The 2026 "This is Alabama Women Who Shape the State" initiative honors 25 Alabama trailblazers, and for the first time in 2026, it featured a "Future Leader" category for high school and college-aged women making significant community impacts. Callie Chapman was honored to receive this honor for her Glitter for a Cause. Callie Chapman has donated over $20,000 to Children's Hospitals for art therapy programs. Callie has also donated hundreds of books to the Jefferson County Family Courts to help promote reading as well as give comfort to children while they wait. Callie also goes into schools to talk about her message. Dream Big. You are never too small to do bug things.

TheYouthServe Impact Award, part of the annual Youth In Service Awards in Birmingham, Alabama, celebrates middle and high school students who lead high-impact, youth-led service projects addressing community needs. Launched in 2022, these awards honor projects demonstrating significant, measurable results and creativity in community improvement.

Key Aspects of the Impact Award

• Purpose: Recognizes student projects that create meaningful change, often focusing on community service, environmentalism, and advocacy.

Recipients: Awarded to individuals or teams who demonstrate leadership, community, and innovation in their volunteer efforts.

2026 Winner: The 5th annual 2026 Impact Award winner was Glitter for a Cause, recognized for its significant reach and success in community impact.

Recently Glitter for a Cause has spread into new ways of helping kids in need. 

But here is some background 

A couple of years ago, Governor Ivey test all counties CPC‘s in the state of Alabama with the campaign for grade level reading. The children’s policy cooperative of Jefferson County has several initiatives for addressing and supporting grade level reading. The most recent reading initiative is a children’s book vending machine project at Jefferson County Family Court 

A family friend that works with the Birmingham Junior League told my mom and I about the purchase of these vending machines. The vending machines are there for the children that go into family court but specifically their target audience is anywhere from toddler to 6th grade. There they will receive a token which they can use to pick out a book they can keep for free and read while they are waiting in family court and at home. Because of these vending machines families can provide their kids with vital learning materials to boost their reading skills and can escape into any magical world they choose through the power of story telling. Back in August I started donating my five books to the Jefferson County Family courts. Kids now walking through hard days can hold onto something hopeful and uplifting. 

Ivy loves the story and yells “Unicorn!” everytime I turn the page. For me the attraction is in the storytelling. You can truly see that it’s been written by a child with a fantastic imagination, and
her enthusiasm jumps off every page. It’s all tied together with beautiful illustrations – by Callie’s mum Bronwyne – which capture the spirit of Glitter and Ellie (and Callie!) perfectly.

-Ivy’s Library

Callie Visit's Elementary School - Callie speaks to K-3rd grade on how she was inspired to become an author. How she writes her stories and creates them into award winning children's books. She also shares her message to Dream Big! You are never to small to do big things. Be kind, Be happy and most of all be yourself.

Callie donates her proceeds to Children's Hospital. Take a look at Village Living Online for a great article about Callie and her books.

Callie Chapman is the creater-author of all the wonderful adventures of Glitter the Unicorn, Ellie and Chandler The Best Unicorn rider. Her mother, Bronwyne, is the illustrator. Callie and Bronwyne create the illustrations for all of Callie's books. They both have won 5 or more awards for their design work.

Callie has been featured in a wonderful children's book series called Young Change Makers by Stacy C. Bauer. The series is about kids from all over the world making a difference in the world. Check it out!

Callie has won the Bill Moran Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award for outstanding youth in philantropy in the state of Alabama for the year 2021. Congrats Callie!