Contributor

Francine LeFrak

Social entrepreneur, film producer, and founder of fair trade jewelry company, Same Sky

Francine LeFrak is an award-winning theatrical, television and film producer, a successful entrepreneur and a distinguished philanthropist. As a producer, Francine’s work has drawn attention to social issues of global significance, including HIV/AIDS, conflict and intolerance. Her films have been screened at major international film festivals such as Cannes, London, Munich, Milan and Sundance. Francine’s productions have been recognized with Tony, EMMY and Peabody Awards. In recognition of Francine’s humanitarian efforts, she received the Women Together Award from the United Nations, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and the Human Spirit Award from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. She’s been named Woman Who Cares by the United Cerebral Palsy and USO Woman of the Year, to name a few. In 2008, Francine founded Same Sky, a socially-conscious jewelry line that enables female artisans to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Same Sky’s inaugural project in Kigali, Rwanda, provides employment to HIV-positive survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. 100% of net-proceeds from jewelry sales are reinvested into expanding the business to other regions of the world spreading the “women helping women” mission of Same Sky. Follow Francine on Twitter @FrancineLeFrak or visit: www.samesky.com.