M&M’S®, part of Mars, this week announced the 20 winners of its “Flipping the Status Quo” program.
These women were nominated by friends, family and colleagues for positively impacting the community around them and paving new paths for those who follow, redefining what happiness and success look like for women everywhere. M&M’S is thrilled to award each of these game-changing women with a $10,000 grant to further fund their missions.
Doubling down on its purpose to create a world where everyone feels they belong, M&M’S is offering up its platforms this International Women’s Day to spotlight the winners across M&M’S digital and social platforms, as well as several retail stores, including the Las Vegas, Disney Springs, Mall of America, and Times Square locations. The brand identified winners in partnership with the M&M’S FUNd Advisory Council, a group of external partners who are experts in the space of belonging.
The 20 women who are flipping the status quo include:
- Ahna Miller, disability inclusion
- Angie Wallace, mental health stigmas
- Cat Smith + Kiah Gibian, culinary world
- Consuelo Poland, occupational gender stereotypes
- Courtney Pettway, financial education
- Emily White, voter turnout
- Gretchen Evans, overcoming disabilities
- Janet Huger-Johnson, excellence in education
- Kathy Meyer, period poverty
- Kimberly Iozz, dressing for success
- Leah Meyerhoff, equality in filmmaking
- Liz Maday, girls’ sports
- Lynne Hughes, grief support
- Magybet Mendez, immigration education
- Marissa Soria, mental health care
- Melanie Adams, male-dominated industries
- Neha Shukla, innovation and technology
- Tiffany Yu, disabled community
- Veronika Scott, social injustice
“The M&M’S brand is committed to using the power of fun to create a world where everyone feels they belong,” said Gabrielle Wesley, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Wrigley North America. “The winners of the M&M’S Flipping the Status Quo program are breaking barriers and positively impacting their communities across the U.S., creating a space for more incredible women to follow in their footsteps. Their immense efforts to flip the status quo in areas such as well-being, equality, education, and inclusion are an inspiring example of how harnessing the power of fun through meaningful passions and initiatives, can help to create a world where everyone feels they belong.”
Earlier this year, M&M’S released its first-ever packs spotlighting the dynamic female M&M’S characters, in celebrations of women everywhere who are flipping the status quo. The limited-edition product features Purple, Brown and Green on inspirational packaging, and is the first united representation of the female trio spokescandies.
As part of the Flipping the Status Quo campaign, M&M’S is providing nearly $1 million in support for organizations that are committed to uplifting and empowering women. $1 from every limited-edition pack sold (totaling up to $500k) will go towards supporting She Is The Music and We Are Moving the Needle.
Additional donations (totaling up to $400k) outside of the limited-edition packs will be made to Female Founder Collective, Geena Davis Institute On Gender and Media and the 20 nominated women who are flipping the status quo, as part of the overall program.
More information on the 20 inspiring winners and a full list of their initiatives and organizations can be found on mms.com/flipthestatusquo.
