Curly Girl Collective Hosts a Holiday Charity Affair to Spread the Awareness of Black Beauty and Promote Self-love to Young Girls

Girls Inc. of New York City and Curly Girl Collective join forces in an initiative to deliver brown and curly dolls to young girls of color

Today, Curly Girl Collective (CGC) presents All Dolled Up, a holiday charity experience that invites guests to donate brown and curly dolls to a community-based nonprofit that serves low-income, disadvantaged girls. By joining forces with Girls Inc. of New York City, Curly Girl Collective seeks to change doll test results for brown girls and remind them of their natural beauty.

Girls Inc. of New York City delivers life-changing programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. By teaching girls to have self-confidence, shatter gender stereotypes, and reach for their dreams Girls Inc. creates a safe environment for young girls between the ages of 6 to 18.

In the recent Black or White: Kids on Race conducted by CNN, Dark Girls documentary, broadcasted on OWN, and the award-winning film "Why Do You Have Black Dolls?" children are still showcasing a bias toward white skin and straight hair. As a result of this partnership, Curly Girl Collective will be able to empower young curly girls and combat societal views that lead to self-hate and low self-esteem.

"It's hard to believe young girls like Tiana Parker and Vanessa VanDyke are being sent home from school because their natural hair is deemed unkempt," said Tracey Coleman cofounder and director of events of Curly Girl Collective. "After these controversies unfolded, we were committed to addressing this topic in our community. By partnering with Girls Inc. of New York City, we're able to expand our reach, rally our followers and influencers in the natural hair space to give back and create an experience that inspires young, impressionable girls of color."

All Dolled Up is an intimate gathering of bloggers, tastemakers, community leaders and fashion-forward natural-haired women. A two-story, 2,500 square-foot, highly stylized open loft in the Soho district of New York City will be transformed into the CGC Doll House. Other features include complimentary cocktails, a doll house display, holiday glam station, shopping pavilion and personalized holiday cards with handwritten messages and photos of the guests from the signature CGC photo booth.

"We believe girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm. Our programs encourage girls to take pride in themselves inside and out," said executive director of Girls Inc. NYC Pamela Maraldo. "By partnering with organizations like Curly Girl Collective, we can encourage young girls to embrace their natural tresses and gain the self-confidence to become successful and powerful young women."

This announcement and partnership further exemplifies Curly Girl Collective's commitment to create unique experiences that celebrate the beauty of natural hair. There will be a series of events in 2014 that continue to support this mission. In addition, CGC is committed to producing events dedicated to the empowerment of young curly girls.

About Curly Girl Collective
Curly Girl Collective, LLC is a group of young, dynamic women from various professional backgrounds, who have united with a common passion for creating experiences that empower women and celebrate the beauty of natural hair. For more information visit www.curlygirlcollective.com

About Girls Incorporated of New York City
Girls Inc. of New York City inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through life-changing programs and experiences that help girls navigate gender, economic, and social barriers. Research-based curricula, delivered by trained, mentoring professionals in a positive all-girl environment equip girls to achieve academically, lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.
For more information visit http://www.girlsincnyc.org/index.html.

Media Contacts:
Charisse Higgins
Curly Girl Collective
914-882-7710
charisse@curlygirlcollective.com

Ximena Ramirez
Girls Inc. of New York City
ximena@girlsincnyc.org
212-531-7620