Candie's Foundation

In 2001, Neil Cole, head of the fashion brand Candie's and an executive at Iconix Brand Group,{{cite web |url=http://www.candiesfoundation.org/us.html |title=The Candie's Foundation |publisher=Candiesfoundation.org |accessdate=2009-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411045004/http://www.candiesfoundation.org/us.html |archive-date=2010-04-11 |url-status=dead }} founded The Candie's Foundation, in response to accusations that his clothing brand sexualized teenagers. The Candie's Foundation mission was to educate teenagers as to the risks and consequences of teen pregnancy.{{cite web|title=Forbes People Profile|url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/neil-cole-j-d-/42559|work=Forbes|accessdate=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704214917/http://people.forbes.com/profile/neil-cole-j-d-/42559|archive-date=4 July 2011|url-status=dead}}

The Candie's Foundation implemented national ad campaigns that discouraged teenagers from sexual activity. Fox News reports that the foundation "advocates for abstinence to prevent unwanted pregnancies."{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/bristol-palin-this-pregnancy-was-actually-planned/|title=Bristol Palin: 'This pregnancy was actually planned'|work=Fox News|date=29 June 2015|quote=The Candies Foundation is a non-profit organization that advocates for abstinence to prevent unwanted pregnancies.}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/06/bristol-palin-pregnant|quote=Candie’s Foundation, a non-profit organization that fights teen pregnancy by supporting abstinence work.|title=Abstinence Advocate Bristol Palin Announces Second Unplanned Pregnancy|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=26 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/bristol-palin-sends-message-of-abstinence-for-the-candies-foundation/|title=Bristol Palin Sends Message of Abstinence for The Candie's Foundation|date=8 April 2010|work=Fox News}} Actresses Jenny McCarthy and Hayden Panettiere, as well as teen mom Bristol Palin, have been paid "ambassadors" for the foundation. In 2009, Bristol Palin was paid $262,500 to participate in the campaign. {{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elisadoucette/2011/04/06/bristol-palins-compensation-seven-times-candies-foundation-donations-to-charities/#5e8d4814773e |title=Bristol Palin Was Paid Seven Times Candie's Foundation Donations |work=Forbes |date= |accessdate=2019-01-18 }} More than 20 celebrities have been hired to participate in Candie's Foundation PSA campaigns, including Vanessa Hudgens, Usher, Macy Gray, Rihanna, Ciara, Amar'e Stoudemire, Ashanti Douglas, Lupe Fiasco, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Sorrentino, Kenneth Cole, Matt Garza, Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, Ashlee Simpson, Fall Out Boy, Vanessa Minnillo, Natasha Bedingfield, Fergie, Elizabeth Berkley, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Destiny's Child.{{cite web |url=http://www.candiesfoundation.org/campaigns.html |title=Candie's PSA campaigns |publisher=Candiesfoundation.org |accessdate=2009-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411044828/http://www.candiesfoundation.org/campaigns.html |archive-date=2010-04-11 |url-status=dead }}

The Candie's Foundation was an operating foundation rather than a grant-making foundation.{{cite web|title=The Candie's Foundation About Us|url=http://www.candiesfoundation.org/us.html|publisher=The Candie's Foundation|accessdate=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411045004/http://www.candiesfoundation.org/us.html|archive-date=2010-04-11|url-status=dead}} However, the foundation has received criticism for spending more money on spokespeople than on grants to teen pregnancy health and counseling clinics.{{cite web|url=http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/05/bristol-palin-profiteer-teen-pregnancy/ |title=Bristol Palin's Nonprofit Paid Her Seven Times What It Spent On Actual Teen Pregnancy Prevention |publisher=ThinkProgress |date= |accessdate=2011-04-05}}

After investigations in 2003, Neil Cole and Candie's reached an agreement to settle charges of fraudulent accounting practices brought against it by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neil Cole agreed to pay $75,000 to settle charges without admitting or denying wrongdoing.{{Cite web|title = Candie's Settles SEC Case|url = https://nypost.com/2003/05/01/candies-settles-sec-case/|website = The NY Post|date = May 2003|access-date = 2020-07-24}} In 2019, Cole was again charged with 10 criminal counts, including conspiracy, securities fraud, making false filings with the SEC and conspiracy to destroy records.{{Cite news|title = Iconix Brands Ex-CEO Neil Cole Charged by U.S. in Accounting Fraud|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-05/iconix-brands-ex-ceo-cole-charged-by-u-s-in-accounting-fraud|newspaper = Bloomberg.com| date=5 December 2019 |access-date = 2020-07-24}}

Celebrities that have participated in the campaigns include Hayden Panettiere, Beyoncé, Ciara, Fergie, Jenny McCarthy, Vanessa Minnillo, Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff, Ashlee Simpson, Fall Out Boy, Usher, Rachel Bilson, Bristol Palin, Teddy Geiger, Diggy Simmons, Lea Michele and Vanessa Hudgens.{{cite web|title=Candie's Foundation Campaigns|url=http://www.candiesfoundation.org/campaigns.html|accessdate=3 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411044828/http://www.candiesfoundation.org/campaigns.html|archive-date=2010-04-11|url-status=dead}}

Each year The Candie's Foundation hosted the Event to Prevent to raise awareness about teen pregnancy in the United States. The event brought together leaders in the media, entertainment, business, and political worlds. The event raised money to support their marketing and advertising campaigns, and honored individuals who helped advance the Foundation's message.{{cite web|title=The Candie's Foundation - Events|url=http://www.candiesfoundation.org/events.html|publisher=The Candie's Foundation|accessdate=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725135032/http://www.candiesfoundation.org/events.html|archive-date=2011-07-25|url-status=dead}}

The organization has come under criticism. From the $1,242,476 donated by the public, $35,000 went to charities and a $262,500 paycheck was given to Bristol Palin for her role as an ambassador for their teen pregnancy prevention campaign in 2009,{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elisadoucette/2011/04/06/bristol-palins-compensation-seven-times-candies-foundation-donations-to-charities/|title = Bristol Palin Was Paid Seven Times Candie's Foundation Donations|website = Forbes}} who again became pregnant out-of-wedlock to an unconfirmed father in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/bristol-palin-has-candies-foundations-support-amid-second-pregnancy-2015266|title = Candie's Foundation Still Supports Bristol Palin|date = 26 June 2015}}

In 2013, a group of young mothers, including Gloria Malone and Natasha Vianna, petitioned Candie's to eliminate stigma, sexism, and racism from their teen pregnancy prevention campaigns {{Cite web|title = Ms. Magazine|url = http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/06/07/candies-noteenpreg-campaign-shames-young-moms/|website = MsMagazine.com| date=7 June 2013 |access-date = 2016-02-13|language = en-US}} and requested a meeting with Cole.{{Cite web|title = Young Mothers Are Denouncing This Pregnancy Prevention Campaign For Shaming Teen Moms|url = http://www.businessinsider.com/young-moms-denounce-candies-teen-pregnancy-campaign-2013-5|website = Business Insider|access-date = 2016-02-13}} While he publicly responded to their national campaign, he refused to speak to or meet with the young women.{{Cite web|title = Shame on Who?|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-cole/shame-on-who_b_3421988.html|website = The Huffington Post|date = 11 June 2013|access-date = 2016-02-13}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.candiesfoundation.org/}}

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City

Category:Charities for young adults

Category:Teenage pregnancy

Category:Charities based in New York (state)