Jessicurl is dedicated to more than just good hair days; we are a business committed to making a positive contribution to the world around us. We feel very strongly that Jessicurl should benefit more than just its owners. We launched the Woman Around the World program in May 2004 to raise money and awareness for different charities and non-profits around the globe.

Once I realized that this business was going to work, I knew that I wanted it to be a socially responsible business that gives back to our local AND global communities. But I thought that had to wait until we were making a certain amount of profit before implementing such a program. Two things happened that made me change my mind about the timeline.

First, I saw Dr. Katherine Hamlin on Oprah. She has dedicated her life to curing women in Ethiopia of fistulas, a horrible condition that can happen during obstructed childbirth. She opened the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in 1974 and has treated over 25,000 women at no charge. I cried while I watched that interview. I also decided that when Jessicurl could start donating money, I wanted that hospital to be the first recipient. I realized what a luxury it is for us to be so concerned with frizz-free curls!

Soon after that, I saw an interview on TV with Michael Franti, lead singer of the band Spearhead. Spearhead is known for their socially conscious lyrics and for speaking out about injustice in the world and their music is basically the soundtrack of the Jessicurl factory. :-) During the interview, Franti referred to the band as a "human rights organization." This caused an immediate shift in my paradigm of what goals I can set for my business. I thought, "If a band can be a human rights organization, can't my Jessicurl?" All of a sudden, my business became about a lot more than hair!!

Since that time we’ve raised over $4800 for a variety of different charities and also seek out other ways that Jessicurl can give back to the world around us. Had it not been for Oprah and Michael Franti, who knows how long it would have taken me to get there.

Nov. 14, 2005 -
Jess meets Michael Franti,
one of the inspirations for the
Women Around The World program.

Our Philosophy on being a small business in America.

In this time of large companies outsourcing American jobs to other countries, we are growing more and more committed to acting locally while thinking globally. As a small business in Humboldt County, CA, we feel strongly about contributing to the economic growth of our hometown. While some businesses of our size might find it more convenient to outsource product manufacturing to a major cosmetics production facility in another part of the country (or overseas), we are determined to grow our business in our county, thus creating much needed jobs for our local economy. As our production needs grow, so too will the number of local people we employ. Humboldt County has been very kind to us in the short time we’ve lived here and we plan on giving back for as long as we can.

As a young woman business owner, I am very aware of how LUCKY I am to be a woman in THIS country. I am allowed the freedom to own a business, keep my maiden name after being married, and I can wear whatever I feel like when I leave my house. Not all women of the world are afforded these freedoms, and the difference between us and them is simply a matter of where we are born. Our potential as women is basically left entirely up to fate, and this irony is just too strong for me to ignore. I don’t consider myself any more important than women in third world countries.

For this reason, I have never viewed our Public Service program as optional. I believe we’re all in this together, and for as long as I’m around I’ll be doing what I can to help as many people as I can. There’s no reason why a hair company can’t also be a human rights organization. :-)

One of my favorite bands, Spearhead, has a song lyric that really sums up this idea for me: “No life worth more than any other, no sister worth less than any brother.”

Jessicurl launched the Women Around The World program in May 2004 when we took donations for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. Thanks to everyone that donated and even those who simply bought our products. Your contributions made it possible for Jessicurl to donate $900, enough to cure two women suffering from fistulas.
Every few months we will feature a different charity that is working to support women around the world (including here in the U.S.). It is our hope that by spotlighting the great work done by these charities, Jessicurl customers will be as inspired as we are to make their own donations.

To make this as easy as possible, and also to encourage your generosity, the Jessicurl shopping cart now offers the option of making a donation to our featured charity. As an incentive, Jessicurl will reward your contribution with a discount code for savings on your next order. This is how it boils down:

If you would like to make a donation, but don’t want the discount card, we will gladly send it to whomever you like.

We think this is such a good idea that we’re actively trying to get other women owned internet businesses to adopt this awesome fundraising model. Imagine how much money could be raised?? Please check out the website of our friend Becky Yeager at SpiritGoat.com. Becky is generously offering bars of wonderful hand made soap in exchange for your donation to the Cache County Children's Justice Center. Becky also participates in the Lotion For Lives program, a collective of toiletry businesses dedicated to giving back to their communities.

We would like to hear about what is important to you. To suggest a charity you'd like Jessicurl to support, contact: publicservice@jessicurl.com

Learn about our current featured charity, Smile Train