National nonprofit Undies for Everyone (UFE) today announced that its founder and executive director Rabbi Amy Coben Weiss has been honored as a CNN Hero. Weiss has been awarded the CNN Hero distinction for her work leading UFE and addressing the critical gap of underwear insecurity as a basic need for a child’s social and academic success. Since launching in 2012, UFE has provided over 2 million pairs of underwear to students living in poverty or crisis across 16 cities in the U.S.
“I started Undies for Everyone after realizing how many children in my community didn’t have access to new underwear, it’s as simple as that,” said Weiss. “Ten years later, through the vision of my incredible board and leadership team, Undies for Everyone now serves communities throughout the country helping kids stay in school and reach their potential. I’m so proud of the work we’re doing and I’m honored and humbled to be recognized as a CNN Hero.”
Underwear is a rarely provided supply for students experiencing crisis or living in poverty – it’s one of the most requested, but least often purchased. With the help of partners, volunteers, and donors, UFE helps to alleviate the burden of underwear insecurity for children by providing a week’s worth of undies.
Undies for Everyone is the nation’s only nonprofit to exclusively provide new underwear to students around the country. UFE has 47 partners across the U.S. distributing underwear to kids in crisis, including Boys and Girls Clubs, school district homeless departments, Child Protective Services, and pediatric mobile clinics. UFE is distributing 1.1 million pairs of undies in 2022 – impacting more than 157,000 children.
CNN Heroes is a year-round initiative that honors everyday people for their selfless, creative efforts to make the world a better place. In its 16 years, CNN Heroes has received nearly 100,000 nominations from people in more than 100 countries. Since 2007, the campaign has profiled more than 350 Heroes working in all 50 U.S. states and more than 110 countries around the world, helping millions of people.
Each week, a CNN Hero is profiled on the global networks of CNN and on CNN.com. This fall, the 2022 Top 10 CNN Heroes will be announced. From the Top 10, viewers select the CNN Hero of the Year through an online vote. The CNN Hero of the Year will be revealed during CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute later this year.
To learn more about Undies for Everyone’s work, including volunteer programs and how to get involved, visit UndiesForEveryone.org, or donate to Undies for Everyone through the organization’s GoFundMe page.
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About Undies for Everyone
Undies for Everyone (UFE) provides underwear to underserved students recognizing the importance of this basic need for a child’s social and academic success leading to graduation. UFE is the only nonprofit to exclusively address this critical gap that is overlooked by other organizations working in the poverty space. Founded in 2012 by Rabbi Amy Weiss, UFE has donated more than 2 million pairs of underwear to children across the country. Distribution partners include Boys and Girls Clubs, school district homeless departments, Child Protective Services, and mobile pediatric clinics in 16 cities across the U.S. UFE is proud to carry a GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal. Find UFE at UndiesForEveryone.org. Follow UFE on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
