports and what felt humanely right to her was being a voice for others when they did not have one of their own.
Over the course of the years AWOM has grown from support groups for people who have lost a loved one, AWOM Girls Club to building a girls club room in a public school, and AWOM relief which spheres campaigns and finds solutions for others who have experienced hardship.
The lives that have impacted to date have set so many up for the success they need to have a better tomorrow. Whether it’s a single mother that needs a place to sleep, a life changing medical procedure, or a hurricane that devastated your home, we want to be able to place others in a position to continue after enduring such tragedies in their life because we BELIEVE with community and communication we can help one another.
AWOM has grown to a fierce embodiment of women that are true warriors in their own trade. Sarah Akiba has started a movement that will go down in history and with YOUR help we can do so much more.
2013
Sarah lost her father to Lung Cancer and started hashtag #ANGELWATCHINGOVERME which goes viral on social media.
2017
The first ever fashion show for inner city school girls to build self confidence, self love, and togetherness. AWOM Girls Club a monthly group is brought to life at Olsen Middle School with 60 students. We feed 50 families for Thanksgiving with full meal and table decor in Broward County for Thanksgiving.
2020
As the whole world was forced socially distance, support became more important than ever. all program went virtual, but we were grateful to fall back on our beautiful awom community! girls club grew to include south broward high school, transforming girls club into a beautiful community of over 330 girls aged 11-18. unable to host our annual gala, awom hosted “awom week” in collaboration with the Miami Design District, a week of fun, mindfulness, and excitement that allowed us to feed over 250 families for thanksgiving!
2015
Sarah designs an Angel Watching Over Me hat that sells out and donates all the funds to two different lung cancer associations.
2018
Girls Club becomes a weekly affair and grows to 179 students every Friday. The first annual AWOM Gala raises $23,000. We provide 200 families with full meals and table decor in Broward County for Thanksgiving. AWOM Flow, a monthly yoga class for our girls club comes to life.
2016
The AWOM Foundation becomes an official 501(c)(3) non profit organization and hosts monthly support groups for people who have lost a loved one. Our annual halloween party with Joe DiMaggio Children Hospital comes alive!
2019
The first AWOM Girls Club Room, safe space for middle school girls, is built at Olsen Middle School in Broward County.
Our amazing female board is created. AWOM Girls Club fall reaches 220 students every friday.
We raise 2.2 Million Dollars for a young girl in need of special medication with SMA2. AWOM the brand comes to life to raise funds.