Thriving through kindness: Human Nature secures prestigious global grant for youth mental health
We are thrilled to announce Human Nature’s selection as a 2024 Born This Way/ Cotton On Foundation Kindness in Community Fund grant recipient, supporting youth mental health and wellbeing in our community. We are among the 65 grantees across 10 countries selected from thousands of nominations through a highly competitive process with direct input from young people worldwide.
Born This Way Foundation, co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, partnered with Australian-born fashion and lifestyle brand Cotton On and its philanthropic arm, the Cotton On Foundation. Last year, as part of the Kinder, Braver, Together campaign, they joined together to create a range of limited-edition products available online and in store with Cotton On donating 100% of the net proceeds to Born This Way Foundation.
This is our first international grant and is made even more special by the fact that we were nominated by one of our Human Nature alumni, who said that:
“I chose to nominate Human Nature for the Kindness in Community Fund as I have always felt a deep gratitude for the opportunities I have received from them. Having been so fortunate to land and grow myself over the last 10 years in the community they have established, has been grounding and empowering in my path to recovery. The flip side to having so much gratitude, is that sometimes a wave of guilt can wash over me as I’m aware there are always more young people that could benefit from this community and the Human Nature team. So, I practice turning this guilt into wishes that more young people in need will be reached, and that Human Nature receives the support they need to do the life changing work that they do. This time, my wish was granted!”
The Kindness in Community Fund engaged young people at each step of the selection process, from nominations to the initial review to shortlisting and all the way to the final selection, ensuring their input and perspectives were central to the decision-making process and reflecting their genuine needs and priorities in mental health.
Despite the crucial need for investment, the World Health Organization reports that mental health comprises only around 2% of global health funding and just 0.5% of philanthropic health funding. The USD $3,000,000 distributed through the Kindness in Community Fund is among the largest funding efforts to provide direct support for youth mental health across the world.
We know that we have an innovative solution to the youth mental crisis in our region and this generous funding thanks to Born This Way Foundation, Cotton On Group and Cotton On Foundation ensures that we can continue to deliver it to those most in need.
