Friends of Beauty Changes Lives has awarded $250,000 in relief grants to support licensed beauty professionals affected by the global pandemic. The grant reflects the generosity of brands across the professional beauty industry. The initiative, spearheaded by CND and the Horst M. Rechelbacher Foundation, was supported by a cohort of brands which reallocated their event sponsorships to fund more than 100 $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 Nail Professional 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 professional. 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 help 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.”

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; competition is underway for Summer Scholarships.