Charity Dedicates 10th Anniversary to Families Affected by COVID
Bridgeport, CT -- Empowering through Beauty (ETB) www.iametb.org, groundbreaking Bridgeport, CT non-profit dedicates their 10-year anniversary to local families impacted by the COVID pandemic.
“For 10 years I’ve dedicated my life to empowering individuals,” says Tanisha Akinloye, the organizations’ founder and CEO. “COVID made us rethink our approach to making a difference. Right now we want to make an impact on families affected by this pandemic and in financial distress.”
To that end ETB launched their new campaign I Am Empowering Through Beauty to help local families impacted by the COVID pandemic. The campaign is supported by donors and highlights the stories of families who survived, lost a loved or lost their income due to COVID. The ETB campaign provides families with funds and beauty care packages filled with hats, gloves, masks and hand sanitizers, as well as with information on preventing and ending poverty, human trafficking, incarceration, domestic violence, and unhealthy decisions.
“During the pandemic, there’s an increase in poverty, depression, drug overdoses and abuse,” says Akinloye. “Our packages educate and empower families.”
It’s always been about helping people for Akinloye, ever since she gave up a successful beauty business in 2010 to found Empowering through Beauty Foundation (ETB), a Connecticut and U.S. based non-profit devoted solely to helping at-risk women and girls; homeless individuals, middle and high school students, victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, cancer survivors, formerly incarcerated and low income individuals. ETB mentors the individuals they serve. They also provide free and low cost women conferences, outreach community events, educational support, empowerment workshops, coaching, beauty makeovers, personal and leadership training.
Today ETB can bring all their contacts, affiliates, goodwill and know-how to bear in their efforts to help families affected by the COVID pandemic. This has also meant tackling the problem at a very personal level for Tanisha and her family.
“Since July my family and I have opened our home to single parents as a safe place to stay until they earn enough money to move to their own place,” she says.
The organization is focusing on empowering families in distress by paying their utility bills, housing, medical bills, food, and educational support. ETB also provides therapy sessions, coaching, and support groups, both virtually and in real life, to help participants heal in all areas of life.
“I am so thankful for the COVID relief donation,” says recipient Latonya W. “It helped me pay bills that were overdue.” And Mayra Z says: ”Thank you Tanisha for helping so many people. The money you donated helped my family pay our rent.”
Tanisha knows firsthand what families are going through. She believes everything she has overcome as a black woman, mother, wife, and entrepreneur has prepared her for this moment. During her ten years of research and work within the community she discovered that there was always a breakdown in the family unit at the root of the problems. And it's why her mission remains dedicated to providing individuals and families in need of faith, love, and hope with the support they deserve.
”It's the beauty in each of us that changes the world, but we can't own or experience it if we don't heal the wounds in families,” she says. “I believe empowered families can put an end to domestic violence, human trafficking, poverty, and incarceration. Everything starts with the family because we are divinely born into it.”
Those interested are invited to donate through www.iametb.org or mail in donations to PO Box 81 Trumbull, CT 06611.
About Empowering Through Beauty (ETB)
Empowering Through Beauty (ETB) promotes philanthropy that brings positive, lasting change and impacts to families. Since 2010 ETB has served 2,545 individuals and provided over $500,000 in monetary, in-kind donations and services to the homeless, low income, formerly incarcerated, victims of domestic violence, shelters, and inner city schools in Connecticut and North Carolina. As a non-profit leader, ETB brings together beauty professionals, philanthropists, volunteers, community, and business leaders to further their mission. ETB’s goal is to make a transformative and meaningful impact in individuals and families' lives. Learn more at www.iametb.org and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. #EmpoweringThroughBeauty #IAMETB
This article originally appeared on the Bridgeport Patch
