Benzinga | Sep 2, 2021 03:05PM EDT

The Este Lauder Companies and Este Lauder Brand Announce $3M Partnership With Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman Named Global Changemaker and Curator of New "WRITING CHANGE" Literacy Initiative for The Est?e Lauder Companies

The Est?e Lauder Companies will contribute $3M over three years to this inaugural literacy initiative

Today, The Est?e Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) and the Est?e Lauder brand announced a three-year partnership with Amanda Gorman, activist, award-winning writer, and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. This is the first such multi-year partnership for Amanda and the first integrated partnership by The Est?e Lauder Companies and the Est?e Lauder brand to acknowledge and celebrate a new generation of leaders inspiring change.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210902005711/en/

The Est?e Lauder Companies and Est?e Lauder Brand Announce Partnership With Amanda Gorman (Photo: Business Wire)

As part of this unprecedented partnership, The Est?e Lauder Companies will contribute US$3M over three years to support WRITING CHANGE, a special initiative to advance literacy as a pathway to equality, access, and social change. In addition, Amanda will bring her voice of change to the Est?e Lauder brand through campaigns debuting in Spring 2022.

"Our company was founded by an extraordinary woman, Est?e Lauder, who paved the way for women everywhere to believe anything is possible. Our first of its kind partnership with Amanda was created under these very same trailblazing ideals," said Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Executive Group President, The Est?e Lauder Companies. "Amanda's powerful presence and inspirational voice brings hope and confidence to the next generation of leaders. Together, we will create real and meaningful impact through literacy, voice, and self-expression."

The Est?e Lauder Companies and Amanda are united in supporting causes for equality and social impact. The WRITING CHANGE initiative is strongly aligned with the goals of The Est?e Lauder Companies and The Est?e Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, which focuses on the well-being of diverse global communities, emphasizing women and girls, supported by the pillars of health, education, and the environment.

"I am honored to partner with The Est?e Lauder Companies to activate change through literacy, and to represent a brand founded by such an inspiring and daring woman," said Amanda Gorman. "Mrs. Est?e Lauder shattered glass ceilings as a leader in business 75 years ago. Embracing this spirit, I am delighted that our partnership will help inspire women, girls, and all people around the world to do great things, to disrupt, to be confident, and to be future leaders in whatever path they take."

"Amanda embodies a new generation and demonstrates the importance and influence of voice," said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Est?e Lauder Companies. "As a company, we are committed to nurturing the leaders and talent of the future, empowering them to use their voices--and to use them loudly. We are thrilled to partner with Amanda as we embark on this collective journey to strengthen our commitment to girls' education, helping provide the skills needed to be heard around the globe."

This year, The Est?e Lauder Companies and the Est?e Lauder brand celebrate 75 years in business, and today the company is the world's leader in prestige beauty, supported by a global workforce that is 84% female. In March 2021, the company published its commitments to gender equality and women's advancement, with initiatives committed to levelling the playing field for all genders inside and outside the company.