The Dermalogica Foundation’s global philanthropic movement, FITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship) has surpassed its most ambitious objective to date: funding more than 50,000 women-owned businesses across all industries worldwide.

The FITE initiative was launched by Dermalogica as an expansion of the brand’s dedication to vocational education and careers. The Dermalogica brand itself is the prototype, employing thousands of women as skilled professional skin therapists, and creating career opportunities in professional skin care settings around the world for more than 30 years.

“Supporting women’s participation in the economy is one of the most important areas an individual, business or country can do to drive economic development. It is also a proven 'game changer' for increasing job opportunities,” says Jane Wurwand, Founder and Chief Visionary at Dermalogica.

When Wurwand first started Dermalogica in 1986, she was unable to receive a bank loan or even qualify for a credit card. Through her own experiences in starting a business, Jane knows first-hand the challenges many women face in order to access the opportunities, support, and resources needed to start a business.

In 2010, Dermalogica began its partnership with Kiva by providing loans to women who are starting or growing a business in communities around the world, which sets them on the path to becoming financially independent.

“These efforts have been driven by our entire tribe of employees, distributors, salon owners, skin therapists and customers. As a result, we have been a catalyst to helping to fund more than 50,000 women entrepreneurs worldwide, and we are all very proud of that success,” says Wurwand.

To read the stories of the women who have been directly impacted by FITE, visit www.joinFITE.org.