Behind-the-Scenes at Coach HQ with Teen Ambassadors

Jan 26, 2016//What's Happening

Just a few days before the public announcement of the Coach Foundation's $3 million pledge to help Step Up grow, the employees of Coach came together for an early celebration of this great new partnership which is already putting Step Up on a path to triple the number of teens served annually in just three years.

Behind-the-Scenes at Coach HQ with Teen Ambassadors — Just a few days before the public announcement of the Coach Foundation's $3 million pledge to help Step Up grow, the employees of Coach came together for an early celebration of this great new partnership which is already putting Step Up on a path to triple the number of teens served annually in just three years.

Coach employees are united in their passion for doing good in the world, so when Coach's CEO Victor Luis sent out an invitation to attend this meet-and-greet event, it was standing room only. The highlight of the event was meeting the Coach x Step Up ambassadors: Anisa, Breyahna, Carolyne and Lovely.

These teens enjoyed a day of exploration and mentorship at Coach before the afternoon celebration. Here's a look at their day:

A warm welcome at Coach's new global headquarters at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, right in the heart of the garment district, from Todd Kahn, Coach's President, Chief Administrative Officer & Secretary. Todd shared a bit about the history of the company and his career path.
Next, a mentoring moment with Sarah Dunn, Global Human Resources Officer at Coach. Sarah reflected on her choices and experiences, and the mentors who helped her along the way, which the girls later told us was one of their favorite moments of their visit.
The teens then toured some of the spaces that make Coach unique, from the Archive—home to a rare collection of Coach handbags spanning the company's 75 year history—to the Workshop, where leather craftspeople work side-by-side with Coach's design team. Each girl got to monogram her own hangtag alongside Badr Tadros, a Coach Master craftsman.
From there, the girls joined Victor and over 175 Coach employees for an afternoon of sharing and discussion. After hearing from Victor about why this cause and partnership is so important to him, Step Up CEO Jenni and the girls opened up on the role Step Up plays in their lives and how, with the help of Coach, the organization will expand to three new cities in addition to many new schools in New York, Chicago, and LA.
After the party there's the after-party, complete with photo booth fun, refreshments, and Step Up swag. Employees had the chance to write advice and encouragement for the girls in the New York City area who are involved with Step Up, and pose with Step Up staff and teens along with a giant holiday Star Bear and inflatable #RexytheCoachDino, of course.

As a company that has always designed for confident women, Coach is a perfect match for Step Up. Here's to the start of something great! Check out the photos below from the event.