It has been my dream for Born This Way Foundation’s work to expand globally in an intentional, youth-led way. To partner with young people across the world to encourage mental health conversations and expand knowledge about and access to mental health resources. I am so proud to announce that through a partnership with Cotton On Foundation, the global philanthropic arm of the Australian retailer, Cotton On, we will be able to do just that.

From today through World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2023, Cotton On Foundation will donate 100% of net proceeds from an exclusive “Kinder, Braver, Together” product line, with the goal of raising $5M USD to support global youth mental health. I invite you to click here to learn more.

Here is a message from my daughter introducing the partnership:

This $5M USD will allow us to expand our work to 10 countries across the world and I am also excited to invite you, as a member of our Born This Way Foundation community, to join us by:

Earning your Be There Certificate and inviting a friend to do the same.

When we are prepared to have kind, safe, and informed conversations about mental health to help ourselves and our loved ones, we’re helping to reduce stigma and share necessary resources and support. The Be There Certificate is a free, online mental health course available in English, French, and Spanish that provides a simple and actionable framework, teaching people how to recognize when someone might be struggling, understand their role in supporting that person, and learn how to connect them to the help they need and deserve. Earn your Be There Certificate and invite a loved one to join you by visiting: certificate.bethere.org/cottonon.

Nominating a community organization to receive funding to support youth mental health.

In partnership with Cotton On Foundation, Born This Way Foundation is dedicating $1,500,000 USD in Kindness in Community Fund grants to fund free, accessible, community-informed resources to support youth mental health. We request nominations of NGOs based in Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Learn more and nominate an organization at: bornthisway.foundation/kic.

Whether you are earning your Be There Certificate, nominating a local organization to receive a Kindness in Community Fund grant, sharing about this partnership online, or practicing intentional kindness for yourself or a loved one, we are grateful for every single thing you do to help build a kinder, braver world. You and your kindness are important and needed.