Loraines Academy Graduate Named One of L'Oreal Paris's "10 Women of Worth for 2015"

On December 1, 2015, Loraines Academy graduate Alison O’Neil became one of L’Oreal Paris’s “10 Women of Worth for 2015”.

The Women of Worth program honors extraordinary everyday women who are making a difference in their communities. O’Neil is being recognized for establishing the Beauty Becomes You Foundation, which provides a positive experience for older adults and their families by fulfilling common everyday grooming needs of seniors with limited access, opportunity, and means to aesthetic health programs.

O’Neil’s background in health and beauty helped her recognize that an unexpected decline in health among older adults was very common for those who didn’t have close family members around to touch their lives and support them.

“I started the Beauty Becomes You Foundation to bolster self-worth and regard with dignity for the elderly,” said O’Neil. “This population is often overlooked, which can lead to Failure to Thrive Syndrome in elderly adults.”

Limited access to common everyday aesthetic health and beauty services for seniors is often due to illnesses (i.e. arthritis, cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s and diabetes), opportunity, and lack of financial means as well as transportation. Basic hair, skin and nail care as well as massage therapy are provided by 25 to 75 health and beauty volunteers per program, students and professionals who are sensitivity-trained for the special needs of seniors by BBY. More than 15,000 services have been provided to roughly 5,000 men and women since starting in 2006.

“L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth helps to further the mission of the Beauty Becomes You Foundation by ensuring senior adults access to needed, well-deserved and up-lifting aesthetic treatments.” said O’Neil.

Chosen from more than 6,300 nominees, each of the 10 Women of Worth for 2015 was awarded $10,000 to further the work of their foundation.

Currently residing in Atlanta, Ga., Alison O’Neil trained at Loraines Academy in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1981, receiving her Master Cosmetology license and developing her skills in esthetics.

“My education at Loraines Academy provided a comprehensive, in-depth indoctrination in the entire field of cosmetology. My experience there provided a sound foundation on which I’ve been able to build an incredible career and help improve many lives,” said O’Neil. “At Loraines, I was encouraged to be someone who would make a difference. That will always be with me.”

“Alison was an excellent student and we knew she would go on to do amazing things,” said Loraines Academy President and co-owner Nancy Fordham. “We are incredibly proud of the way she is using her education to make the world a more beautiful place.”

L’Oreal Paris owns both Redken and Matrix, product lines that are used and taught at Loraines Academy.

To learn more about the Beauty Becomes You Foundation, visit www.beautybecomesyou.org.

Established in 1966, Loraines Academy is a Florida cosmetology school, located in St Petersburg, Fla., offering education in cosmetology, nails, hair, spa, skin care, and massage therapy. Loraines Academy is State Licensed and Nationally Accredited by NACCAS. To learn more about Loraines Academy, visit www.lorainesacademy.edu.