The Fresh Faces Project is a world record breaking nonprofit initiative founded by Calynn M. Lawrence, an entrepreneur, media personality and humanitarian. Starting this endeavor at 18 years old (2014), it has blossomed substantially over the past decade and has been the reason behind her 20 national and international awards. Most recently, she won two 2023 Person of the Year titles (Media Member honoree & Entrepreneur honoree) and was the youngest to have ever done so, as well as being honored as a 2023 Social Impact Champion by the Influencer Magazine UK awards.
The Fresh Faces Project’s work is dedicated to providing free and heavily discounted marketing and promotional services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Since its inception, they’ve made a significant impact by supporting over 900 individuals and brands, helping them gain visibility, recognizing their achievements and growing their ventures. In 2021, they made history as one of the largest pro bono marketing agencies globally, and were coined a “legion of potential legends” in the press.
The core mission of The Fresh Faces Project is to empower underrepresented and emerging talents by offering them the promotional resources and support they need to succeed. They aim to level the playing field, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or financial status, has the opportunity to shine. One of their biggest ways of doing this is their annual awards ceremony hosted in Chicago, IL. It is one of very few awards ceremonies in the country that is completely free of charge with no ticket sales, entry fees or nomination fees. Over the years, they’ve honored hundreds of changemakers at these events with some of the most prominent including: Mrs. International 2021, Yolanda Stennett, Hollywood actor, Andre Bellos, popular dystopian author, Marcus Richardson, Dr. Leretha Thomas, veteran school nursing leader and many more! This is all self funded by their parent company, The Calynn Communications and Creative corporation which also owns their nonprofit podcast “Chicago Talent TV” and several online publications such as The World Times, What’s Good Weekly, Millionaires in the Making, Icons in the Now and As Told By Calynn M. Lawrence.
This year will mark the final Fresh Faces Project awards ceremony in September due to their transition from being primarily a service-based initiative to a primarily funding-based initiative. Given the Founder’s upcoming completion of her doctorate degree in pastoral counseling and triple board certification as a trauma specialist, she has decided that this is what’s needed to maximize their impact while minimizing burden on the beloved staff and volunteers. With the extra time, she plans to explore a career as a therapist, researcher and community programming leader. As such, she is making sure that the final ceremony is one to remember! The event will commemorate the simultaneous 10 year survival of her mother and Admin Manager, Dawn, from an extremely rare blood cancer called Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD). In honor of her mother, she will be donating to the ECD Global Alliance on behalf of every guest in attendance at a fixed rate per head, and they will host a silent auction that will give proceeds to the cause as well. They’ll also be giving an informative but eye-opening presentation detailing how others can support the ECD Global Alliance in finding a much-needed cure.
The Fresh Faces Project stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity for many and plans to amplify those efforts continually through their philanthropy and community service. Through unwavering commitment to social change, they aim to continue making a difference and fostering health, wealth and happiness in the lives of marginalized society.
Learn more about The Fresh Faces Project and Calynn Lawrence at
www.freshfacesproject.org and www.caycomcreate.com
Learn more about ECD at www.erdheim-chester.org
