Henkaa's Giving Back: Remembering Jo

Our late founder Jo lit up every room she walked into with her bright smile and incredible energy ✨⁠

Jo taught all of us the importance and power of being yourself. And it's part of our mission at Henkaa to continue her legacy by sharing this message in everything we do. ⁠

In her memory, Jo's husband Stan and their children established the Joanna Duong Chang Memorial Foundation with the support of the Toronto Foundation.

By supporting our small business, you’re also investing in girls and women to reach their fullest potentials because we donate 1% of our sales to Jo's Foundation year-round.

The mission of Jo's Foundation is to break down barriers preventing girls and women from reaching their full potential.

As a first step, the funds established the JDC Memorial Scholarship at the University of Waterloo for a female business major in the Math Faculty, Jo’s Alma Mater. To date, Jo has been the only woman to win the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Mathematics Young Achievement Award (2016). With women still underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programming, we feel it is important to support the success of young women in this field.

The process to recognize and honour Jo at her alma mater began in 2020, and we're proud to announce that the first recipient if this award: Angelina!

To learn more about Angelina, head on over to rememberjo.com! 

In addition to the scholarship, Jo's Foundation supports charities that:

• Empower women to be financially independent
• Support, educate, improve access and create community for girls and women in varying life stages to be self-confident, build supportive networks and improve their quality of life
• Provide opportunities to support entrepreneurial efforts, including access to training, professional development and mentorship

Read on below for Henkaa's additional fundraising efforts to support Jo's Foundation, and where the funds have been dispersed so far.

Forever in our hearts, we know Jo's still with us, walking beside us as we continue to build upon the vision she created and shared with us. A vision where we...

...love ourselves as we are...
...feel confident and safe to express our true selves...
...make life easier for ourselves while also reducing our fashion footprint...
...celebrate our unique journeys through life

Thank you for your support - we are grateful for you 💗⁠

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Celebration Boxes

Jo loved celebrations, and her birthday on July 29 was always ones of the biggest bashes of the year. 

In the past, we've worked with amazing local businesses to deliver Celebration Boxes with yummy food to foundation supporters and Henkaanistas.

We strive to partner with small women-owned businesses to fundraise for the Joanna Duong Chang Memorial Foundation - while building community and spreading their good work to more people. 

Charitable Donations

Both Henkaa and Jo's Foundation are active in giving back to the community.

In the past, the foundation has donated to Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society, Black Women in Motion and YWCA Toronto.

Henkaa has also donated underwear each year to the YWCA, a much needed essential. The YWCA helps women and girls “flee violence, secure housing, find jobs, establish their voices, enhance skills and develop confidence.” 

Read about Henkaa's past giving efforts here.