The first regional extension of the BCL | CND | Tippi Hedren Nail Scholarship Fund was announced Sunday at I Heart CND Orlando by CND and the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation (BCL), a non-profit initiative of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). In an effort to support the local communities of the original scholarship’s donors, the first localized scholarship program is being funded by Sunny Beauty Supply, one of CND’s loyal distributors in Orlando, Fla. Twenty scholarship winners will each receive $500 tuition assistance and a CND tool and product kit (total value $1,500). The deadline to apply is May 4.

“It is so critical that we continue to support a scholarship that has already provided 20 aspiring nail pros the opportunity to follow their passion,” says CND co-founder and Beauty Changes Lives Foundation board member Jan Arnold. “Thanks to generous donations from regional distributors like Sunny Beauty Supply, we are enhancing the scholarship by targeting specific regions and supporting their local communities.”

The Scholarship Fund first started in 2014 to support professional nail education. CND and their co-donors funded the original BCL | CND | Tippi Hedren Nail Scholarship program, honoring actress and humanitarian Tippi Hedren. For decades, Hedren has served as an advocate and champion of the professional nail care community, helping thousands of individuals find rewarding careers as entrepreneurs and nail technicians. BCL is a non-profit initiative of the AACS and serves as the administering body for the scholarships.

“Our donors are so passionate about encouraging aspiring nail professionals to follow their dreams and establish successful careers,” says Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation. “With the initial success of the Scholarship Fund, donors wanted to broaden that support to reach the people in their own communities.”

Information on Beauty Changes Lives scholarship programs, including the Orlando-area program, is available at www.beautychangeslives.org/scholarships.