In Celebration of International Women’s Day AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation Launches Donation Program with Help USA
NEW YORK, March 7, 2014 /3BL Media/ – In celebration of International Women’s Day, AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation announces a retail and online donation program to raise money for mother and daughter clients of HELP USA. Launching on March 8th, the two-week program encourages customers to donate $10 in exchange for a 20% discount off their full-price purchase.
Funds raised from the program will be used to send young women in need to leadership workshops. Run by the Girls Leadership Institute (GLI), the workshops teach women the critical communications skills necessary to build healthy relationships, and ultimately become leaders in their communities.
“The proud father of three daughters, I know firsthand how important it is to equip the next generation of young women with the skills to become tomorrow’s leaders,” says Kenneth Cole. “Organizations like Help USA and Girls Leadership Institute are critical in making this happen.”
As one of the country’s largest builders and operators of transitional and low-income permanent housing, HELP USA provides job training and social services for the homeless and victims of domestic violence to help break the cycle of dependency and enable clients to reclaim their lives. Funds raised from the program will send clients of HELP USA to workshops run by GLI to learn practices of emotional intelligence, assertive self-expression, and healthy relationship building.
“At a time when homelessness among families is at an all time high, investment in leadership and skills training for women and girls is especially important,” says Maria Cuomo Cole, Chairman of the Board of HELP USA.
For over ten years, GLI has specialized in teaching girls the skills to know who they are, what they believe, and how to express it, empowering them to create change in their world. Through interactive lessons and theatre-based techniques, GLI helps girls connect with their emotions and practice the tools of building healthy authentic relationships.
A founding board member of HELP USA, Kenneth Cole has used his company’s platform for the last 30 years to advocate on behalf of minority groups whose civil liberties are compromised or discriminated against. To learn more visit awearness.com and 30yearsbold.com
All funds raised from the program will be donated to AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation with the first $30,000 earmarked for HELP USA in support of GLI. Additional funds raised through the program will be donated to other charitable initiatives worldwide.
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AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation
AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation, promotes, encourages and inspires positive and meaningful social change, and supports like-minded individuals to make a difference. As part of each partnership, we create products and host events in support of their important causes, and select a “Change Agent” to share their story of social activism to help educate and inspire others to get involved. Interviews and products can be seen on the AWEARNESS website awearness.com.
HELP USA:
HELP USA is the leading national developer of housing and provider of jobs and services for homeless and at risk populations in the country, including families, veterans and victims of domestic violence. HELP has served more than 270,000 people since it was founded in 1986 and today serves more than 12,000 each year at 30 residences across the country. To date, HELP has developed more than 2,500 units of housing including transitional and permanent supportive service programs.
Girls Leadership Institute:
For over ten years, the Girls Leadership Institute (GLI) has awakened thousands of girls to a life of authentic leadership. Co-founded by educator and social entrepreneur Simone Marean and bestselling author and educator Rachel Simmons, GLI provides transformational programs to girls, their parents, and their educational communities. GLI's mission is to teaches girls the skills to know who they are, what they believe, and how to express it, empowering them to create change in their world. We work with girls, parents and caregivers, and educators to ensure lasting impact.
