JUNE 2017 26 | FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM {fashion in the philanthropy lane} GIVING IN STYLE By now most of Arizona’s philanthropic fashionistas have taken note of the Kendra Scott brand and its proclivity for giving back. So it should come as no surprise that the company itself has been developed with the intention to make a positive difference. From the start the core of Kendra’s business has been family, fashion and philanthropy. At its core the entire organization realizes that there is truly no greater joy than that of giving back to others in need. Having philanthropy at the hub of their business values enhances the upbeat, luminous atmosphere you find at every Kendra Scott location. So what brought this vibrant woman to combine her passion for fashion with her desire to aid society? As Kendra says, “It all comes back to three words my stepfather Rob spoke to me during his battle with cancer: You Do Good. He taught me that the most important thing I could do was use my talents to make a difference in the lives of others. So, when I founded Kendra Scott, I was determined to make philanthropy a core part of my business, and that whenever someone came to me for help, I would always have something to give. Fifteen years later, we still practice that same attitude of giving, and it has built incredible relationships with our customers and communities as a result.” Even in Kendra’s first entrepreneurial fashion foray, The Hat Box, the proceeds benefited cancer research. While the Hat Box ran its course Kendra continued to find herself drawn to her desire to create. Kendra noticed that there weren’t many jewelry companies creating beautifully, handcrafted pieces at an attainable price point, so she started designing with that in mind. She launched her company with just $500. She transformed what was essentially her “daily escape” hobby of creating jewelry into a fashion powerhouse that now calls celebrities like Katherine Heigl and Sofia Vergara clients. Kendra Scott’s Philanthropy Motivated by 3 Small Words: Tyler Butler | SOCIETY AND FASHION WRITER ‘You Do Good’

JUNE 2017 FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM | 27 Kendra believes that “fashion, by nature, is fleeting, and that customers today are so often overwhelmed by the vast range of brands they see around every corner.” Kendra’s belief is that by tying her designs to a cause, to something meaningful, that she can create something that will outlast the latest trends of the season. The fervent concept that they are doing something good through these beautiful designs is the leading reason that the brand has such a strong, loyal customer base. Customers feel proud to be a part of this generous company. Like many designers Kendra understands that all the fashion industry needs is the initiative to start giving back. Her method of donating things like jewelry, or even her time, has done so much for the community. Kendra Scott works closely with each charity organization to make sure they serve them in the best way they can. For example, in their partnerships with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, they donated pieces of jewelry in Rose Quartz to women undergoing chemotherapy, because Rose Quartz is known as the Healing Stone. Kendra Scott tailors its givebacks to every person and every cause, always thinking about how they can give back in a way that matters most to them. Of importance to Kendra is her philanthropic work with cancer research. There is one giveback program that is very dear to her heart: the Kendra Cares Program, where an interactive Color Bar experience is brought to child cancer patients and their families. Each child and their caregivers can choose from a range of styles and colors, and design their own unique piece of jewelry. The program first started at MD Anderson in 2014, and will expand into 10 hospitals across the Photo credit: Kendra Scott GIVING IN STYLE CONTINUED