ABG Celebrates a Year of Connections, Community and Camaraderie
Throughout the year, ABG’s portfolio of brands continued to lead the charge on fostering empowerment, livelihood, equality and education across its network of 200+ employees and 285+ million social media fans.
What’s more, IDEAL, ABG’s council committed to enhancing and promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as ABG’s employee resource groups—ABG’s Women’s Inspired Network (ABGWIN), Honoring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (HAAPI) and BIPOC & Friends—hosted numerous community-building events and honored a wide range of social and environmental causes as ABG continues to emphasize its commitment to doing good.
Read on to learn more about how ABG and its brands championed connections, community and camaraderie this year.
Events
Wellness & Wine
At its first in-person “Wellness & Wine” event, ABGWIN invited employees to reconnect over a round of wine tasting and fun games including Mad Libs.
Women’s History Month
Throughout the month of March, ABGWIN spotlighted achievements from across the company with a special series that celebrated strong women, leaders and contributors at ABG.
Giving Thanks Potluck
To celebrate the season of giving, ABGWIN, ABGBIPOC & Friends and ABGHAAPI sponsored a grab-and-go potluck, where guests were treated to appetizers, meals, sides and desserts generously contributed by ABG employees.
White Elephant
ABGWIN rang in the holidays with a White Elephant gift exchange. At the event, the women of ABG enjoyed festive snacks and drinks as they surprised one another with a melange of fun and thoughtful presents.
Speaker Series
Earth Day
For Earth Day, ABG's portfolio of brands highlighted their sustainable styles and partnered with creators and connectors to engage in environmental efforts that resonated with global audiences.
Learn more about how ABG brands celebrated Earth Day here.
Mental Health Awareness
Aéropostale partner The JED Foundation joined ABGWIN’s Speaker Series for a special event in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The foundation’s Chief Development Officer, Adee Shepen, spoke about the importance of destigmatizing mental health and shared resources to improve emotional wellbeing.
Across the portfolio, ABG brands also shared messages in support of the cause and encouraged their audiences to engage in meaningful conversations.
Pride Month
For Pride Month, ABGWIN hosted its first panel discussion and invited LGBTQ+ advocates Frank Vespa-Papaleo, Logan Alcosiba and Leslie Farber to share their experiences and recommendations for ways to get involved with the community.
Read about how brands across the portfolio celebrated Pride Month here.
Juneteenth
ABG IDEAL presented its inaugural speaker event in honor of Juneteenth, the anniversary of the emancipation of African Americans, featuring Laura Douglas, interim President and CEO of The Muhammad Ali Center, and Dr. Dawn Wade, Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of NIMBUS, who shared their experiences with race and gender in corporate America. ABG's Brand Director, Mychal Bogee, moderated the conversation.
ABG brands also observed and raised awareness for the momentous day across their social media channels.
Women in Philanthropy
ABGWIN hosted “Women in Philanthropy,” a panel discussion as part of its ongoing Speaker Series, featuring DoSomething.org CEO DeNora Getachew as well as Delivering Good CEO Lisa Gurwitch and Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships Samantha Greenberg, who spoke about their experiences as women in leadership positions and how to strike the right balance in merging philanthropy with their careers.
Hispanic Heritage Month
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, ABGWIN celebrated the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions. Thalía Sodi, partner, entertainer, entrepreneur, fashion designer and one of the most successful and celebrated Mexican American women in the world, held a discussion guided by Melissa Bergson, ABG’s Senior Vice President, Entertainment.
Giving Back
#StopAsianHate
ABG continues to express its support for its Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees, partners and customers as well as condemn the racial harassment and discrimination that they have endured in the United States for far too long.
In solidarity with the #StopAsianHate movement, ABG made a monetary donation to The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and raised awareness across its brands’ social media channels.
I Support the Girls
As part of its Speaker Series, ABGWIN hosted a virtual conversation with I Support the Girls’ founder, Dana Marlowe, who spoke about how she helps women and folx experiencing homelessness, impoverishment or distress to stand tall with dignity.
In addition, the group encouraged ABG team members to donate new and gently used bras, new underwear and new menstrual hygiene products, while Frederick’s of Hollywood gave away new bras to the nonprofit.
Blue Jeans Go Green
ABGWIN invited Melissa Henkle, Director of Global Brand Sales at Repreve, to speak about Repreve’s mission to make a difference in the industry through the use of recycled fabrics and materials.
The ERG also organized a denim drive for ABG team members to donate gently used and new denim items for Blue Jeans Go Green, a program that collects and recycles denim into something new.
One Warm Coat
For the month of December, ABGWIN invited all employees to drop off new or gently used coats for donation as part of a drive with One Warm Coat, which provides free coats to children and adults in need.
