Empowering Dreams After Disaster: Thrive Causemetics® Awards First $10,000 Wildfire Recovery Scholarship
, together with Bigger Than Beauty Skincare®, has officially launched a $100,000 Los Angeles Wildfire Recovery Scholarship Program to support Angelenos whose education and career plans were impacted by the devastating 2025 wildfires.
The initiative, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Thrive Causemetics customers during the brand’s earlier wildfire-relief donation campaign, will award ten scholarships of $10,000 each to individuals pursuing higher education, trade school, or professional training in creative and vocational fields.
First Award Goes to Jada Dean
To inaugurate the program, Thrive Causemetics® surprised Jada Dean—a John Muir High School graduate and Eaton Canyon wildfire survivor—with the first $10,000 scholarship. Jada will begin her studies at Pasadena City College this fall before transferring to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
Founder & CEO Karissa Bodnar personally presented the award during a makeup masterclass at Thrive Causemetics’ Playa Vista headquarters, transforming a beauty lesson into a celebration of resilience and hope.
“Jada’s story shows how determination, fueled by community, can change lives. We’re honored to invest in her future and in every applicant ready to thrive and rebuild their dreams,” said Bodnar.
Who Can Apply
Through the Thrive Causemetics® Foundation, scholarships are open to:
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Graduating high school seniors entering 2- or 4-year colleges or universities
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Students enrolling in trade or vocational programs (including cosmetology, makeup artistry, nursing, and coding bootcamps)
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Adult learners whose education or certification plans were disrupted by the fires
Funds may be used for tuition, housing, books, supplies, or professional toolkits.
Part of a $500,000 Wildfire Relief Commitment
Earlier this year, Thrive Causemetics® donated $250,000 to frontline relief organizations such as the American Red Cross LA Region, LAFD Foundation, World Central Kitchen, Pasadena Humane Society, and Animal Wellness Foundation. The scholarship program marks the first initiative funded from the remaining $250,000 reserved for long-term recovery efforts, which will also include small-business grants and grassroots partnerships.
How to Apply
Applicants must:
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Be enrolled or planning to attend an accredited 2- or 4-year college, university, or trade/vocational program by Fall 2026
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Have been personally affected by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires (through evacuation, loss of home, or economic hardship)
Apply now at thrivecausemetics.com/scholarship.
About Thrive Causemetics® & Bigger Than Beauty Skincare®
Thrive Causemetics® and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare® create high-performance, vegan, cruelty-free makeup and skincare. For every product purchased, the brand donates to help communities thrive. Since 2015, over $175 million in funds and products have been contributed to more than 700 Giving Partners supporting causes from cancer warriors to wildfire relief.
