The Beauty Changes Lives Foundation announced the debut of the Passion and Purpose scholarship, generously funded by Ratner Companies. True to its name, the scholarship celebrates the “passion and purpose” that define the careers of professional hairstylists.

 Eight tuition scholarships will be awarded to cosmetology students annually. Four $3,125 tuition scholarships will be awarded in the spring and four additional $3,125 scholarships will be awarded in the fall. Applications for the Spring 2018 Passion and Purpose scholarship are being accepted thru March 12, 2018. The scholarship competition is open to new students who are less than halfway through their cosmetology program at an accredited school.

 Representing nearly 1,000 salons in 16 states, Ratner Companies celebrates “passion” as a core value, providing opportunities for team members to pursue personal and professional growth while continually seeking new levels of excellence in technical proficiency, client relationships and business performance.  In developing a name for the new scholarship, the company chose the words “Passion and Purpose” to describe two qualities that distinguish successful beauty and wellness professionals.

 “As a company that was founded by salon professionals, Ratner Companies is excited to provide scholarship opportunities to students who are attending an accredited cosmetology program,” said Dennis Ratner, co-founder and CEO of Ratner Companies. “These scholarships will provide students with financial support so they can enter the beauty industry with a sense of purpose and ready to achieve great success as they share their craft with their guests. We are proud to partner with Beauty Changes Lives to help support future salon professionals as they follow their path to prosperity in the beauty industry.”

Beauty Changes Lives Foundation President Lynelle Lynch said the Foundation is honored to welcome Ratner Companies into an elite coalition of brands committed to supporting the industry’s next generation of leaders. “Ratner Companies has cultivated a reputation for excellence while earning the respect of leaders throughout the industry,” Lynch said. “The Passion and Purpose Scholarship is helping us to change lives through the gift of education, and we are incredibly grateful for their generous support of emerging talent.”