Beauty entrepreneurs, NCB Foundation grant a wish for teen moms
Published:Saturday | January 13, 2024 | 12:05 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
They say nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is, in fact, beautiful. Philanthropy met make-up artistry when the National Commercial Bank Foundation joined creative forces with actress and make-up artist Kimberly Patterson and Mirror Mirror Beauty Supplies, to empower teen moms from the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) with the skills and the confidence to chart their own course in life.
The one-day training session, entitled Beauty and the Brain, saw attendees gathering at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel to gain hands-on experience in the field of cosmetology. Led by a warm and radiant Patterson, the make-up professional gave a brief introduction before going into the lesson, providing a guiding light for her attentive students who were eager to build on their foundation of knowledge and understanding.
There was also a question-and-answer segment, which gave the girls the opportunity to get involved and be a part of the journey.
When the time came to put those theories to test, they grabbed the complimentary training kit, courtesy of Mirror Mirror Beauty Supplies, rising to the occasion and exceeding expectations, displaying technical aptitude which unlocked a new chapter of creativity, all while paying close attention to details.
The teen moms didn’t hesitate to share how great the workshop experience was for them, noting that they are all planning to apply the knowledge in a pragmatic fashion. They were particularly pleased by their MUA tutor who happily engaged and entertained them from start to finish.
The overseeing teacher beamed with great pride at the remarkable progress evident in the room.
“The girls were amazing! They stepped into that creative space and they owned it! I broke out in tears just seeing them apply that knowledge! It’s important for these girls to not only have a dream, but to know that dreaming never stops. We need them to dream and know that there is more in life for them. I was truly honoured to meet and teach these wonderful young ladies,” Patterson told GoodHeart.
Equally impressed by the high level of artistry present were the volunteer models, who were grateful for the make-over.
From there, everyone savoured lunch provided by the hotel before engaging in a brief session on financial literacy and responsibility.
According to Melissa Hendrickson, director of the NCB Foundation, women are the backbone of society. It is for that reason that they were the target of this Grant a Wish initiative.
“Women in Jamaica are expected to take care of everything. We are expected to be good mothers, have a job, take care of our families, and make sure we spend enough time with them. But we also have to ensure that the school fee is paid, the bills are taken care of and the children are happy. So if you support women in this country, the country can only get better,” said Hendrickson.
After deciding on the recipient - the WCJF - Hendrickson reached out to Patterson, requesting a quote for the occasion. Upon hearing about the cause, the actress and MUA donated her services free of cost and helped to bring Mirror Mirror on board, who gifted the glam kits.
With those plans in place, NCB Foundation was able to donate $180,000 to the WCJF.
WCJF Projects Coordinator Natalie Fuller expressed her sincere gratitude for the event and the funds, “This was a wonderful initiative. We are all about economical empowerment for girls. And this workshop has already enhanced the skills of our girls and we’re happy about that. I was filled with joy seeing them in action and I can see that one or two of them will take it to another level,” she said, adding, “The funds will take us a far way. Even though we are funded by the government, there are additional projects that the budget cannot accommodate.”