Happy December!

We made it to the end of the year! Warmest holiday greetings to you and your loved ones! As we wrap up another meaningful year, I want to thank you for being such a vital part of the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls family. Your belief in our mission continues to light the way for the girls and young women we serve.

It’s Giving Tuesday! - the global day of generosity - and we are so grateful for the continued support of our amazing foundation family. If you feel led to give, we invite you to make a tax-deductible donation at shaunfoundationforgirls.org/donate. Every gift helps us expand opportunity, access, and hope for girls across the country.

Since we last connected, it has been a wonderfully busy month! I was deeply honored to be nominated for a WIN Award by Women in Media, an organization dedicated to promoting positive images of women in media—work that aligns so closely with our own values.

I also had the joy of attending a beautiful celebration honoring the iconic Debbie Allen as she prepared to receive her Honorary Oscar. The evening was made even more fun as Tom Cruise, who also received an Honorary Oscar, was in attendance as well—truly a memorable night!

This month, we are also thrilled to highlight our new partner, In a Perfect World. We had a wonderful time at their anniversary celebration where they honored LaTanya Richardson and Samuel L. Jackson. IAPW’s commitment to children around the world is inspiring, and we’re excited for what lies ahead together. Be sure to learn more about their incredible mission in our Partner Spotlight.

I also recently returned from Washington, D.C., where I attended the HBCU Honors and had the privilege of presenting entrepreneur Janice Bryant Howroyd with the Visionary Award—a truly powerful and inspiring moment. I was styled for the evening by our fabulous fashion contributor LaDonna Whittingham, wearing a stunning dress by April & Alex, which is this month’s Featured Fashion Brand.

And finally, we are so proud to congratulate our very own Advisory Board Member, Connie Orlando, on receiving the Gracie’s Leadership Award from the Alliance for Women in Media—a well-deserved honor for an extraordinary leader.

As the year draws to a close, I am filled with gratitude for each of you who walk alongside us on this journey. From all of us at the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls, I wish you a safe, joyful, and loving holiday season, and a New Year filled with peace, purpose, and possibility.

With Love,

Shaun

Shaun Robinson

President and Founder

S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls

Our Cozy Gift Pick

The comfiest present you'll give—or keep! We're loving the luxuriously soft

E Marie collection this holiday season.

Founded by our friend Eula Smith, it's our go-to for chic travel essentials and cozy-at-home favorites.

Partner Spotlight

This month, we're excited to spotlight an organization celebrating 20 incredible years of service: In A Perfect World (IAPW), founded by our dear friend Manuela Testolini.

For two decades, IAPW has empowered the next generation of changemakers with the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to thrive. Through social-emotional learning, leadership development, service, and global citizenship, they help young people grow into the leaders our world needs.

As one of our grantees, we're proud to support an all-girls cohort of INSPIRE: What Makes Me, Me?, a powerful program for teens focused on identity, strength, and self-awareness.

Join us in celebrating IAPW’s 20 years of impact—and in cheering them on as they continue building a brighter world!

Michelle Obama

Former First Lady of the Unites States, Attorney, Author & Advocate

Book of the Month

Michelle Obama’s newest book, The Look, is here—and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

Filled with over 200 stunning photographs, many never-before-seen, it takes readers on a personal journey through Michelle Obama’s style evolution, shared in her own words for the first time. With honesty, humor, and heart, she inspires readers to stand tall in their truth and shine with confidence.

A must-read for girls and women ready to celebrate the power and beauty of being unapologetically themselves!

End-of-Year Essentials: Setting Your Organization Up for Success in 2026

As we approach the close of 2025, it's time to reflect on your organization's journey and prepare for the year ahead. For those of us leading nonprofits serving girls of color, year-end isn't just about closing the books—it's about honoring the work we've done and positioning ourselves to go even further in 2026.

Celebrate Your Wins (Yes, Really)

Ivy Walker

Serial Entrepreneur, Author & Risk Management Expert

Treasurer, S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls

Before diving into logistics, take a moment to acknowledge what your organization accomplished this year. Whether you served five girls or five hundred, expanded programming, or simply kept your doors open during challenging times—that matters. Document these wins. Share them with your board, your team, and your community. These stories aren't just feel-good moments; they're essential narratives for your funding proposals and annual reports.

Jayne Morgan, M.D.

@drjaynemorgan

Cardiologist and V.P. of Medical Affairs, Hello Heart

Adj. Ass. Prof. of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine

Creator of the Stairwell Chronicles

Advisory Board Member,

S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls

Healthy Her: What is the Black Box?

There are a lot of questions about the black box label being removed from all women’s hormone therapy recently. So let’s discuss. But first, what is a black box warning?

This is the warning that is literally encased inside of a black box on medications to alert physicians and patients to medications that may cause great harm, or possess the highest levels of danger. It doesn’t mean that black boxed medications cannot be prescribed nor used. Rather it means that judicious and careful consideration should be undertaken with a careful risk/benefit analysis when considering the use of any medications within the black box. Women’s hormonal therapy has been a part of the black box label for now more than 2 decades, and yet there was never great evidence for this.



And so how did we get here?

Mindfulness Tip: Healing Head to Toe Body Scan Meditation

Your body is always telling you something. It has something to show you, something to say, and when you tune in and listen, you can learn so, so much. Through the mind is how we can begin to bring in inner thoughts, feelings and emotions that allow us the space to heal.

Laura Saltman

Mindfulness, Meditation and Metaphysical Teacher

@laurasaltman

In this way, we are the creator of the experience rather than the effect of unconscious thoughts and beliefs. This guided narration track is to remind you to look and listen for the body's cues and release them to a higher self.

LaDonna Whittingham

Costume Designer

Local705 Film/TV Costumer and Wardrobe Stylist

The Edit: Featured Fashion Brand

April & Alex, led by Creative Director Didi Akinyelure (@didiakin), delivers eco-conscious, fashion-forward womenswear and footwear with a timeless yet daring edge.

Carried at Nordstrom and spotted on Shaun Robinson at the BET HBCU Honors, the brand’s pieces blend elegance with bold, modern artistry.

I loved styling Shaun for this red-carpet moment! Take a peek behind the scenes and see her April & Alex look hit the stage:

A brand to watch and one to know. Follow their Instagram (@aprilalexshop) to explore more of their striking collections.

Breaking Barriers: This Month's Must-Reads

The S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls is a grant-making, 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented girls and young women. We support initiatives empowering girls in the key areas of our mission: (S)TEM, (H)EALTH, (A)RTS, (U)NITY and (N)EIGHBORHOODS.