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Our mission

The Empowerment Project aims to positively impact the lives of others by providing inspirational programming and events to children and young adults that foster a sense of strength, confidence, belonging, and joy.

Our values

Inspiration

We create opportunities to educate, excite, and encourage.

Movement

We promote the benefits of physical activity on overall health and wellness.

Inclusion

We nurture a sense of connection and belonging.

Mentorship

We provide opportunities to connect with positive role models for motivation and guidance.

Leadership

We cultivate the skills to become leaders in life—self-awareness, self-confidence, responsibility, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Community

We identify synergies to bring people together and strengthen the power that comes from working together for a common good.

About Daniele Bonafiglia

Inspired by the community and mentors that shaped her own personal and professional journey, Daniele began The Empowerment Project as a way to positively impact the lives of others by providing inspirational events and programming that foster a sense of strength, confidence, belonging, and joy for children and young adults.

Daniele’s passion for The Empowerment Project comes from her own involvement in sports, the friendship and skills it built, and the role models who encouraged her along the way. She is steadfast in believing that her participation in sports shaped her leadership skills, built her grit and determination, and nurtured her critical ability to work as part of a team.

Her continuing love of sports has also kept her active into her adult life, inspiring a joy of running and triathlons, developing her motivational speaking on the benefits of sports for girls in particular, and her ongoing commitment to coaching youth in several sports.

Daniele graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduation, she joined BonaDent Dental Laboratories in Seneca Falls, New York— her family’s nationally respected business—and opened BonaDent’s onsite childcare facility, The Learning Tree. Her desire to become fully engaged in her family’s business has led to leadership roles in Finance, Business Development, Operations, and eventually to her current position as President & CEO.