Votre Vu + St. Baldrick’s: Beautiful Partnership to Conquer Childhood Cancers

When Votre Vu founders Harold Zimmerman and Ann Brodette were approached in 2011 to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s 46 Momma’s Shave for the Brave (a group of moms of kids with cancer who were shaving their heads in honor of the 46 children who are diagnosed with cancer every weekday), they jumped at the chance.

But after learning about the state of the fight of childhood cancers and the significant lack of funding for research, they knew they had to do more.

And they did. Amazingly, inspiringly more.

Votre Vu was preparing to launch a new cosmetic line and saw the perfect opportunity to simultaneously “do good and do well.” Their original idea was to donate $1 for every French Accents product sold, allocating a portion to research and a portion in product donations to the 46 Mommas and other moms like them whose children were in treatment. Overwhelmingly the group of 46 Mommas responded, “It’s not about us, it’s about the research.”

And with this, the “Color It Forward” program was launched. Votre Vu was moved by the mothers’ commitment to funding research and agreed to put the entire $1 per product towards research. Each time their Brand Ambassadors sell 5,000 French Accents products, they make a $5,000 donation to the St. Baldricks Foundation to fund lifesaving childhood cancer research. In addition they will send five “Pick Me Up Packs” to support moms of kids in treatment.

But this is only the beginning.

When the partnership was announced at their annual Brand Ambassador conference, Harold Zimmerman, president and co-founder, had his head shaved by a girl whose brother, Max, lost his battle with DIPG, a very aggressive type of childhood cancer.

For the next month, Votre Vu toured the country in their VuBar, a mobile beauty bar, making stops along the way to unveil their new products and tell the story of their involvement with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Their last stop was at the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave event in Hollywood, California. Inspired by their stories shared at the event, Harold Zimmerman shaved again and made an additional $10,000 donation to the Foundation.

In September, as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Votre Vu challenged Facebook supporters to spread the word, and offered a $1 donation for every new “like,” up to $1,000. They reached the $1,000 mark in just six days! Many Brand Ambassadors have also gone above and beyond – spreading the word, soliciting donations, and holding fundraisers of their own to support Votre Vu’s commitment to raising money for childhood cancer research.

Harold and Ann have continued to spread the word, inviting local families of kids with cancer to tell their stories to their Brand Ambassadors nationwide. In Atlanta, they heard from 13-year-old survivor Ciara F. who shared the story of her childhood cancer journey. In Seattle, St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s Family Fund Manager and 2010 46 Momma Kelly Forebaugh told the story of her son Jackson’s journey. And in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, 2011 46 Momma Deb Fuller spoke of her daughter Hope F., another child lost to DIPG.

“Every time I meet a 46 Momma, I never fail to be amazed and humbled by her story … her strength … and her commitment to continue the fight,” Harold said. “And every time, these encounters only serve to make me – and Votre Vu – more resolute in our support and commitment to the cause – and to Color it Forward!”

Votre Vu’s partnership and dedication to supporting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is nothing less than inspiring. Check out their products that give back or email Sponsorships@StBaldricks.org to learn more about getting your company involved in the fight against childhood cancers.