Press Release
EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOLS RAISE MORE THAN $170,000 FOR LOCAL WOMEN’S SHELTERS DURING 5th ANNUAL NATIONAL DAY OF BEAUTY ON OCTOBER 24
Cosmetology students raise funds, hope and awareness for victims of domestic abuse
November 2009 - Empire Beauty Schools, the nation's largest provider of cosmetology education, together with its nearly 12,000 students, raised more than $170,000 for local women's shelters across the country, during the company’s fifth annual 
National Day of Beauty on October 24. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Since its inception five years ago, Empire’s National Day of Beauty has raised more than half a million dollars to help those in need.
During the National Day of Beauty, Empire Beauty Schools donated 100% of proceeds raised from all hair, skin and nail services to local adopted shelters through Empire's anti-domestic violence program, Empire Gives Back. Likewise, the students held hundreds of additional food and clothing drives and also collected personal care items to improve the living situations of women and children in shelters across the country.
Empire also invited local shelter residents, as well as first responders, including police, EMTs and firefighters, to receive complimentary services at each campus.
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National Day of Beauty on October 24
Cosmetology students raise funds, hope and awareness for victims of domestic abuse
October 2009 – Empire Beauty Schools, the nation’s largest provider of cosmetology education, together with its nearly 12,000 students, are teaming up with local women’s shelters and CUT IT OUT, a grassroots organization dedicated to helping those who suffer from domestic abuse, to raise funds for this ever important cause. On October 24th, 88 Empire Beauty Schools will donate 100% of proceeds raised from all hair, skin and nail services to local adopted shelters in their area through Empire’s anti-domestic violence program, Empire Gives Back. Likewise, additional fundraising from August 1st through December 31st will benefit these shelters as well.
“It is our mission not just to raise funds, but to really make a positive change for the victims of domestic abuse, but to also educate our students and our Empire communities about domestic violence, its signs and where victims can find help,” says Frank K. Schoeneman, CEO and chairman for Empire Education Group. “Empire Beauty School students will also receive training instructing them how to positively respond to clients suffering from abuse, and guide victims towards the resources that will provide the hope, refuge and help they urgently need.”
In order to achieve this year’s goal:
-Students and staff are selling $5 purple haircut coupon cards to student salon service customers for October 24th.
-Food, clothing and personal care items will be collected at schools to donate to each local shelter.
-Students have been given the incentive to sell big and win big: The more money each school raises, the more financial assistance it will receive for its Future Professionals Expo fund. (The Future Pros Expo is Empire’s ever-growing annual national student competition in Hershey PA.)
-Clients, students and staff have the opportunity the purchase donation circles for $1 with all funds going directly to the local shelters.
Over the past four years, Empire has raised almost a half-million dollars through Empire Gives Back and National Day of Beauty. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
To find an Empire Beauty School hosting the National Day of Beauty visit: http://www.empire.edu/locator.html
More information on the Empire Gives Back Program: www.empiregivesback.com
Empire Education Group provides quality in cosmetology education, offering students many of the finest training tools and facilities. For over 75 years, Empire has grown to become one of the largest providers of beauty and cosmetology education in North America. Empire’s 94 accredited cosmetology schools in 20 states use exclusive Certified Learning in Cosmetology (CLiC) education curriculum; the company prepares students for successful careers in cosmetology (hair care, skin care, and nail care.)
Schools accredited under Empire Education Group include; Empire Beauty Schools, Concorde Academy, European Academy, The Hair Design School, and Natural Motion Institute. For more information and a complete listing of all schools under the Empire Education Group name, visit: www.empire.edu
In photo: CUT IT OUT founder, Dianne Mooney, speaks to Empire Beauty School students about how the Empire Gives Back program supports the fight against domestic abuse.
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Empire Beauty School Students to hear U.S. Attorney Diane Humeweta Speak on the importance of the fight against Domestic Violence
January 13, 2009- Chandler, AZ- Empire Beauty School in Chandler announces it is joining the nationwide anti-domestic violence program, Empire Gives Back , which was launched by Empire Education Group in October 2008. U.S. Attorney Diane Humetewa will speak with Chandler Empire Beauty School students about how a program like Empire Gives Back can aid victims of domestic violence in Arizona.
Empire has teamed up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify domestic violence relief organizations to be adopted by each of its 87 schools across the country. “Statistics show that one out of three women suffers from domestic violence in her lifetime,” said Diane J. Humetewa, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Empire Beauty School has it right - this is not just a law enforcement or domestic violence counselor’s problem. It is a community problem. With proper training to recognize abuse and to guide victims to help, future salon professionals can become invaluable partners in the fight against domestic abuse.”
Empire Beauty School of Chandler has adopted My Sister’s Place of Phoenix, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, operating to help women break free of abusive situations and help them rebuild their lives. My Sister’s Place is Clients will not only be the recipients of fundraising, clothing and personal care items, they will also be able to visit Empire Beauty School’s student salons for haircut services free of charge. These clients will also be able to receive educational assistance to attend any Empire Beauty School in the country.
The Empire Gives Back program also partnered with CUT IT OUT to train student stylists to recognize the signs of domestic abuse and safely refer clients to resources that can help. Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence will provide CUT IT OUT training sessions to Empire’s cosmetology students in Chandler.
“Empire’s core purpose is to create opportunities for people to improve their lives. The Empire Gives Back program is a way to make a positive improvement not only in our students’ lives, but also members of their community,” said Franklin K. Schoeneman, chairman and CEO of Empire Education Group.
To date over $125,000.00 has been fundraised by Empire students and employees, for domestic violence shelters, as part of the Empire Gives Back program. These funds will be donated to the organizations adopted be each Empire school.
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Empire Beauty School Students to hear U.S. Attorney Speak on the importance of the fight against Domestic Violence
Over $2,500.00 in Funds Raised on Empire’s 4th Annual National Day of Beauty will be donated to Women Against Abuse
January 7, 2009- Philadelphia- Each of Empire Education Group’s 87 beauty schools nationwide has adopted a local domestic violence shelter through the Empire Gives Back program. Empire has worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to launch a comprehensive plan, which includes enhanced student training, public awareness and education efforts, fundraising, victim support, public service announcements, and an online campaign.
For the past four years, each Empire Beauty School has held a National Day of Beauty. On this day 100 percent of the funds raised from services and sales in Empire’s Philadelphia student salons will be donated to Women Against Abuse. Women Against Abuse is a leading advocate and direct service provider for victims of domestic violence, operating the only emergency shelter in Philadelphia for abused women and their children. Women Against Abuse serves more than 10,000 individuals each year through emergency residential services, legal aid, hotline counseling, education and advocacy.
Empire students, educators and staff members raised money by selling haircuts and other salon services, purple ribbon pins and donation circles. Clients of Women Against Abuse will be able to receive complimentary haircut services at Empire Beauty Schools. Additionally these clients will be eligible to receive educational endowments to attend any Empire Beauty School in the country. Quantitatively this educational aid could reach up to $500,000 dollars per year.
Through the National Day of Beauty and multi-platform campaign, Empire Gives Back, Empire Beauty Schools across the country have not just adopted shelters; they have supported the initiatives of the anti-domestic violence organization CUT IT OUT by implementing its educational program in all 87 Empire Beauty Schools. This implementation greatly raises awareness by educating more than 11,000 future beauty professionals per year about recognizing signs of domestic abuse and safely referring clients in need to necessary resources. The student stylists are raising awareness and funds for a cause that they are enthusiastic about and have even personally benefitted from.
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Statewide Anti-Domestic Violance Program, Empire Gives Back, is launched at Empire Beauty School in Arizona
Attorney General Terry Goddard, Avondale Mayor, City Council Members and Chamber of Commerce also participated in the Kickoff Event
January 15, 2009 –Empire Education Group celebrated the successful start of a community outreach program and anti-domestic violence initiative in the newly built cosmetology school in Avondale, AZ. Keynote speaker, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. Goddard and Avondale Mayor, Marie Lopez Rogers, discussed Empire Education Group’s affiliation with CUT IT OUT, which Goddard introduced to Arizona in 2005, and Empire’s own anti-domestic violence initiative called Empire Gives Back.
Empire’s nine beauty schools in Arizona are active participants in the “Empire Gives Back” program which offers victim support, public awareness and educational efforts, fundraising events, and student training, as well as an online program that will be adopted by over 1000 Empire students across the state. The Arizona beauty schools will also implement the CUT IT OUT educational curriculum, which educates cosmetology students on identifying the signs of domestic abuse in their clients and instructs them on how to appropriately refer those victims to safety.
“Empire has a strong tradition of commitment to supporting the communities in which our schools are located and we are delighted to bring that part of our culture to Arizona,” said Franklin K. Schoeneman, CEO and Chairman of Empire Education Group.
After the ribbon cutting at the school, additional representatives from JCPenney™, Smart Style, AACS, Avondale City Council Members, the Chrysalis organization, and the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology enjoyed a student hair show competition, where students styled their mannequins using a Japanese street theme. The guests of the grand opening event were also invited to enjoy select salon services from the students.
Additionally, funds generated from Empire Education Group’s National Day of Beauty in the Phoenix area will donate proceeds raised from three of the schools during the one day of beauty services to Chrysalis. Residents and other clients of the schools’ adopted shelters will also receive free beauty services at Empire Beauty Schools in Arizona, as well as financial support to enroll and attend any Empire Beauty School in the U.S.
Chrysalis was formed over 20 years ago as a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse. Chrysalis offers housing, counseling for victims and offenders, and preventative educational programs.
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New Empire Beauty School Opens in Greater Minneapolis Anti-Domestic Violence Initiative Announced to Region
Minneapolis, MN September 23, 2008 – Empire Education Group, the nation’s largest system of cosmetology schools under common ownership, is opening a new Empire Beauty School in Spring Lake Park (near Fridley). At the same time, Empire will begin a comprehensive anti-domestic violence program called “Empire Gives Back” that includes student training, fundraising, victim support, public awareness and education efforts, and an online campaign.
Empire has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Justice to develop and grow “Empire Gives Back” which is closely tied to CUT IT OUT a program that teaches salon professionals to recognize signs of domestic abuse and safely guide those clients to people and resources that can help them.
”We are proud to give the community, and our industry partners based in Minneapolis, a first-hand look at our campaign against domestic violence, ‘Empire Gives Back.’ The dedicated efforts of our students and educators give this program the potential to truly make a very positive impact in Twin Cities communities and the nation,” states Franklin K. Schoeneman, CEO and Chairman of Empire Education Group.
The new 9,100 square-foot beauty school includes a stylish student salon and cutting edge Teambaord technology in the classrooms. The school brings multiple benefits to the community, quickly adding new jobs in the Minneapolis area, while training the next generation of aspiring beauty professionals, enabling them to pursue their dream careers in the future.
Empire Beauty School students will receive a top-notch education in cosmetology that will prepare them to enter an industry that is growing rapidly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cosmetology is a profession that is projected to grow 14% over the next decade, increasing faster than many other occupations.
Empire Education Group operates three additional beauty schools, all now re-names Empire Beauty Schools (all were formerly Scot Lewis Schools) in the Twin Cities. The schools were acquired in an Empire Beauty Schools merger with Regis Corporation in August 2007 which resulted in the formation of Empire Education Group. These locations will participate in “Empire Gives Back” and the Empire Education Group National Day of Beauty, on October 11. On this day, all monies generated from services and sales in all 4 Minnesota beauty schools will be donated to a local women’s shelter in the community where the schools are located.
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Empire Education Group Announces National Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign "Empire Gives Back" supporting "CUT IT OUT"
August 6, 2008 -Empire Education Group, the nation’s largest system of corporate owned cosmetology schools, is launching a multi-platform campaign called “Empire Gives Back” to support CUT IT OUT, that will benefit nearly 90 communities across the country. CUT IT OUT is a program that teaches salon professionals to recognize signs of domestic abuse and safely refer those clients to people and resources that can help them.
"As one of this country’s leading educators of the next generation of hairstylists, Empire is perfectly positioned to support CUT IT OUT by teaching our more than 11,000 students per year about domestic violence and how to respond when clients are suffering from abuse,” said Franklin K. Schoeneman, CEO and Chairman of Empire Education Group. “But we are not stopping at education. We are dedicated to truly making an impact by promoting public awareness of this issue, which is so often hidden from view. Each of our 87 schools will be raising money, supporting women’s shelters and helping women learn how to get the help they need."
CUT IT OUT was born because women often develop very close relationships with their hairdressers based on trust. Some even confide to their stylists about abuse at home, rather than their friends and family. CUT IT OUT strives to make sure such stylists know what to do with such frightening knowledge. And Empire is setting out to support this effort by educating its own stylists-in-training on the subject, as well as raising awareness and funds for the cause.
"We salute Empire Education Group and their commitment to spreading awareness to help break the cycle of domestic violence in America. It’s a powerful statement about the organization’s compassion and community service," said Dianne Mooney, Founder of the CUT IT OUT program. "All of us at CUT IT OUT are grateful that Empire Gives Back has embraced our educational program in service to victims of violence. Cosmetology students are all in a unique and powerful position to spread the word that there’s no excuse for abuse."
Empire has worked with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office on Violence Against Women to launch a comprehensive platform, which includes enhanced student training, public awareness and education efforts, fundraising, victim support, public service announcements, media outreach and an online campaign. Following is an overview of the specific elements of the initiative:
- Empire will coordinate a national roll out of the CUT IT OUT program to all of its 87 schools across the country. CUT IT OUT instructional sessions will be brought into each of Empire’s cosmetology schools reaching more than eleven-thousand students annually.
- Empire schools will work with the US Attorney’s Office to adopt a local domestic violence support organization within proximity to each Empire school. Empire will offer support with local student fundraising events as well as provide no-charge services to women who are in these shelters.
- Clients seeking support from each “Adopted” domestic violence support organization will also become eligible to receive financial assistance to attend any Empire Beauty School in the country. Quantitatively this educational aid could reach up to half-million dollars per year.
- All Empire schools will participate in the Empire Education Group National Day of Beauty, on October 11th. On this day, all monies generated from services and sales in all 87 student salons will be donated to a local shelter in the community where the school is located. Empire will also devise an incentive program to generate excitement and support among students, educators and school officials for additional local fundraising efforts year-round.