(Black PR Wire) Northern Virginia – U.S. Navy veteran and financial strategist Pepper Bethel has launched a bold fundraising campaign to become one of the few Black woman veteran owners of a legacy accounting and financial planning firm in the United States. Her journey, from growing up in South Central Los Angeles to serving overseas and now preparing to acquire a respected business, is the heart of her new initiative: FromService2CEO.

Pepper is raising $350,000 to purchase TPI Group, Inc., a 30-year-old Northern Virginia-based firm that has served thousands of small businesses, families, and community organizations. The funds will help finalize the purchase, retain the firm’s 15-person staff, and expand services to underserved entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses.

“I grew up with a single mother on welfare in South LA. I knew I had to break that cycle,” says Bethel. “I joined the Navy at 18, served in Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and Japan, and carried those values of discipline and service into the world of finance.”

With over 23 years of experience in financial planning, tax strategy, government contracting, and business consulting, Bethel has spent her career helping others grow and protect their financial futures. Now, she’s stepping into ownership to build a lasting legacy for her family and community.

Through her platform FromService2CEO.com, Bethel shares her story and invites the public to contribute to her vision of empowerment and equity. The fundraiser is hosted on GoFundMe and Givebutter, with every donation supporting her mission to create jobs, mentor new entrepreneurs, and lead with purpose.

“This is bigger than business. It’s about representation. It’s about showing the next generation that we can own, lead, and build legacy—on our own terms.”

Bethel encourages supporters to give, share her story, and connect her with grantmakers, community partners, and corporate sponsors.