For kids in foster care, something as small as a comb or conditioner can make the difference between feeling invisible and feeling seen.
That’s the heart behind ActNUALEJ Inc., founded by foster mom and licensed hairstylist VaNonda Harmon-Fielder. With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, ActNUALEJ is providing customized hair care kits for youth in foster care and group homes. Each kit includes shampoos, conditioners, oils, combs, bonnets, and accessories, along with free workshops to help kids learn how to care for their own hair with confidence.
Because this project isn’t just about hair. It’s about dignity, self-esteem, and belonging.
When children can walk into school with clean, healthy hair, they’re less likely to feel isolated or be targeted by bullying, and more likely to feel proud of who they are.
For VaNonda, this mission is deeply personal. As a foster parent for nine years, she saw the impact of hair neglect firsthand. Her own daughter arrived with severely matted hair and a painful scalp infection. Something that could have been prevented with the right products and guidance. Drawing on her professional experience as a hairstylist, VaNonda began creating kits to ensure that no other child would have to experience that same pain or loss of confidence.
Our jury was especially moved by the distinctiveness of this project. While many applications addressed the needs of children in foster care, ActNUALEJ stood out for highlighting hair care as a critical but often overlooked part of a child’s wellbeing. As one team member shared, “It’s the first application we’ve seen that’s singularly focused on hair, and it reminded us that confidence, dignity, and health are intertwined.”
At the TDB Family Foundation, we believe that Building Thriving Communities starts with meeting real needs in compassionate ways. ActNUALEJ does exactly that. By putting hair care supplies directly in the hands of kids who need them most, VaNonda is creating ripples of kindness that extend far beyond the kits themselves.
We’re proud to support this inspiring project, and we can’t wait to see how it grows.
➡️ Learn more about ActNUALEJ Inc. at weactnualejyou.com
Photo Courtesy of ActNUALEJ, Inc
