ANN INC.'s ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative Expands Advisory Council

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ANN INC., the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, and Vital Voices Global Partnership are proud to announce that Anne Fulenwider, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire and Shelly Lazarus, an accomplished leader in the advertising world who is Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, will serve as Advisory Council members for the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative.  As committed advocates for empowering women, these newest members join award-winning actress Kate Hudson, renowned actress Jennifer Morrison, and other influential female leaders in support of investing in the next generation of women leaders.

Since 2011, the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative, a groundbreaking partnership between ANN INC. and Vital Voices Global Partnership, has worked to train and mentor extraordinary young women – ANNpower Fellows – from across the U.S. with the leadership skills they need to affect global progress, invest in their communities, and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders. The ANNpower Advisory Council, comprised of influential women in media, business, and entertainment, serve as mentors to the Fellows and ambassadors of the Initiative's important mission to empower young women to achieve their leadership potential.

"Anne and Shelly are exceptional leaders who have both made meaningful commitments to advance women in our society.  They both bring their own, unique experiences to our efforts to train and mentor young women across the U.S.," said Kay Krill, President and CEO of ANN INC. and active member of the ANNpower Advisory Council. "We are so proud to welcome them to the ANNpower Advisory Council and know that they both will have a profound impact on our Fellows and their path to leadership."

This summer, Council members will help review the upcoming ANNpower Project Grant proposals from this year's Fellows who have been charged with taking their first steps as rising leaders by developing projects to initiate positive change within their communities. The 2013 ANNpower Project Grants will be announced this fall. 

"The power of women coming together to support each other in this way is monumental. I'm thrilled to unite with this group to support the ANNpower Initiative," said Anne Fulenwider. "I'm honored to play a role in giving young women the opportunities and experiences they need to help them pursue their passions and I look forward to all that they will achieve," added Shelly Lazarus.

To learn more about the Advisory Council and the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative, please visit ANNpower.org.

About the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative
The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a groundbreaking partnership between ANN INC. and Vital Voices Global Partnership to empower young women from across the U.S. with the leadership skills they need to affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders.  ANN INC. has committed to invest more than $1.3 million over a four-year period in the ANNpower Initiative through its ANN Cares charitable platform. The ANNpower Initiative aims to provide leadership skills and mentorship to 50 ANNpower Fellows annually and is designed to positively impact more than 5,000 members of their collective communities throughout the country each year.

As part of the Initiative, the ANNpower Advisory Council was announced at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative as a "Commitment to Action" and is comprised of influential women in media, business, and entertainment who have displayed exceptional leadership. Members of the Council review, score, and recommend outstanding grant proposals as well as serve as mentors to the Fellows and ambassadors of the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative to the public. The Council continues to be developed and currently includes award-winning actress Kate Hudson, actress Jennifer Morrison ("Once Upon a Time," "House"), Anne Fulenwider, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, Kay Krill, President and CEO of ANN INC., and Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership.  Visit ANNpower.org for more information.

About ANN INC.
ANN INC. is the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, two of the leading women's specialty retail fashion brands in North America.  As of May 4, 2013, the Company operated 989 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT and LOFT Outlet stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada.  Our Ann Taylor and LOFT brands are available online in more than 100 countries worldwide at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com.  Visit ANNINC.com for more information (NYSE: ANN).

About Vital Voices Global Partnership
Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading non-governmental organization that identifies, invests in and brings visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities. Founded by Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 1997, the organization trains and mentors women leaders as agents of transformative change in economic development, human rights and political participation. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Network includes more than 14,000 leaders representing 144 countries who have trained and mentored 500,000 additional women and girls in their communities. Visit vitalvoices.org to learn more.

SOURCE ANN INC.