Earlier this week Soma announced its next Giving is Beautiful™ Soma Bra Donation. The nationwide
charitable initiative to collect bras for women who have been affected by
domestic violence is said to be the largest of its kind. With more than 885,000
bras collected to date, the scale and scope of the project is a testament to the
brand and the Soma customer’s dedication to making a difference in women's
lives. Now through February 4th, the company will accept both new and gently
worn bras at all Soma boutiques across the country as well as monetary donations
at the register and at www.soma.com.
“Our passion and commitment to this initiative has never
been stronger,” states Laurie Van Brunt, Soma president. “What started as a
grass roots effort in a few local boutiques has grown to become a brand-wide and
nationwide initiative spanning more than 281 Soma boutiques and outlets. Our
boutiques and customers enthusiastically contribute their time, money and bras
to help women in need restore their lives. It’s our ultimate goal that no woman
has to choose between buying a bra and putting food on the
table.”
To help raise awareness about domestic violence, Soma
will once again partner with the National Network to End Domestic Violence
(NNEDV). The NNEDV is the leading voice for survivors of domestic violence.
Representing over 2,000 shelter programs across 56 state and territory
coalitions throughout the United States, the NNEDV continues to be a vital
partner to help spread the word and make a difference in women's
lives.
The Giving is Beautiful Soma Bra Donation initiative is national in scope but local in nature — directly
impacting communities where the bras are donated. Each of Soma’s 281 boutiques
and outlets will work with its community’s women's shelter to help local women
in need. First launched in July 2010, this marks the tenth biannual Soma Bra
Donation initiative. To date, Soma has collected more than 885,000 bras to help
provide for the more than 1.3 million victims who stay in domestic
violence shelters each year.
"Soma is partnering their boutiques with local domestic
violence shelters to make a real difference in the lives of domestic violence
victims, who often arrive at a shelter with nothing, says Kim Gandy, President
and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). “New and
nearly new bras are less frequently donated than other clothing items, so
shelters are especially grateful to receive new bras for the women who seek
safety there. Through this essential campaign, Soma is helping to raise
awareness in local communities, raise critically needed funds, and help victims
rebuild their lives."
“Thanks to our partnership with the National Network to
End Domestic Violence, new and gently worn bras are distributed to domestic
violence shelters in our customers’ local communities. Our goal is to reach a
million bras collected, because that translates to a million women feeling
confident and beautiful, from the inside out,” says Van Brunt. “And every woman
deserves to feel that way.”
To help reach the brand’s goal of one million bras
collected, Soma will continue to utilize a unique, shareable hashtag,
#OneMillionBras in their marketing and social platforms during the donation time
period, and are asking customers across the country to help spread the word
about this worthy cause by tagging @SomaIntimates. The brand will also have a
donation landing page, www.soma.com/givebras allowing visitors to read a number of
touching stories about how our 885,000 donated bras have changed women’s lives
across the country, plus offer information about the NNEDV, how to donate bras,
and where to find Soma boutiques nationwide.
About
Soma:
Soma, a division of Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS),
offers beautiful and sensual lingerie, loungewear and beauty products. Home of
the warmest personal service, Soma embraces women with luxuriously soft fabrics,
innovative fashion and an always perfect fit in bra sizes 32A-44G. As of January
8th, Soma will operate 281 boutiques and outlets across the country
as well as a website at www.soma.com.
About
NNEDV:
NNEDV, a nonprofit charitable organization, is the
leading voice for domestic violence victims and their advocates. NNEDV members
include all 56 of the state and territorial coalitions against domestic
violence, which have over 2,000 local programs. NNEDV has been a premiere
national organization advancing the movement against domestic violence for over
20 years, having led efforts to pass the landmark Violence Against Women Act of
1994 and to reauthorize and strengthen countless laws and regulations to
increase safety and end violence. To learn more about NNEDV, please visit www.nnedv.org.
You may also want to read the living beyond breast cancer article previously posted on our blog. You should also read the give a smile news about Chico's donating to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
Thank you for taking the time to read our bra blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative.
Learn about other fashion companies supporting charity here on our blog.
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