Thrive Causemetics has always been fueled by friendship. I started Thrive Causemetics after losing my friend Kristy to cancer at 24 years old with a mission to empower everyone to truly thrive in their lives through creating, high performance, vegan cosmetics + skincare that gives back with every purchase. One of the greatest gifts that our Bigger Than Beauty™ mission has given me is the continued gift of friendship with amazing people like Nalie Agustin. Nalie is a best-selling Author, Speaker, and Wellness Advocate living + thriving with metastatic breast cancer. 

My relationship with Nalie started over social media, shortly after I decided to launch Thrive Causemetics. She now has become one of my closest friends, in fact, we now call each other soul sisters. Nalie was one of our first beneficiaries of our product donation program and is still intimately involved with our company and philanthropic mission. From the moment I met her, I noticed she had Kristy’s same magnetic spirit. Nalie, like Kristy, instantaneously makes you know that you matter and that you belong. 

 

Since the day I founded Thrive Causemetics, we have always named our color cosmetics after inspiring, authentic people and when it came time to launch our second product, Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner™, I knew the perfect shade to honor my newfound friend, Nalie: our gorgeous chocolate brown shimmer shade. The microshimmer in the Nalie eyeliner reminds me of the sparkle in her eyes and her spirit. The chocolate brown reminds me of her beautiful chestnut eyes that see into your soul and make you feel seen. 

 Nalie recently self-published her first book, 'The Diary of Nalie', which we are sending you today along with your Nalie eyeliner*. The Diary of Nalie is more than a memoir: It is an ode to personal growth - a poetic piece empowering you to live your most meaningful and purposeful life, no matter what you’re going through.

 

Nalie is my “why”, she is a huge part of my personal purpose and why I feel so privileged to come to work every day. I hope you enjoy reading this book and I hope every time you wear the Nalie eyeliner you are reminded that you are seen and know that you matter.

Love, 

Karissa

Founder + CEO, Thrive Causemetics

 

*Available while supplies last.

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In honor of the life and legacy of Breonna Taylor, our $100,000 donation to the University of Louisville launched the Breonna Taylor Memorial Endowment, a major boost for the Breonna Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund in Nursing. This scholarship supports the future dreams of nursing students from Kentucky, and we hope this donation will inspire additional major gifts and donations to reach the $2,000,000 full endowment needed to ensure the scholarship lives on forever.

“Like so many around the world, the employees and customers of Thrive Causemetics were heartbroken and horrified by the tragic death of Breonna Taylor, and the injustice that was served in her killing. As a way to turn pain into purpose, our team went to work to find ways that we could help keep her legacy alive. While our hearts ache for the beautiful life that was lost, we are comforted to know that Breonna’s legacy will live on in the hearts of the beneficiaries who receive this scholarship, as well as the lives those individuals change.” - Karissa Bodnar, CEO of Thrive Causemetics

Breonna Taylor was an emergency room technician at UofL Health, the University of Louisville health system, at the time of her death. She was killed by police officers serving a “no-knock” warrant at her home in March 2020. Her career aspiration was to become a nurse.

“Our family is amazed by this contribution. The women in our family are all in health care, and Thrive Causemetics is bringing smiles to our faces and tears to our eyes, because this will pave the way for so many others to live Breonna’s dream of working in the medical field. In a time where health care workers are needed more than ever, we are so thankful. Thrive Causemetics’ generosity is going to help so many. Breonna’s legacy and the outpouring of support like this continues to bring us so much light.” - Attorney Sam Aguiar, on behalf of Breonna Taylor’s mother Tamika Palmer.

We have also also has donated an additional $3,000 toward an immediate-use scholarship in honor of Breonna Taylor, which has been granted to UofL freshman Kaelyn Goatley, who plans to work as a labor and delivery nurse or in the area of pediatric care upon graduation.

“Becoming a nurse means so much to me because as a Black woman, I know there are injustices everywhere in the world and the health care field is no different. I will fight for every single one of my patients and make sure they receive the best care – this scholarship is what’s helping me work towards that goal, and I am extremely grateful." - Kaelyn Goatley, scholarship recipient

Thrive Causemetics and UofL share a common commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Breonna Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund supports students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities, low-income and first-generation college students. In choosing the recipient for the scholarship, preference is granted to a Black female who is a Kentucky resident, as was Taylor.

Donor investment reduces financial obstacles for students and allows them to unleash their full potential in future careers. This scholarship helps ensure workforce diversity, with a vision toward the elimination of racial inequality in health care.

“There could not be a better company to partner with on this endowment and scholarship, as its philosophy of helping women thrive through donations from product sales allows organizations to inspire women to be more. This scholarship helps a woman obtain her dream of becoming a nurse and supporting the community in that role.” - Sonya Hardin, Ph.D., APRN NP-C, FAAN, dean, UofL School of Nursing. 

The Breonna Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the UofL Health board members in summer 2020, and so far, several hundred donors from throughout the United States have given to that fund. In addition to Goatley, one other student has received the scholarship, which is a four-year renewable award. 

Click HERE for more information on the new endowment. 

To learn more about the UofL School of Nursing, visit their website.

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