Fashionably Smart. Literally™!!!
Fashionably Smart, Literally™ is an initiative Gwen Beloti started in 2009 of which the goal is to encourage young women to celebrate their intelligence and reward them for doing so. This project recognizes young women whom are high achievers. These are students who despite challenges and obstacles that could likely affect their academic performance, manage to overcome and achieve. Each year the Gwen Beloti Collection teams up with an accredited high school of which a Fashionably Smart, Literally™ young lady is chosen. She is given the opportunity to pick her look of choice from the current Gwen Beloti collection. The garment is custom fit just for her and she can opt to remix the piece, in essence creating her own one of a kind piece. This gift and reward is given in hopes that it will remind young ladies to enjoyably embrace their accomplishments. During the school year Gwen works with the high school and its administration in order to promote this initiative hopeful that it will serve as an incentive for young women to work a little harder. Throughout the selection process Gwen has the opportunity to work with the candidates on various projects and share with these young women her personal experiences with education, fashion, and entrepreneurship. This project was created to encourage young women to continue to strive for excellence, to be proud of their achievements and to know that they can be fashionable, cool and confident while doing so.
Prom Dress to Impress™
Prom dress to Impress is a Gwen Beloti Collection initiative with a charge of donating a dress every year, to a graduating senior unable to afford prom expenses. Gwen Beloti has teamed up with different entities including a celebrity fashion and hair stylist duo, as well as a NY Senator, and prom dress drives; all who reach out to young women that are financially less fortunate and cannot afford prom expenses. Recognizing the significance of this time in a young woman’s life GB contributes by donating a dress. The goal is to make this night a fun and memorable one for these young ladies.
Little Dresses for Africa
Little Dresses for Africa is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide relief to children in Central Africa. People from all over the U.S. assist the organization in a variety of ways. Some sew, some donate, and some travel to Africa. Some gather to make little dresses and britches for the children out of simple patterns with materials as effortless as pillow cases. Simple and effective! Currently the GB Collection donates 10% of all Gwen Beloti Handy Clutch purse sales to LDFA and hopes to work more closely with the organization in the future. Visit their site for more information - http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/ -

As the Gwen Beloti brand grows we’re optimistic that our outreach will grow as well. We adore very much the art of this business and clothing line but are even more ecstatic that we can use it to give back.

To read more about each of these initiatives view Social Action blog labels:
Fashionably Smart. Literally™
Prom Dress to Impress™
Little Dresses for Africa