Macy’s amplifies Black-owned, founded and designed brands and continues
commitment to Black community through a round-up and online donation campaign benefitting UNCF
New York, NY – January 11, 2024 – Macy’s honors the achievements and history of
Black Americans this winter through a partnership with UNCF (United Negro College Fund), and a commitment to
Black-owned, founded and designed brands. From January 15th through February 29th,
Macy’s will host a special round-up in-stores and online donation campaign benefitting UNCF to provide
deserving students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with scholarships and critical
funds to further and deepen educational pursuits. As part of this campaign, customers can donate online or round-up
in-store purchases, up to $.99, to directly support Macy’s Mission Every One Scholarship Fund.
Additionally, Macy’s will feature Black-owned, founded and designed brands by hosting online shopping events
and more as part of its commitment to amplify and bolster diverse businesses and suppliers.
“As we continue to build a brighter future with bold representation, the achievements of Black Americans will
be showcased this winter across our brands. By working to support and amplify underrepresented suppliers, we aim to
provide our customers access to products that meet their evolving needs,” said Shawn Outler, Macy’s,
Inc. chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer. “Mission Every One, our social purpose
platform, guides our actions and decision making as a company. A key tenet of this work is empowering our future
leaders. The support and critical funding we, along with our customers and colleagues, have provided to UNCF and
other community organizations champion the next generation.”
Since 2021, Macy’s has raised more than $3.3 million for UNCF, benefiting more than 450 HBCU students through
academic and emergency aid scholarships that support their degree completion. In its second year, the Macy’s
Mission Every One Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for students attending an accredited HBCU. In the
2023-24 school year, Macy’s funding provided more than 140 scholarships. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000
students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country.
“As we observe Black History Month, we are extremely grateful for Macy’s steadfast commitment.
Macy’s Mission Every One Fund has been instrumental in fueling UNCF’s mission to provide access
to quality education for underrepresented students,” said Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr., executive vice president
and chief development officer, UNCF. “This year, UNCF celebrates its 80th anniversary, an
achievement made possible because of outstanding partners like Macy’s. Together, we are making a significant
impact in creating brighter futures for our youth.”
As part of Macy’s, Inc. social purpose platform and a commitment to fuel accelerated growth and amplify
diverse-owned brands through Mission Every One, select Black-owned, founded and designed brands will be
highlighted online via macys.com, in marketing and across Macy’s social channels.
Select Black-owned, founded and designed brands featured this February include:
- AAJ by Aminah Abdul Jillil, a luxury shoe brand known for its bold yet
feminine design aesthetic.
- BUTTAH by Dorion Renaud, a skincare line of products geared
towards melanin-rich skin.
- Fashion Fair by Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, a brand that creates innovative
dermatologist-approved products for diverse skin tones.
- Harlem Candle Co. by Teri Johnson, a luxury home fragrance
brand that specializes in scented candles inspired by Harlem's Jazz Age and its legendary residents.
- OMA The Label by Neumi Anekhe, a jewelry line that diversifies and defies
fashion and beauty standards.
- Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross, hair care products for natural hair designed for curly, coily
& tight-textured hair patterns.
- Soap Sox by Ray Phillips, an adorable line of bath products that make bath time fun for kids
and easy for parents.
- SPGBK by Kwame Molden (pronounced ‘Spring Break’), a vibrant and
colorful watch brand that helps customers express their authenticity.
- Things II Come by Sherwayne Mahoney, a new footwear brand that aims to create the best detailed
and most elegant designs in Italian-made shoes and sneakers.
- World of EPI by Lisa Williams, the largest Black-owned manufacturer of multicultural dolls and
toys.
These brands’ unique stories will also be showcased on macys.com/purpose.
Additionally, “Macy’s Live” will host a
live shopping event on February 1 highlighting an array of Black-owned, founded and designed products, co-hosted by
Aminah Abdul Jillil, owner of AAJ by Aminah.
Macy’s iconic Herald Square windows will showcase influential Black visionaries created by Brooklyn-based
artist Ashley Buttercup, alongside a window display featuring product from Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross. The display
can be viewed from February 1 to 27.
In addition to UNCF, Macy’s will continue to create positive change for the Black community through its
longtime commitment to various nationwide and local organizations focused on social justice, economic development
and education. This includes providing grants to a variety of organizations including 100 Black Men of America,
Inc.; Black Retail Action Group (BRAG); Fifteen Percent Pledge; National Action Network (NAN); National Urban
League; The King Center; The Memorial Foundation; an annual contribution to the education and research foundations
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. totaling
$1,750,000 as of January 2024.
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About Macy’s
Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M), serves as the style source for generations of
customers. With one of the nation’s largest e-commerce platforms powered by macys.com and mobile app, paired
with a nationwide network of stores, Macy’s delivers the most convenient and seamless shopping experience,
offering great values in apparel, home, beauty, accessories and more. Macy’s gives customers even more ways to
shop and own their style through an off-price assortment at Macy’s Backstage and at our highly curated
Macy’s small format stores. Each year, Macy’s provides millions with unforgettable experiences through
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® and
helps our customers celebrate special moments, big and small. We’re guided by our purpose—to create a
brighter future with bold representation—that empowers more voice, choice and ownership for our colleagues,
customers and communities.
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To
serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through
scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for
the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities,
UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of
bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned
by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship
and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports
more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF
torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to
waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at
@UNCF.
Christine Olver Nealon/Ryan Gannon
Communications@macys.com