In their ongoing mission to provide hope, healing and security to Forsyth County residents who are victims of domestic interpersonal violence, Family Services recently partnered with World Champion Boxer Heather “The Heat” Hardy to help raise awareness for their new emergency domestic violence shelter.
A former World Boxing Organization Champion, Heather held the female featherweight title from 2018 to 2019 and is a member of the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.
She’s also a survivor of domestic violence.
As the keynote speaker at the Family Services Foundation Women’s Luncheon in May, Heather shared honest words of encouragement based on her unique brand of empowerment. What she shares – as she approaches the topic of domestic violence – is that resilience isn’t something you’re born with, but something you build one hard day at a time.
“I know what it feels like to be in situations where you feel trapped, scared or alone,” she shares. “I also know how hard it is to ask for help, and I want women to understand strength comes in different forms. Sometimes strength is leaving. Sometimes it’s starting over. Sometimes it’s surviving one more day until you’re ready.”
Heather says she once thought strength meant taking a punch and still being able to stay standing.
“Now I know real strength is choosing yourself, choosing peace and choosing a better future, even when it’s scary,” she shares. “What Family Services is building here goes way beyond four walls. It’s safety, dignity, hope and a fresh start for women and children who need it most. If this new shelter helps even one woman realize she has somewhere safe to go – that matters deeply. And, if sharing parts of my story helps another woman realize she deserves better, then it’s worth it. No one deserves to live in fear.”
Heather was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the place she still calls home. “It shaped me, toughened me and made me who I am. There’s an energy to Brooklyn that stays with you. You learn how to fight for yourself early, how to work hard and how to keep showing up no matter what life throws at you. That mindset carried me through my entire career,” she adds.
That career began when her sister presented her with a gift certificate to a kickboxing gym. She quickly found her niche, and three weeks later, she stepped into her first fight. “The second I got in the ring, something clicked for me. I knew this was what I was meant to do – and that one day I’d become a world champion,” she shares.
The origin of her nickname “The Heat” is two-fold – representing the first part of her name, as well as how she approaches every fight. “I’m a pressure fighter. I come forward. I bring the heat.”
Heather currently trains clients by appointment at the historic Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and travels the region for private sessions and classes. Her training techniques place a heavy emphasis on endurance and stamina, using the mind to push the body past where it wants to go. She’s also found a passion for speaking to young girls and women’s groups – encouraging them to fight for their dreams. “There’s something powerful about watching people realize they’re stronger than they think,” she adds. “Sometimes boxing has nothing to do with throwing punches. It’s about confidence, discipline and believing in yourself again.”
Looking back on her career, there’s an easy answer for what has inspired Heather most – her daughter, Annie. “Everything I fought for was about building a better life for her. Boxing gave me opportunities I never imagined, and being able to give my daughter stability, experiences and a beautiful life means more to me than any title ever could. Being her mom will always be the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”
Some difficult lessons learned through her own life have taught Heather to never stop fighting – a mantra she hopes to impart on others. “No matter how hard things get, keep moving. Life is going to hit you sometimes. People are going to doubt you. You’re going to doubt yourself. My grandmother used to say, ‘God brings you to it, because He’s going to bring you through it.’ Strength isn’t always about fighting back. Sometimes it’s just refusing to quit.”
For more information on Family Services – which has served the area for 120 years – visit familyservicesforsyth.org or reach them at 336.722.8173. Follow Heather’s own empowering mission at heather-hardy.com.
Family Services operates Forsyth County’s only 24/7 Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 336.723.8125. At approximately 30,000 square feet, the new domestic violence shelter will double the current shelter capacity – from 75 residents to 150 – and will allow accommodations for women with three or more children. Designed around trauma-informed architecture with input from survivors, the shelter will also feature onsite transitional pet housing – addressing a key barrier that keeps many survivors from leaving abusive situations. To learn more about the ongoing capital campaign for the new shelter, visit giveonestepcloser.org.
