Friends of Beauty Changes Lives have awarded $250,000 in relief grants to support licensed beauty professionals affected by the global pandemic. The outpouring of generosity reflects the giving of brands across the professional beauty industry. The initiative was spearheaded by CND and the Horst M. Rechelbacher Foundation who stepped forward in the earliest days of the pandemic to support beauty professionals. A cohort of brands supporting the Beauty Changes Lives Experience reallocated their event sponsorships to fund $1,000 relief grants for hair, skin and nail professionals. 

The pandemic arrived in America just as Beauty Changes Lives was preparing to host its annual fundraiser, the Beauty Changes Lives Experience. “Sponsors stepped forward with big hearts and generous gifts to make a difference in the lives of the professional beauty community,” said Lynelle Lynch, president of Beauty Changes Lives. “We are heartened but hardly surprised by these beautiful acts of giving back.”

A founding director of Beauty Changes Lives and sponsor of $100,000 in relief grants to support the professional nail industry, CND co-founder Jan Arnold stated, “From the moment my family and I created CND over 40 years ago, the heart of this brand has always been the nail nrofessional. Many nail pros and salon-owners alike have had to shut their businesses in order to prioritize the health and safety of their employees and clients. My hope is that these grants helped provide some temporary relief to those in need during this challenging time. As a brand that has thrived because of nail pros, we knew we had a responsibility to give back to those who have given us so much. Our contribution to the BCL COVID-19 Relief Grant is a small token of our gratitude to the nail pro community.”

While the beauty industry embraces and celebrates diversity, a unifying common thread is the spirit of giving back. “The statement ‘We’re all in this together’ has been widespread since the pandemic hit, but those of us in the beauty industry have a long history of being here for one another in good times as well as more challenging times,” Lynch said. 

The commitment to equipping and empowering the next generation of beauty professionals continues. In August 2020, Beauty Changes Lives will announce recipients of the Spring scholarship awards and competition is underway for Summer scholarships. More information is available at www.beautychangeslives.org/scholarships.

About the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation: With a mission to elevate, educate and empower, Beauty Changes Lives is uniting the industry and building awareness of the extraordinary career opportunities in the beauty, wellness and massage therapy industries. Learn more at www.beautychangeslives.org or find us on Facebook and Instagram.