From left: Amy Heilman from First United Bank, Unsung Hero Antoinette Sailor, Wayne Brandt and Ben Bergstrom from Devils Lake Cars. First United Bank (formerly Ramsey National Bank & Trust) and Bergstrom Cars have co-sponsored the Unsung Hero Award in the Lake Region for many years.

From left: Amy Heilman from First United Bank, Unsung Hero Antoinette Sailor, Wayne Brandt and Ben Bergstrom from Devils Lake Cars. First United Bank (formerly Ramsey National Bank & Trust) and Bergstrom Cars have co-sponsored the Unsung Hero Award in the Lake Region for many years.

An Unsung Hero is defined as someone that goes above and beyond by volunteering and helping and whose spirit of giving is inspiring and contagious. This perfectly describes our latest Unsung Hero, Antoinette Sailor!

Antoinette has been quietly volunteering in our community for several years but her latest volunteer endeavor has reached the heart strings of many young girls in our community.

BIO Girls was started two years ago in Devils Lake. (BIO stands for Beautiful Inside and Out.) Antoinette recalls receiving a call from Margie Yanish who asked her to be a Co-Director of BIO Girls. Her first thought was “I don’t think I have any hours left in my day to give.” Antoinette is a woman of prayer so she placed it before God and a few things fell off her plate, so she said YES!

BIO Girls is an organization that offers a preventative mental wellness program with the mission of improving self-esteem among adolescent girls.

Along with Antoinette and Co-Director Margie Yanish, there are also 10 other adult volunteers that serve as mentors to facilitate the program. Each week the participants meet and discuss life-skills, Christian non-denominational devotions, small-group mentoring, and participate in a non-competitive physical activity. At the conclusion of the program, the whole group participates in a 5K, where the only goal is completion.

“My involvement with BIO girls was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!” says Antointette. Each week she gets to see girls that are gaining confidence, talking, laughing and developing healthy friendships with other girls in the program. “Our youth today face many challenges and stressful situations; at BIO girls we discuss ways to handle different situations as well as cope with things they are facing on a daily basis. Plus, we have lots of fun and laughs along the way!”

“It’s amazing to me to see the progress in the girls over the course of the program. It’s so fun when I see the girls in public and they run up to me and give me a hug! We’ve even had girls that have went through the program come back and volunteer! It’s really the kids that make this program successful,” said Sailor.

The program is offered annually and consists of one 12-week session which starts in the Spring and offers various levels of participation fees for participants, making it financially accessible to all. In total, it costs $4,000 to run each year. “Western State Bank and the Lake Region Community Fund have graciously supported our program in the past but we will never turn down donations!” The program fills up quickly but parents/grandparents/guardians are encouraged to watch their Facebook page for registration dates. Students also bring home flyers which give program details and information about the application process.

“We would like to start a high school program but this requires a mental health professional to run the program.” If there’s anyone qualified and interested to help with the high school program, please reach out to Antoinette.

Aside from volunteering with BIO Girls, Antoinette is very involved at River of Life Church. She was the Women’s Ministry Lead for two years and has since moved into youth ministry. She also leads pre-service prayer for the children and leads a small group session every Wednesday.

Three years ago she (alongside an amazing friend) started a Saturday morning “Sisters Group.” They meet every Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. at Dunn Brothers coffee. It’s a bible study session and SO MUCH MORE – she says with a smile. “We talk about what God has revealed to us during the week and help each other walk through life’s ups and down. Anyone is welcome to come!”

Antoinette was also the past President and Vice President of the Optimist Club in Devils Lake. It isn’t surprising to find out her favorite event was the Easter Basket drive. “I really enjoyed assembling the baskets, knowing the joy it would bring to the children that received them,” said Sailor. Gift wrapping at Christmas was also a favorite.

As if she isn’t busy enough, Antoinette and her family served weekly suppers at the VFW for two years. “We did it as a family because we love our Veterans!”

Antoinette is married to Brandon and they have three children. When she isn’t volunteering her time helping others, she enjoys hanging with friends and family.

Thank you Antoinette for making the Lake Region a better place!!

If you have any questions about the BIO Girls program, Antoinette can be reached at 701-333- 8792.