United States
ELC Honored with United Nations Association of New York 2024 Humanitarian Award
Company Feature, Oct 17, 2024
On September 30, William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), proudly accepted the 2024 Humanitarian Award from the United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NY) on behalf of the company. ELC was recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability and advocacy for the advancement of women.
Among those present were Estée Lauder Global Brand Ambassador Karlie Kloss and Global Breast Cancer Campaign Ambassador Elizabeth Hurley, with National Youth Poet Laureate and Estée Lauder Global Changemaker Amanda Gorman delivering an inspiring video message. In Gorman’s message, she highlighted the WRITING CHANGE initiative—a 3-year, $3 million commitment in partnership with ELC to support grassroots organizations focused on closing the gender-based literacy gap. Her words emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for young women through education and creativity.
The Humanitarian Award is presented to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ELC was recognized alongside Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, for her work in supporting women and girls’ education, reducing gender-based violence, and defending children’s rights; Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, was also recognized for her contributions to advancing gender equality and empowering women globally.
The event gathered more than 200 prominent attendees, including key UN leaders, business executives, policymakers, and ELC partners, to celebrate this achievement.
Karlie, Founder of Kode With Klossy, introduced William’s award, marking a special moment of celebration for ELC and its partners.
Karlie remarked, “[ELC] and its employees put people first and lead with empathy and compassion. I’ve seen this first-hand through his support of my non-profit, Kode With Klossy, which is dedicated to enabling young scholars to pursue their passions in tech. To know ELC is to know that they not only make commitments to sustainability and women’s advancement but believe in this work as core company values.”
At the heart of its values is a passion for gender equality, a passion largely inspired by the company’s pioneering founder, Mrs. Estée Lauder. This dedication is exemplified by initiatives like Open Doors, which aim to bridge the gender divide by promoting the intersection of creativity, science, and technology in leadership and education.
Through efforts in sustainable sourcing, innovative manufacturing, eco-conscious packaging, and sustainable distribution practices, ELC has become a force in support of sustainable change across the beauty industry. Reflecting on the recognition, William remarked, “Our commitment to advancing possibilities for women is part of our DNA as a company. Our programs focus on opportunity, leadership, and social impact.”
He emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing ELC’s commitments to create a more sustainable and equitable world. “We cannot do this work alone. Our partnerships drive progress in environmental sustainability, reducing plastic waste, and combating climate change,” he said.
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