Cosmetics executive Leslie Blodgett establishes endowed FIT scholarship

NEW YORK — Through a $100,000 gift to the Fashion Institute of Technology, an endowed scholarship has been established by cosmetics executive Leslie Blodgett, creator of BareMinerals and executive chairman of Bare Escentuals.



Blodgett is a 1985 graduate of FIT's Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing program.



The Leslie Blodgett Endowed Scholarship will provide financial assistance to students in any major field of study offered through FIT's Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. It will be awarded annually to an upper-division student who has been selected by the dean of the Baker School and the Office of Financial Aid. The student must be in the college's upper division, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and have demonstrated financial need. The first scholarship will be awarded in July 2013.



"The Fashion Institute of Technology opened many doors for me when I was a student just starting out in the cosmetic industry," Blodgett stated. "I am so thrilled to be able to support the talented students who will one day be leaders in the world of fashion and beauty."



Blodgett was recognized by Inc. magazine in 2010 as one of the "Top Entrepreneurs of the Decade: 2000-2009." Blodgett became CEO of Bare Escentuals in 1994, transforming it into one of the country's leading prestige cosmetics companies with the launch of BareMinerals, a line of mineral-based products. In 1997, Blodgett began marketing BareMinerals on QVC, where it became the network's best-selling brand. Bare Escentuals went public in 2006 and was acquired by Shiseido in 2010 in one of the largest cosmetics mergers in history. 



Blodgett is on the board of directors of the Stella & Dot accessories company and Cosmetic Executive Women. CEW presented her with its first Achiever Award in 2006 for her contributions to the industry and honored her in 2009 at its annual Beauty of Giving luncheon. 



The Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology serves more than 4,000 students in majors that focus on business in fashion and its related professions.