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Headbands of Hope

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Headbands of Hope
FoundedApril 2012; 12 years ago (2012-04)
FounderJessica Ekstrom, CEO
Location
Area served
United States
Websitewww.headbandsofhope.org

Headbands of Hope, LLC is an organization founded by Jessica Ekstrom who wanted to make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer. For every item sold, a headband is donated to a child battling cancer. Since launching in 2012, Headbands of Hope has donated over 285,000 headbands to every hospital across the United States and in thirteen countries in addition, in more recent times she's donated around 650,000 headbands to children with illnesses globally.[1] Headbands of Hope is carried in thousands of stores across the world. They've been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Vanity Fair, Seventeen Magazine, and even supported by celebrities like Lea Michele, Lauren Conrad, Kelsea Ballerini, Lili Reinhart and more. [2] Headbands of Hope is a for-profit organization.[3][4]

History

Headbands of Hope was envisioned by Ekstrom after an internship at the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2011.[2] Noticing that many girls who received treatment preferred wearing headbands instead of wigs, Ekstrom began to work distributing headbands to them.[2] The organization launched in April 2012.[2] By January 31, 2013, the organization had donated more than 3,000 headbands.[5] The style of delivery, sending the headbands to hospitals rather than individual patients, was taken from TOMS Shoes, a supporter of the organization.[5] Other products include shirts and bumper stickers.[5]

Production

The headbands, made in a variety of shapes and sizes, are mostly adjustable. They are tagged and branded in their warehouse in Cornelius, North Carolina. [6] Ekstrom chose the company with help from the College of Design and the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, where she graduated.[5] Styles are determined by Ekstrom and her team of designers, who look at popular trends .[6]

Outside the United States, production has extended to Canada and is distribution is planned to expand in Peru in 2014.[7]

Marketing

The headbands are marketed by representatives on college campuses. By January 2013, there were over 20 representatives [5][7] The "Hope Club," allows cancer patients who have received headbands to post photos and biographies.[8] The enterprise has received recognition from both NBC's Today Show and Fitness Magazine.[5]

Recently, the organization has started marketing more general headwear through Headwear of Hope, donating headwear to young boys undergoing cancer treatment.[3] Like the parent organization, along with each item it donates $1 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation .[3]

A recent startup 2017 in Providence, Rhode Island called Impact Everything uses the slogan "Every Purchase has a Purpose", The company only sells items that have some form of a donation to a cause, seeks wholesalers that hire "marginalized people", and currently contributes to 12 different causes. Wholesale companies include "Headband of Hope" and for every headband purchased "Impact Everything" donates a headband directly to a child with cancer at Hasbro Children's Hospital.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, Author, and Entrepreneur | Jess Ekstrom". Jess Ekstrom | Helping women turn passion into profit by telling your story through book writing and public speaking. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  2. ^ a b c d Phil Hall (27 January 2014). "Jessica Ekstrom, founder and CEO, Headbands of Hope, Raleigh, N.C." Business Superstar.
  3. ^ a b c Henao, Juan (23 January 2014). "Headbands of Hope founder to speak, hold fundraiser for THON". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  4. ^ Fallon, Nicole (21 November 2013). "15 Great Examples of Socially Responsible Businesses". Business News Daily. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Hatcher, Jessica (1 January 2013). "The Technician: Headbands for Hope Turns Heads at a National Level". Headbands for Hope Turns Heads at a National Level. The Technician. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  6. ^ a b Kirby, Jennifer (1 July 2013). "FEATURE - Headbands of Hope". Endurance Magazine. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b Maguire, Marti (15 February 2014). "Entrepreneur soothes cancer in the young, one headband at a time". Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Chic Vendor Spotlight". Chic Vendor Spotlight: "Headbands of Hope" Offers More Than Just Adorable Flower Girl Accessories. Merci New York. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  9. ^ Providence Journal- Retrieved 2017-03-27
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