To advance the fashion industry by encouraging gifted and enterprising young people to pursue careers in design, merchandising, retailing and business, ensuring the industry will continue to attract dedicated, capable and creative individuals.
MISSION
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund, the premier educational fashion non-profit in the United States. Established nearly 80 years ago with a mission to advance the fashion industry by encouraging talented, creative young people to pursue careers in the field, the FSF offers scholarships and comprehensive programs to the best and brightest fashion students in both business in design.
We believe in education and giving back to the industry that has given us so much, and one of the best ways to do that is to support the future leaders of fashion. I invite you to discover the worthwhile investment that we make in young people who dream of working in our exciting industry, and join us in our mission.
Peter Sachse, YMA FSF President
Macy’s, Chief Growth Officer
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As the largest and oldest scholarship organization serving the needs of the fashion industry, the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund seeks to identify and create career opportunities for young people worldwide. Since inception in 1937, we have been working with and for the fashion community by seeking the best and brightest students from around the globe to propel the industry forward.
Annually we present scholarships from $5,000 to $30,000, leading the industry in support and commitment to education. Our scholarship, intern and mentoring programs bring young talent to the forefront and after graduation, we continue to work with our alumni to further careers of the young professionals we consider to be the future of fashion.
Douglas Evans, YMA FSF Executive Director
invest in the future of fashioN
invest in the future of fashioN
We regard our scholarship grants as a very worthwhile investment in the future of the fashion industry and, since inception, have awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to thousands of students worldwide. Record donations of over $20 million have been received in the past ten years, including a $1 million gift from the Estate of Geoffrey Beene and over $5 million in donation from the Geoffrey Beene Foundation to underwrite scholarships and enable naming rights of our annual dinner.
Now, in addition to the approximately two hundred $5,000 scholarships we award annually, we also award four outstanding Geoffrey Beene scholars with $30,000 scholarships to pursue their education and career goals, and another four scholars with $10,000 scholarships. Generous contributions from benefactors and sponsors support our mission, and 100% of net proceeds from the annual YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner go directly to our programs. This is thanks to the generosity of the FSF Board of Governors, who volunteer their time to ensure that all funds raised go where they are needed most: the students.
As further support to scholarship recipients, we facilitate internships with prestigious fashion companies and provide career mentoring by prominent senior executives who serve on our Board of Governors. Participating companies have included: Calvin Klein, Global Brands Group, Nautica, Phillip Van Heusen, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Fishman & Tobin, Ross Stores, Ralph Lauren, Macy's, The Men's Wearhouse, Perry Ellis, Bloomingdales, Levi Strauss & Co., Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger, to name just a few.