Grant Initiative
Beauty does not care about age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Beauty is inclusive, and it’s this spirit of inclusivity upon which Anastasia Beverly Hills was founded. It has been a cornerstone of our brand since the beginning, embedded into our approach in everything from representation to shade range, encouraging an unwavering resolve that beauty is for everyone.
Yes, we are in the business of beauty. But I have always said that what makes you feel beautiful can also make you powerful. I am so proud to be using the power of our brand in this way.
On June 1, we pledged one million dollars towards the fight against social injustice. We began with a combined donation of $100,000 to The Innocence Project, The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Black Visions Collective, The Marshall Project, United Friends of Children, Unicorn Riot Minneapolis, Take Action Minnesota, and Black Lives Matter. We vowed to remain constant and vocal supporters of equality, and we vowed to use our platform and our privilege to amplify the voices of marginalized groups that deserve to be heard.
We knew we wanted to continue by making a meaningful difference at the community level, and so we allocated the remainder of the funds across three important categories: We donated $450k specifically to organizations focusing on mental health, and social initiatives. With the help of our committee, ABH decided to donate to the following causes:
The Loveland Foundation
50k was donated to the Loveland Foundation. Established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle, the Loveland Foundation brings opportunity and healing to communities of color through fellowships, residency programs, and listening tours. Her activist and academic work is rooted in providing intellectual discourse, tools, and resources that explore the intersection of race and womanhood.
Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
50k was donated to the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, committed to changing the perception of mental illness in the African-American community. The Foundation will ensure cultural competency in caring for African Americans who struggle with mental illness by providing scholarships to students who seek a career in the mental health field, offer mental health services and programs to young people in urban schools, and combat recidivism within the prison system.
Charles Drew University of Science and Medicine
15k was donated to the Charles Drew Health Center to provide access to quality healthcare. CHDH is committed to improving the health and well-being of their community, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
Spelman College
100k has been donated to the Mental Health and Wellness Center at Spelman College, specifically towards enhancing virtual learning platforms. The Spelman Wellness Center educates and empowers students to create and sustain healthy lifestyles.
United Friends of Children
Anastasia Beverly Hills has been a longtime supporter of the work done by the United Friends of Children. We donated an additional 50k to UFC, allowing the organization to respond to the evolving needs of foster youth in our community. This joins their continued effort to maintain and improve upon resources as individuals focus on high school graduations secondary education, finding stable employment and housing, and having a support system as they move towards independence.
Thrive Scholars
The mission of Thrive Scholars is to help high-achieving low-income underrepresented students get into and graduate from top colleges equipped to achieve their full career potential. 100k was donated towards the education of two extraordinary young students.
25 Black Women in Beauty
$42.5k has been donated to 25 Black Women In Beauty, a platform created by two powerhouse Black beauty executives to tip the scales of the historically white-dominated beauty industry. Their mission is to celebrate, elevate, and promote Black women in the beauty industry through intentional support, networking, and collaboration. 25 Black Women in Beauty works to get a seat at the table for talent previously overlooked, ensuring Black beauty executives and entrepreneurs receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
The Esther Project
$42.5k has been donated to The Esther Project, an organization whose mission is to empower women to empower the world by advancing the status of women and girls globally. The Esther Project is in the process of growing into The Esther Institute for the Advancement of Women & Girls in order to better support its robust agenda. Through mentorship, trainings, fellowships, a global summit, and more, The Esther Project provides multi-faceted resources needed to achieve global gender parity.
Black-Owned Business Grant
Finally, we set aside $450,000 to go directly to Black-owned businesses, because one of the best ways to support a community is to support their thinkers, innovators, and leaders financially.
Thank you for your patience in giving our committee the time to properly review every single application. We were floored by the number of submissions from so many incredible businesses with unique stories. We have offered grants to 8 exceptional businesses across a variety of industries. I encourage everyone to read the profiles of our winners here, to support them on social media, through word-of-mouth, and through your purchases.
In addition to funding, grant recipients will be offered business mentorship from Anastasia Beverly Hills as well as opportunities to work with a business banker from Wells Fargo. They have generously agreed to provide bank accounts to our award winners, financial literacy coaching for employees, and an in-branch business banker available for financial guidance.
We will continue the fight against social injustice, to use our voice and our influence to speak out and work towards change.
ANASTASIA SOAREFOUNDER & CEO
