Dark and Lovely, In Partnership With The Tom Joyner Foundation, Announce Winners of the Young Women with a Purpose Project

NEW YORK, March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dark and Lovely, a hair care brand for women of color and part of L'Oréal's Multi-Cultural Beauty Division, in partnership with The Tom Joyner Foundation, is proud to award five students with $2,000 scholarships each as part of the Young Women with a Purpose Project. These five dynamic scholars also received an all-expense paid trip to New York City and a L'Oréal USA senior-level executive mentor.

"Supporting educational programs is a key pillar of the Multi-Cultural Beauty Division's sustainability platform," stated Cherie Washington, L'Oréal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division. "The Tom Joyner Foundation is an incredible partner to us because they value education and empowering others as much as we do. Through their extensive initiatives and partnerships in support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, they have helped thousands of students complete their education. We are pleased to work with such a great organization."

Upon arrival in New York City, the students shadowed their mentors for a day at the L'Oréal USA Corporate offices. Mentors and mentees were matched based upon the scholars' field of interests and have been interacting with their mentors via phone conferences since October 2015; thus giving them the opportunity to learn more about each other.

"We are delighted to partner with The Tom Joyner Foundation to create an amazing opportunity for a group of deserving young college students," says Vivianna Blanch, Vice President, Integrated Consumer Communications, L'Oréal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division. "With a great interest in mentoring and giving back to the community, this was a great opportunity for Dark and Lovely to help mold young women to be future professionals in the beauty industry."

The five scholars and their mentors include:

Jesslyn Course, a sophomore from Utica, Miss. is a mass communications major, Jackson State University.Course's mentor is Erica Bowen, Vice President of Business Development, L'Oréal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division.

Ariel Davis, a sophomore from Chicago, Ill., is an economics major at Jackson State University.Her mentor is Angela Rutherford, Vice President of Finance, L'Oréal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division.

April Fulgham, a sophomore from Chicago, Ill., is a biology major at Jackson State University.Fulgham is paired with Cecilia Nelson-Hurt, Assistant Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion L'Oréal USA.

DesTeen Green, a junior from Jackson, Miss., is a chemistry major at Tuskegee University. She will shadow Lisa Price, Founder and Senior Creative Director, Carol's Daughter – L'Oréal USA.

Markeisha James, a sophomore from Jackson, Miss., is a chemistry pre-pharmacy major at Jackson State University.  Her mentor is Sivonne Davis, Assistant Vice President, Marketing, L'Oréal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division.

For more information about Dark and Lovely, visit DarkAndLovely.com or follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About L'Oréal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division:
The newly formed Multi-Cultural Beauty Division includes brands such as: Dark and Lovely, Let's Jam!, Optimum Amla Legend, SoftSheen-Carson Professional, Magic Shave and Carol's Daughter. As part of the Consumer Products Division of L'Oréal USA, these brands are leading L'Oréal USA in multicultural innovation and are dedicated to serving the growing multicultural market.

About The Tom Joyner Foundation:
The Tom Joyner Foundation (http://tomjoynerfoundation.org) was founded in 1998 as the brainchild of nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner. The mission of the Foundation is to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with scholarships, endowments and capacity-building enhancements. The Foundation has provided necessary support to every HBCU in its 18-year history to help sustain and preserve the legacies of these valuable institutions. Through fundraising and donor development initiatives, $65 million has been raised to support more than 29,000 students attending HBCUs. Additionally, the Foundation has recommended internships, offered matching grant support, and career development to deserving students. For more information, contact Neil Foote, media relations, Tom Joyner Foundation, [email protected], 214.448.3765.

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SOURCE L'Oreal USA Multicultural Beauty Division