AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Kendra Scott announced the launch of the Kendra Scott Foundation, a component of the Austin Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, that’s committed to empowering women and youth in the areas of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship. Kendra Scott started this brand with the intention of doing good first and selling jewelry second – this philanthropic mentality has been embedded into every facet of the company. The Foundation will allow Kendra Scott to do even more good and serve as an overarching platform to deepen the brand’s investment in changing the lives of women and youth. The announcement coincides with International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the achievements of women and a moment that perfectly aligns with the Company’s focus and the Foundation’s mission and purpose.
Kendra Scott has proudly donated more than $50 million to local, national, and international causes since 2010. The three pillars of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship are the driving forces behind Kendra Scott’s long-standing programs and partnerships, which include (but not limited to):
- Yellow for Pink by Kendra Scott: Part of Kendra Scott’s ongoing commitment to breast cancer research, resources, and remission organizations. The program supports the day-to-day lives of breast cancer patients, thrivers, and their families – the full lives they lead outside of the clinic and hospital – to help eliminate the financial, trauma, and situational challenges that are often overlooked. In 2022 alone, Yellow for Pink by Kendra Scott has funded 4,067 research hours dedicated to improving the lives of those undergoing treatment of metastatic breast cancer through a grant with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
- Kendra Cares: A creative arts program that brings the magic and joy of Kendra Scott’s Color Bar® to pediatric hospitals across the country, Kendra Cares gives patients and their caregivers a break from their everyday to design their own piece of customized jewelry at no cost. To-date, Kendra Scott has brought the Kendra Cares program to over 40 top-ranked pediatric hospitals across the country, serving over 4,000 patients and their caregivers in 2022 alone.
- Education: Kendra Scott focuses on lifting up educators, underserved students, and families through scholarships, literacy, and library beautification – having surprised and delighted over 2,000 teachers and nurses in 2022 and provided nine educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members through Folds of Honor.
- Women in Entrepreneurship: Under the women in entrepreneurship pillar, the Company founded the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin, a long-standing program geared towards strengthening the next generation of courageous, creative women leaders who will change the world. Kendra Scott also created the Founders Market this year which will seed grants to diverse women business owners. As part of its commitment to helping women entrepreneurs, the Company directly and positively impacted over 2,000 women in 2022 by equipping them with the tools needed to be successful in the world, donated $60,000 in scholarships, and empowered over 80 women-led startups and founders.
“My intention when I started this business was always to do good first and sell jewelry second, and the launch of the Kendra Scott Foundation will allow us to continue to do just that for decades to come,” said Kendra Scott, Founder, Designer, and Executive Chairwoman of the brand. “I have always strived to use my talents to improve the lives of others, especially women who need to be connected to sources that will help them flourish. This is why the Kendra Scott Foundation was created and why we are so driven and inspired to expand our impact and reach even more women and youth each and every day.”
In addition to the many programs now supported by the Kendra Scott Foundation, the Company also hosts “Kendra Gives Back” community events, where 20 percent of purchases made in-store and online will directly benefit a cause designated by the customer. Kendra Scott also supports community causes through in-kind product donations to countless local nonprofit organizations and donates a percentage of sales from the Shop for Good collection to causes close to the heart.
In 2021, Scott was named the Honorary Celebrity Chair for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. She is also a member of the board of directors for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, received Pink Agenda’s Icon Award in 2022 in recognition of the Company’s support of the fight against breast cancer and was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2019, among others.
For more information on the Kendra Scott Foundation, visit kendrascott.com/philanthropy, or donate directly at https://ken01.kimbia.com/donate.
About the Kendra Scott Foundation
Established in 2022, the Kendra Scott Foundation aims to empower women and youth in the areas of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship. Having donated more than $50 million to philanthropic organizations since 2010, the Kendra Scott company remains invested in changing the lives of women and youth through programs and strong partnerships with like-minded organizations. The Kendra Scott Foundation Fund is a component fund of the Austin Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, and has exclusive legal control over the assets contributed to funds of the Foundation. To learn more about The Kendra Scott Foundation’s work and how it transforms lives, please visit kendrascott.com/philanthropy.
About Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott LLC was founded in 2002 by Kendra Scott, who serves as Founder, Executive Chairwoman and Chief Creative Officer of her namesake brand. Known for its design and material innovation, use of color, and signature shapes, Kendra Scott offers Fashion, Demi-Fine and Fine Jewelry, watches, engagement rings, home accessories, and a men’s collection, Scott Bros. by Kendra Scott. The company remains true to its founding philosophy of “Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy,” and has donated over $50M to philanthropic organizations since 2010. Kendra Scott’s customer-centric omni-channel approach includes a network of 130+ namesake experiential stores and pop-up locations, wholesale partners, including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Dillard’s, and 850+ specialty boutiques. With over 2,500 employees, the Austin-based company was honored as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces in 2022. Learn more at KendraScott.com.
