Saks Launches Mental Health Awareness Month Campaign Featuring Dr. Deepika Chopra

The initiative will raise funds to support the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation's 
mission to make mental health a priority in every community

NEW YORK, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This May, Saks, the premier luxury ecommerce platform, is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with a multifaceted campaign to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing and to raise funds for the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation. Campaign components include a partnership with celebrated behavioral scientist and founder of Things Are Looking Up®?, Dr. Deepika Chopra, who is widely known as The Optimism Doctor®, as well as fundraising, employee events, and a local grant program to support nonprofit organizations working to provide direct access to mental health care in their communities.

"Mental illness continues to affect millions of people across the U.S. every year, illustrating the continued importance of mental health awareness programs and the ongoing need to improve access to care," said Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks and Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Board Member. "This Mental Health Awareness Month, we are proud to use our platform to inspire people everywhere to prioritize their mental wellbeing. With this campaign, we look forward to giving our customers the opportunity to help further the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation's mission to make mental health a priority in every community, especially those where support is most needed."

INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIP
Saks has partnered with celebrated behavioral scientist and founder of Things Are Looking Up^®?, Dr. Deepika Chopra, who is widely known as The Optimism Doctor®, to create custom content that will be published across Saks-owned digital platforms throughout May. Dr. Chopra shares tools and tactics for building positive mental health when faced with the daily pressures of life, and how she utilizes fashion to evoke confidence and joy while juggling responsibilities as a mom, wife and business owner. Dr. Chopra will host a virtual event on Saks' digital events and live commerce platform, Saks Live, on May 1, and an in-person event on May 6 at Saks Fifth Avenue's reimagined West Coast flagship in Beverly Hills in  support of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation.

"Optimism is not just a mindset; it is a powerful tool for mental health," said Dr. Deepika Chopra. "By embracing the role that optimism can play in supporting wellbeing, we can empower ourselves to navigate life's challenges with resilience, curiosity and compassion while cultivating a healthier, happier mind.  I'm thrilled to partner with Saks to bring much needed attention to combating mental health stigma and shine a light on the importance of increasing resources and accessibility ? these are the two big challenges that greatly need our focus!"

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE FOUNDATION
To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, Saks will donate 10% of the purchase price from sales on Saks.com from April 30 to May 7 to support the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation's mental health initiatives, with a maximum donation of $50,000. Customers can further their support by shopping the Saks Fifth Avenue branded merchandise collection at saks.com/mentalhealth, which donates at least 50% of the purchase price from each item to the Foundation year-round.

As part of its commitment to local communities, the Foundation is renewing its local grant program for the third year. This program distributes $250,000 to nonprofit organizations seeking funding for mental health programs, with a goal to support local organizations providing direct access to care in their communities. Organizations can apply for the local grant program by visiting saks.com/saksfoundation.

Since 2017, the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation has granted nearly $7 million to nonprofits and programs supporting mental health needs, reaching 11.7 million individuals with messages combating mental health stigma and directly serving over 680,000 people with mental health care through funded nonprofit programs. The Foundation's primary mental health nonprofit partners include: Bring Change to Mind, Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, Girls Inc., Inspiring Children Foundation and The Trevor Project.

SAKS EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCES
For its employees, Saks will collaborate with its internal Engagement Committee and several Employee Resource Groups to offer meaningful opportunities that support mental health in themselves and others everyday in the month of May.

ASSETS
Click here for campaign assets (courtesy of Saks)

ABOUT THE SAKS FIFTH AVENUE FOUNDATION
The Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation is the charitable arm of Saks Fifth Avenue. The Foundation is committed to making mental health a priority in every community, especially those where support is most needed, by increasing understanding, improving access to care, building protective factors and reaching communities that are uniquely affected by mental health issues. For more information about the Foundation, visit saks.com/saksfoundation.

ABOUT SAKS
Saks is the premier digital platform for luxury fashion in North America. Driven by a mission to help customers express themselves through relevant and inspiring style, we serve as a destination to explore and discover the latest from established and emerging designers. Our expertly curated assortment features sought-after names in women's, men's and kids fashion, as well as beauty, home and lifestyle merchandise. Through the Saks website and app, we provide access to professional stylists, inspiring editorial content and interactive events. Our differentiated approach seamlessly combines elevated online experiences with in-person services through an exclusive partnership with the Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Visit Saks.com for more information. Follow @saks on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Facebook, @thesaksman on Instagram and @Saks Fifth Avenue on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Jessica Alper
[email protected]

SOURCE Saks