The Final Fresh Faces Project Awards, Founded by Dr. Calynn Lawrence, Concludes with Resounding Praise from Beneficiaries and Industry Leaders

Dr. Calynn Lawrence is the 28-year-old CEO of the 20-time award-winning media firm, the Calynn Communications & Creative corporation, which is the parent company to the nonprofit initiative, The Fresh Faces Project. They also own several popular online publications (including The World Times, What’s Good Weekly and more) and the 5-star-rated Chicago Talent TV podcast. The Fresh Faces Project was founded by Dr. Lawrence in 2014 when she was only a teenage high school student. Since its inception, their work has benefitted nearly 1,000 individuals including free and discounted advertising, PR and networking for small business and rising talents, as well as numerous monetary and in-kind donations to causes in line with their mission.

In 2021, the Fresh Faces Project made history as one of the largest pro bono marketing agencies in the world, creating several headlines in major news outlets. Their biggest claim to fame as a nonprofit initiative has been their annual awards ceremony that honors public figures, entrepreneurs, and creatives making waves in their fields. All of this has been fully self funded through the earnings of the Calynn Communications & Creative corporation with no entry fees, nomination fees, outside sponsorships or ticket sales, setting the event apart from nearly all competitors. This was done intentionally by Dr. Lawrence because she wanted their ceremonies to be maximally diverse, equitable and inclusive so that financial barriers would not affect a deserving person or organization’s ability to attend and be celebrated for their impact on the community. Because of this, countless honorees have expressed their deepest gratitudes and honor!

This year’s ceremony also served to commemorate her mom’s 10-year survival from the extremely rare blood cancer, Erdheim-Chester disease. In honor of her mother, The Fresh Faces Project pledged a sizable donation to the cause, along with funds raised through a silent auction at the event led by her mother, Dawn, who is very actively involved in the Fresh Faces Project and is the Calynn Communications & Creative Admin Manager. This caught the attention of Forbes Magazine UK this summer and was highlighted there.

Some of the most notable honorees over the years have included national & worldwide pageant queens, Hollywood actors, top selling authors, veteran nonprofit executives and public service heroes with decades-long careers. The work of the Fresh Faces Project has reached almost every corner of the globe through their plethora of business partnerships, undying digital advocacy, tens of thousands of dollars in charitable contributions and rendered services. The unique endeavors and accomplishments of the initiative have earned Dr. Lawrence various accolades such as being the youngest to win 2 Person of the Year awards at once in January 2024 (Media Personality of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year), being recognized as a 2023 Social Impact Champion in the global Influencer Magazine awards, breaking a few world records and having been featured in tens of front page cover stories in elite press outlets!

You may ask why this year was the final Fresh Faces Project awards ceremony if they have had such immense success over the years. That is because Dr. Lawrence plans to shift the focus of her humanitarian efforts after having completed school. Graduating with a Master of Science in Management & Leadership and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling with multiple international trauma board certifications, she will be launching a new initiative soon – The Holistic Healing Source for Marginalized Society. This will be a free online information and support center for those of marginalized identities (minorities, women, LBTQ+ and disabled) to receive holistic wellness resources to meet their spiritual, psychological and material needs. It will also serve as a research hub for professionals devoted to learning how they can leverage their talents to benefit the underserved populations in having a happy, healthy life and experience in society. As this will take up most of her time, The Fresh Faces Project will be mostly providing financial support to its beneficiaries in the form of cash stipends and free courses/consultations, instead of labor-intensive ongoing services and events.

We look forward to seeing where Dr, Lawrence and the Fresh Faces Project goes! To learn more about this cause, visit their website at www.freshfacesproject.org . To learn more about Erdheim-Chester disease, visit their website www.erdheim-chester.org .