Philosophy's new advisory board to support fund for mental health awareness
NEW YORK — Beauty brand philosophy has announced the appointment of the inaugural seven hope and grace fund advisory board members who will provide critical input, leadership, and accountability to the fund.
To ensure that the hope and grace fund identifies and supports the most innovative and effective programs to empower women with mental health issues, the fund has selected leading mental health researchers, practitioners and philanthropists, as well as senior leaders from philosophy, to fulfill positions on the board.
Earlier this year, philosophy launched the hope and grace initiative, a commitment to support women's mental health. Since the July launch of the initiative, philosophy has dedicated 1% of its online net sales — and beginning in January 2015 it also will contribute 1% of online, in-store and televised net sales — to the hope and grace fund.
The advisory board's first undertaking will be the launch of the hope and grace fund's first round of grants, which will provide $20,000 grants to community-based organizations that promote women's mental health and well being. Additional grants will be distributed to select organizations on a quarterly basis.
The hope and grace initiative created the hope and grace fund as a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to supporting powerful and impactful public interest projects. In its first year, the fund plans to target organizations that work with women in the United States who are currently underserved by mental health services. These unsung heroes of the mental health field include those organizations that are working to overcome barriers to and the stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health issues, providing access to mental health treatment, and fostering support networks for women with mental illness.
The hope and grace fund board members include:
Hortensia Amaro, dean's professor of social work and preventive medicine, and associate vice provost of community research initiatives, University of Southern California;
Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, president, The National Crittenton Foundation;
Helen Porter, philanthropist and founder of Helen L. Porter and James T. Dyke Brain Imaging Research Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' Psychiatric Research Institute;
Marc Rey, SVP of Coty, North America and president, Coty U.S. Mr. Rey has broad executive management experience and deep expertise within the beauty industry. In his role at Coty, Mr. Rey is responsible for the vast Coty portfolio of beauty brands (Calvin Klein, Sally Hansen, Rimmel, O.P.I. philosophy, Marc Jacobs, etc.). As a seasoned professional of the beauty industry, he brings an original perspective and philanthropic passion to the hope and grace initiative;
Alina Salganicoff, VP and director of women's health policy, Kaiser Family Foundation. Deeply respected in the field of women's health policy at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in Menlo Park, CA, Dr. Salganicoff's expertise in health-care access for low-income women and families resonates strongly with the hope & grace fund's priorities. She also brings grant-making experience through her previous program staff role at the Pew Charitable Trusts;
Jill Scalamandre, SVP of philosophy and CMO for Coty Inc. Ms. Scalamandre is a seasoned global executive in the beauty industry with a deep passion for using philanthropy to enrich the lives of women. Ms. Scalamandre brings invaluable board experience through her many years of service as the chairwoman of Cosmetic Executive Women Inc., a nonprofit trade organization with 6,000 members; and
Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist, author, public speaker and founder of The Breathing Class.
Within five years, the hope and grace fund's intention is to give more than $10 million to organizations that work to reduce stigma and other barriers for those seeking treatment for mental health issues, provide access to mental health treatment and foster support networks for women with mental illness.