Dermalogica Accounts Join 'FITE' for National Women's History Month

LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National Women's History Month in March, Dermalogica accounts across the United States are teaming up to support the number one professional skin care brand's participation in a new global philanthropic initiative, Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship (www.joinFITE.org), which aims to give women worldwide a hand up in achieving financial autonomy.

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The mission of Join FITE is to help a minimum of 25,000 women in the U.S. and 56 countries around the world to start or grow a business through consumer and corporate active participation in microlending. The majority of the microloans will be extended to women in non-industrialized countries, who live below the internationally defined poverty-line. Dermalogica accounts across the country will generate client donations to the cause by organizing FITE fundraising events for their customers.

FITE, which officially launched on January 6, 2011 in partnership with Kiva.org, the world's leading microfinance nonprofit organization named as one of Oprah's "Favorite Things", has already funded over 500 women to date. Dermalogica Founder and Owner Jane Wurwand comments, "The power of women supporting other women is a force of nature second to none. We are thrilled to share this experience with our business partners, with their loyal customers, and with women all over the world."

Consumers who purchase Dermalogica products may participate in the funding of loans for these entrepreneurs by visiting joinFITE.org and redeeming a code issued on the packaging of five specified Dermalogica products. Redeeming the code triggers a $1 contribution from Dermalogica that the consumer allocates towards funding an entrepreneur of their choosing. Consumers have the ability to allocate the funds to an entrepreneur from the region and trade of their choice, and receive progress updates from the specific entrepreneur they have funded which track how the donation has been invested and repaid.

"The skincare industry in general and our brand in particular are uniquely pro-woman. Close to 100% of skincare professionals and their clients are women," adds Wurwand, who founded Dermalogica in 1986 in Los Angeles. "This industry has created more career opportunities for women than any other industry in the world, and we are proud of this fact."

Guests who attend FITE events at participating Dermalogica accounts will receive "Give A Hand Up" MicroZone treatments, Dermalogica's signature Face Mapping skin analysis and deluxe samples. For more information or to find a FITE event near you, visit http://www.facebook.com/Dermalogica?sk=app_11007063052.

About Join FITE

Join FITE is the first global open microlending platform designed to engage innovative technology and consumer action on line, off line and through novel strategic partnerships. The campaign, FITE – Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship – specifically benefits women entrepreneurs through economic empowerment to alleviate global poverty. JoinFITE.org is powered by Kiva and targets low-income women in the US and 56 other countries.

About Dermalogica®

Dermalogica® is the leading professional skin care company that provided the startup grant to Kiva, to create FITE as an open platform. Dermalogica products are currently sold in over 80 countries at select skin treatment centers on the recommendation of a qualified professional skin therapist in addition to the brand's concept spaces in Santa Monica, CA; New York, NY; London, England; Berlin, Germany; Auckland, New Zealand; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Mumbai, India and online at Dermalogica.com. Dermalogica® is made in the USA, with its global operations based in Carson, just south of Los Angeles. To learn more about Dermalogica® please visit www.dermalogica.com.

SOURCE Dermalogica