Billie Carson was just 15 years old when she lost her mother. Years later, that loss would inspire something she never could have imagined at the time: Amor Fati Headstone Cleaning, a West Michigan business dedicated to honoring the lives and stories of those we love.
“Amor Fati” means “love of one’s fate.” Billie’s business provides headstone cleaning and memorial care, helping families ensure a loved one’s resting place is remembered with dignity.
But before Billie became an entrepreneur, she took another courageous step.
Billie was one of five women selected for the pilot of Cleaning for HOPE, the first workforce pathway of HOPE Workforce Institute. The program was designed to do more than teach cleaning skills. Women received workforce training, hands-on experience through paid internships and support as they prepared for sustainable employment.
As Billie progressed through the program, however, something became clear: She had a vision for a business of her own.
So, the pathway evolved with her.
Instead of simply preparing Billie to work for someone else, the HOPE team walked alongside her through the business process, helping her turn a deep personal idea into a viable next step.
Billie graduated from the pilot in April. Three other graduates are now employed by local cleaning companies, and two plan to pursue college in the future. And Billie’s entrepreneurial journey revealed another opportunity.
Today, entrepreneurship is becoming part of the pathway. All three women completing Cleaning for HOPE’s first 2026 cohort have started LLCs of their own! That’s what creating opportunity can look like. It isn’t deciding someone’s destination. It’s providing skills, resources and support—and walking beside her as she discovers where opportunity can lead.
On October 22, Billie will take another walk—this time down the runway during the Walk of HOPE at Fashion for a Future 2026. She’ll join other women whose journeys embody the evening’s theme: “Celebrating Courage. Creating Opportunity.”
Photo courtesy of Inspired Media.
Guests can celebrate their accomplishments while enjoying a strolling dinner, local fashion, and celebrity models—and help create opportunity for the women who come next.
Every raffle ticket purchased, silent auction bid, and gift during the Fund Her Future live giving experience helps provide education, workforce training, and practical support for more West Michigan women.
Come celebrate Billie’s courage—and meet the entrepreneur behind Amor Fati.
Fashion for a Future 2026
October 22 | 6–9 p.m. | Goei Center
Purchase tickets, donate, and learn more.
Written by Dr. Carla Ludwig, Founder and Executive Director of HOPE for Single Moms.
Courtesy of Hope for Single Moms.
Main photo courtesy of Beloved Photography.