Helms Helps Foundation Joins Forces with Project Marilyn to End Period Poverty

Announces $20,000 Match Campaign for March 2023

2 in 5 women cannot afford period supplies. Feminine hygiene products are not covered by any Federal Assistance Programs, such as SNAP, because they are still classified as luxury items. Project Marilyn, a local Las Vegas nonprofit, was founded in 2019 to help address the issues of “period poverty” and ensure that women and girls have the supplies they need to have a healthy and dignified period. PERIOD.

The Helms Helps Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Southern Nevada, recently joined forces with Project Marilyn, and announced a match campaign, matching every donation received up to $20,000, through March 31, 2023. HHF partnered with Project Marilyn to raise funds for the agency’s “Fund a 5th Grade Period” initiative benefiting the Clark County School District. These funds will allow Project Marilyn to provide a beginner period kit to every 5th Grade girl – over 20,000 students, in the Clark County School district for their Growth and Development Class.

“While Project Marilyn feels everyone deserves to be able to care for themselves during their period, our hearts especially go out to our student population,” shared Wendi Schweigart, founder of Project Marilyn. “1 in 4 girls misses school each month because they don’t have proper period supplies. A young girl’s education suffers greatly when they have to miss school for days at a time every month.”

“Our matches are typically centered around specific programs that address issues of food insecurity, shelter, and education, “ said Terry Helms, Founder and President of Helms Helps Foundation. “With this Project Marilyn initiative in support of young students, we are able to not only address a direct problem, but also help raise greater awareness around the serious issues of period poverty, and the critical impact it has on young girls. We are proud to join Project Marilyn in not only raising funds but working to find solutions to end period poverty, “ continued Helms.

The Helms Helps Foundation match challenge and Project Marilyn’s initiative of providing every 5th grade girl a beginner period packet kicked off on March 1. The packets will be distributed to students during their Growth and Development Class, providing a combined total of 120,000 individual period products. The individual packets will be delivered to the CCSD Nurses Conference on April 28th. Project Marilyn has pledged continued support of CCSD through ongoing donations to school pantries and closets.

“CCSD’s primary focus is on student achievement,” said Health Services Chief Nurse Sheri McPartlin. “Thanks to the generosity of our community partners, we are able to ensure that our students can better focus on their studies when their personal health needs are met.”

• To learn more about Project Marilyn’s “Fund a 5th Grade Period” and support the matching campaign, please visit projectmarilyn.com.
• To learn about the Helms Helps Foundation’s work supporting Southern Nevada nonprofit organizations, please visit www.helmshelps.org.

Helms Helps Foundation
Helms Helps Foundation supports non-profits that improve the quality of life within the Las Vegas community. “Food, shelter, and education are the necessary foundations of a healthier and happier community. Our mission is to support local organizations that provide these basic needs to the citizens of Las Vegas.”

Project Marilyn: The mission of Project Marilyn is to ensure everyone has a healthy and dignified period. PERIOD. Project Marilyn assembles period kits and distributes them to other nonprofits. Period supplies are often overlooked so Project Marilyn is working to fill that void.

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