Marie Renee Pringle is the Founder and CEO of the Nine Step Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, mental health awareness, grief support, youth empowerment, and community outreach.
 

Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Marie spent part of her childhood in Brooklyn, New York, where she was immersed in a diverse and vibrant community before eventually returning to her hometown. Throughout her life, she has demonstrated resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to serving others.
 

Marie has been married for 15 years and shared 26 years with her life partner. Together they raised three children and have been blessed with five grandchildren. Professionally, she has spent more than 20 years as a commercial truck driver, a career she proudly embraces. Prior to that, she worked as a machine operator with Cooper Tools. Beyond her profession, Marie enjoys shopping, couponing, listening to audiobooks, and investing in personal growth through organizations such as the Eastern Star and Inspired Women.
 

While her accomplishments are many, it is her personal journey that has become the driving force behind her life's mission.
 

At the age of sixteen, Marie experienced the heartbreaking loss of her mother to breast cancer. Years later, she faced the passing of her father due to heart failure. Like many, she quietly carried the weight of grief while continuing to move forward with life.
 

On September 29, 2021, Marie experienced the greatest tragedy of her life when she lost her beloved daughter to suicide. That profound loss forever changed her life and became the catalyst for a greater purpose.

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Rather than allowing grief to define her future, Marie chose to transform her pain into purpose. She founded the Nine Step Foundation to create a place where individuals and families could find hope, compassion, education, and support during life's most difficult moments. Through the foundation, she is committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging honest conversations about suicide prevention, supporting families navigating grief, and providing practical resources that strengthen communities.

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Today, Marie's greatest passion is helping others understand that healing is possible and that no one should have to walk through life's challenges alone. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, hope can emerge, lives can be transformed, and purpose can be found.

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"Every step forward is a step toward healing. Every life matters. Together, we can turn pain into purpose."