HFM creates the Elle Business Foundation

The Hachette Filipacchi Médias Group has created the first business foundation ever to be established by a large women’s magazine.

On 10 December 2004, Anne-Marie Couderc, the Group’s executive vice president and Valérie Toranian, editorial director of Elle magazine, announced the launch of the Fondation d’entreprise Elle (Elle Business Foundation ) during a press conference at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

The foundation was inspired by the magazine’s founding principle: “Support the development, emancipation and role of women in society.” The foundation reveals how Elle is putting into practice the goals it set for itself nearly 60 years ago: “To be the true embodiment of women at the forefront of a constantly changing world.”

It is instructive that out of 121 million children with no schooling in developing countries, 60 percent are girls. The education of girls is therefore a top priority. Education also plays a key role in social and economic development.

The Elle Business Foundation will support projects run by non-governmental organisations to promote the emancipation of women by encouraging the enrolment of girls in school, the training of teachers, the education of women and their integration into society. It may also support the development of information sources (newspapers and radio stations) to promote the advancement of women.

The foundation will concentrate its activities abroad, in countries where the education of girls is a fundamental lever for sustainable development, but will also support projects in France.

The Elle Business Foundation has an initial fund of 1,250,000 euros.

To enhance the foundation’s capabilities, it will mobilise the support of the companies, organisations and, above all, international brands that the Group numbers among its established partners. Every time a project is approved, the foundation will seek partnerships that allow them to increase the initial investment.

Two projects initiated and supported by Elle and Hachette Filipacchi Médias in 2002 and 2004 are the first to be included within the foundation’s remit:Roz, the magazine for Afghan women published by the Afghanistan Libre association, and Elle Solidarité Mode , set up in association with the Ni Putes ni Soumises women’s solidarity movement in France.

The Elle Business Foundation is chaired Anne-Marie Couderc, executive vice president of the Hachette Filipacchi Médias group. Valérie Toranian, the editorial director of Elle and vice president of the foundation, is the foundation’s spokesperson. They are assisted by members of the Board of Trustees, including Kate Barry, photographer, Mercedes Erra, President of BETC-EuroRSCG , Erik Orsenna, writer and member of the Académie française and of the Conseil d’Etat , and Jean-Christophe Rufin, doctor, writer and President of Action Against Hunger in France.

Managing director, Karine Guldemann, is in charge of operations.