Unique Non-Profit Gives Back During Tough Times

Dec. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Bridgeport, CT – Beauties of Charity Inc., located at 211 State St., Suite 402, is Bridgeport’s newest, and perhaps most unique, non-profit.  Founded in 2010 by Trumbull resident Tanisha Akinloye, the organization aims to provide the local community of underserved women and men, living through hard economic times, with a range of beauty and wellness services.   On September 15, 2011 the organization celebrated their one-year anniversary.

“Our mission is to educate, beautify and empower the lives of underserved women in shelters and other non-profit organizations so that, ultimately, they experience the reality of their own inner beauty, strength, and purpose,” says Akinloye.  A long-time professional hairstylist, Akinloye founded Beauties of Charity after witnessing the harsh realities of many of the women coming to her Bridgeport salon over the years.

“I heard stories of domestic violence, homelessness, divorce, sickness and more,” she explains.  “After a while I started to feel selfish.  It wasn’t any more fun just doing hair.  I wanted to give back.”  

Akinloye knew it was time to start using her professional skills to help those struggling through difficult situations. She began by contacting local shelters and churches to let them know she would be holding free beauty clinics for hair, make-up and facials at her salon.  The response to her offer was overwhelming and on her birthday, September 15, 2011, Akinloye finally made the tough decision to close her successful salon business altogether to focus solely on her non-profit.

“I was a successful salon owner and award-winning hairdresser, with over ten years experience, but it’s no longer about just doing what I usually do,” she explains.  “It’s about taking my talent to build great self esteem and confidence, one woman at a time.”

Through her new organization Akinloye hopes to take the beauty industry to another level by giving back to an underserved population. Today she devotes all her time to serving this growing demographic.  Her schedule revolves around travelling to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, as well as shelters in Shelton, New Haven, Norwalk and soon Stamford, where she works with clients on a weekly basis.

“It’s not only about external beauty.  We nurture their internal being too,” she notes.  “Sometimes it’s just talking to them and building them up spiritually and emotionally.”

Beauties of Charity also offers a wellness program that educates participants about healthy eating and living and taking care of themselves once they are out of the shelter environment and on their own.  And accolades from grateful recipients pour in.
 
“Beauties of Charity, I want to say thank you for making a difference in my life,” says a participant named Lena.  “You mean the world to me. Now I am working a full time job feeling so confident in myself because of you.”

Beauties of Charity, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  In the near future the name will be changing to Empowering Through Beauty, Inc.  Akinloye hopes to expand the program to other states in the near future and most recently partnered with renowned Paul Mitchell Beauty School & Cosmetology Schools in Danbury and North Haven to assist her with her services.   She welcomes both financial and product donations.

“We will help every underserved woman; whenever, however and forever,” she says.


For more information visit www.beautiesofcharity.org  or call 888.622.8977

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