Jalen Hurts Foundation, FosterMore, Women in Entertainment and More

FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO

Dear Friends,

In this season of gratitude, we want to thank you for a collaborative and deeply fulfilling year of growth. This year, our fiscally sponsored funds have grown as more artists and athletes in our community generously commit to giving their time and resources to improving the lives of others.

A focus on youth development is at the forefront of our collective work. Investing in young people to ensure that they have access to quality education, career opportunities, positive mentors, and tools for their emotional well-being, is a critical component to strengthening our communities for years to come.

We are proud to partner with The Hollywood Reporter on its Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program to serve young women in Los Angeles. Utilizing the services of the EIF Careers Program, we will help to build a pathway for these young women from high school to college to career.

We thank our partners who are lifting up young people across the world. The helping hands of Jalen Hurts, Kevin Love, Trevor Noah, Charlize Theron, Colin Kaepernick, Barbara Broccoli, Sabrina Ionescu, Devin Booker, and Carmela Wallace are bringing confidence, optimism, and opportunity to countless young people.

On December 3, Giving Tuesday, we invite you to support EIF and our philanthropic partners in our efforts to build sustainable support for the leaders of tomorrow.

For a young person on your holiday list, please consider gifting the children’s book Freedom Pancakes for Ukraine. A non-traditional picture book, it tells the story of the power of kindness and compassion in wartime.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to EIF’s fund partner, the Ukraine Children’s Action Project (UCAP), which is responding to the urgent educational and psychological needs of Ukrainian children.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season,

Nicole Sexton

FISCALLY SPONSORED FUND SPOTLIGHT
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’S WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program pairs some of the brightest young women from underserved high schools across Los Angeles with the most powerful female executives in film and TV. Mentors help to prepare the students for college and beyond, and the program culminates each year with four mentees receiving full-ride scholarships to Loyola Marymount and Chapman University. A total of 275 students have participated in the program, with mentees having received more than $14 million in scholarships.

Launched in 2009, THR’s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program will celebrate its 15th anniversary at this year’s gala honoring Nicole Kidman with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award and Selena Gomez with the Equity in Entertainment Award. An annual highlight of the breakfast, this year’s celebration will see more than $1 million in university scholarships presented to high school seniors from the program.

The Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program is now a fiscally sponsored fund of EIF. Our partnership with THR and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles will bring young women engaged in entertainment career pathway programs into the mentorship program, allowing the students to become career-ready as they simultaneously pursue their education.

Learn More About The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program

FISCALLY SPONSORED FUND SPOTLIGHT
JALEN HURTS FOUNDATION

Founded by the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, the Jalen Hurts Foundation was formed out of years of service and gratitude to the communities that have become a home away from home for him. Its mission is to strengthen communities by servicing and advancing youth, providing resources and support programs to create positive role models. Jalen has grown from the light of encouragement and believes youth across the country possess strengths and abilities that can thrive with inspiration and education, uplifting individuals and entire communities.

Hurts recently provided $200,000 worth of air conditioners to 10 Philadelphia schools and is continuing the Keep It Cool Initiative by launching a season-long TDs for ACs campaign. In the 2024-25 season, the foundation will donate $5,000 per Jalen Hurts touchdown to improve air conditioning at ten additional Philadelphia schools.

Learn More About the Jalen Hurts Foundation

FISCALLY SPONSORED FUND SPOTLIGHT
FOSTERMORE

FosterMore raises awareness about the youth in America’s foster care system, shining a light on the amazing potential of youth and families in the foster care system while empowering all foster youth to reach their dreams through education. FosterMore encourages all of us to play a part in ensuring that youth in foster care receive the support, nurturing, and guidance they need to succeed in life.

November is National Adoption Month, so let’s remember the 120,000 kids still waiting and encourage more families to open their hearts and homes.

“I never saw a difference in raising an adopted child versus my own biological child. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on something. This was always my first choice, even when I was in a relationship. I was very honest with my partners that I was open to having my own biological kids but that adoption had to be a part of my life. I felt that strongly about it.” – Charlize Theron

Learn More About FosterMore

PSA SPOTLIGHT
XQ INSTITUTE
“GOOD QUESTION”

The urgency for innovative approaches to education has never been more pressing. With chronic absenteeism, teacher shortages, and increasing evidence of a mental health crisis amongst our students, it is crucial that we rethink and redesign the high school experience. Across the country, communities are rising to this challenge, and remarkable transformations are already underway. Could your community be next?

The PSA, created in partnership with EIF, is part of the work of XQ Institute, a nonprofit organization that aims to rethink high school education. XQ Institute works with schools, educators, students, families, and community leaders to create innovative models for high schools. XQ Institute’s tools and resources are designed to be customized to the needs of each school.

Watch the PSA

PSA SPOTLIGHT
THE KIDS MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
“CONVERSATIONS FROM THE YELLOW COUCH”

When a child falls ill or breaks a bone, do you know what to do? For most of us, the answer is yes. Now, what if a child has a panic attack? Or is experiencing mental turmoil that causes depression or feelings of helplessness? Do you still know what to do? For most of us, the answer is likely unclear.

Children’s mental health has been declared a national crisis by many, including the U.S. Surgeon General. A new survey of 500 parents through the Kids Mental Health Foundation finds 70% of parents and caregivers with children under the age of 18 are concerned about their kids’ mental health and wellness.

The Kids Mental Health Foundation, in partnership with EIF, recently launched a PSA campaign featuring real parents to not only get the word out about the children’s mental health crisis we are currently living through but to provide information and access to free resources.

Watch the PSA