A partnership between Girls Inc. and Kendra Scott is helping provide school supplies for young females across Owensboro while also raising funds for the local philanthropy. The two organizations are also hosting a two-day online fundraiser starting Monday to celebrate National Nonprofit Day.
“Given the status of the world, we wanted to partner with an organization centered around diversity and women/youth empowerment, so we thought that a partnership with Girls Inc. would serve as the positive messaging that we all could use.” said Halle Pinkham, Marketing and Philanthropic manager of Kendra Scott Southeast.
On Monday and Tuesday, members of the community can participate in the virtual “giveback” event by shopping at kendrascott.com where they can enter the code Giveback8425, and 20% of the purchase will benefit Girls Inc.
A two-week long school supply donation drive that began Aug. 1 also ends Tuesday. For more information about the fundraiser or supply drive, click here.
“It is a wonderful way for us to raise some funds and for others to pull together some needed school supplies and maybe do some shopping for Christmas or upcoming birthdays,” said Girls Inc Chief Executive Officer Tish Correa Osborne. “The actual purchases of Kendra Scott jewelry will result in Girls Inc. receiving 20% of the proceeds.”
Osborne said the donation of school supplies has been a blessing, as they are things the girls can use whether working at home or on-site with Girls Inc.
“In Owensboro, they have a very active chapter where they are basically trying to get some supplies in their doors for every one of their goals,” Pinkham said when describing why Kendra Scott chose to partner with Girls Inc. “With Kendra Scott comes a drive to empower women and children. Girls Inc. is the embodiment of working with strong, smart and bold individuals. The brands align very directly.”
Osborne said Girls Inc. typically serves around 500 girls annually, but they are operating with business as “unusual” and hosting safely distanced and masked daily one-on-one classes for members and staff.
“All the employees have set up scheduled time to manage the influx of girls wanting to have special time with the staff, to learn, talk, do crafts and try out science experiments,” she said. “So many of the girls have asked for repeat sessions, which we happily do. For those that have not been able to get to Girls Inc. and schedule sessions, we welcome them to reach out to us.”
Osborne said much of the work Girls Inc. has been doing since during the pandemic has been focused on meeting girls’ and families’ needs.
“We have so many wonderful families doing their absolute best to work with the current situation, and sometimes a little extra help is needed,” she said. “We are so happy that the community rallies around the mission of Girls Inc. to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. This Kendra Scott event will allow us to be a little stronger, smarter and bolder as we continue our joyful work of taking care of ourselves and others.”
