YWCA South Florida Announces Pretty Empowered Event in Partnership with Ulta Beauty
YWCA South Florida, in partnership with Ulta Beauty, is thrilled to announce their upcoming Pretty Empowered Event on November 2, 2024 – that will reach an estimated 100 girls in Miami-Dade and Broward counties with life-changing well-being resources.
Pretty Empowered is designed to engage students through a series of interactive sessions that focus on various aspects of wellness, cosmetic science, supply chain logistics, and career exploration. The program emphasizes the importance of self-care and confidence, the exploration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, and creating a positive sense of connection, aiming to inspire and prepare the next generation of leaders.
Last year YWCA South Florida hosted over 60 girls and this year plans to grow the number by over 100 participants. They have partnered local community organizations including the Overtown Youth Coalition, the Girls Scouts and Honeyshine to bring girls together for this empowering day.
Launched in 2022 by YWCA Metropolitan Chicago with funding from the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation, the Pretty Empowered initiative has quickly grown in scope and impact. Initially starting with a single site, the program grew to four locations in 2023 and hosted 400 participants.
This year, YWCA and Ulta Beauty will double their impact with the goal of reaching 800 total participants at eight Local Associations nationwide, including YWCA South Florida, YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, YWCA Glendale & Pasadena, YWCA Greater Atlanta, YWCA Kitsap County, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, YWCA Metropolitan St. Louis, and YWCA Northern New Jersey. Doubling the number of participating sites from the previous year marks a significant milestone in the program’s mission to empower young women and girls through education and career exploration.
"We are thrilled to be bringing this event back to our community, in partnership with Ulta Beauty’s dedicated associates,” says Kerry-Ann Royes, President and CEO and YWCA South Florida. “This year, we are working with even more local girl-serving partners to bring in participants from across Miami-Dade County. We believe in the power of our girls to create their own future – for themselves, their families and our community – and programs like these give them a chance to celebrate their potential and see the possibility for themselves.”
Ulta Beauty’s support has been instrumental in the initiative's growth. Through the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation, the company is committed to supporting the holistic well-being of women and teens – a mission that aligns perfectly with YWCA USA’s goal to eliminate racism and empower women. Together, they are creating a platform that not only educates but also inspires participants to pursue their dreams with confidence and determination.
"Ulta Beauty is honored to partner with YWCA on the Pretty Empowered initiative," said Amiee Bayer-Thomas, chief store operations officer at Ulta Beauty and board member for YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. "Through my involvement with YWCA, I have seen firsthand the power of helping young women and girls gain the confidence and capabilities they need to believe, dream and pursue their passions. We’re thrilled to bring Pretty Empowered events to twice as many cities this year, and we hope to grow the program’s scale and impact even more in the future.”
Ulta Beauty volunteers and YWCA staff members will be supporting this year’s Pretty Empowered events, which will feature hands-on workshops, mentorship opportunities, and discussions led by industry professionals. Participants will gain insights into critical well-being resources and the cosmetic industry’s scientific and logistical aspects while developing essential leadership and life skills.
For more information about the Pretty Empowered initiative, please visit ywcasouthflorida.org or contact Annie Pizzutelli at apizzutelli@ywcasouthflorida.org.
ABOUT YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA
YWCA South Florida seeks to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Combining direct service programming and advocacy, YWCA South Florida works across three key areas: racial justice and civil rights; empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls; and health and safety of women and girls. The organization has been at the forefront of some of South Florida’s most significant social issues since it was founded in 1920 and has worked to improve the lives of more than 3.1 million adults and children.
