What We Do

The Bloom scholarship empowers BIPOC girls graduating high school in South Florida and past Bloom alums through a $75,000 annual scholarship fund and
in-depth personal support.

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women disproportionally face higher obstacles when it comes to education and student debt due to systematic bias and discrimination.

• Women of color face the highest gender wage gap in the US, earning only 64% of their male counterparts.

• Women of color graduate with an average of $37,558 in student debt.

• The price tag of a college education has more than doubled over the past generation, while household income has risen by only 14%.

 *Data from American Association of University Women’s 2021 study, “Deeper In Debt: Women and Student Loans” & American Progress’ brief, “Women of Color and the Wage Gap.”

Give to the Bloom Scholarship Fund

As the girls in our network leave high school and venture into college, we aim to continue to impact their futures and be a strong presence of support in their lives.

We provide support through our online portal Bloom at Home, mailing of care packages through our Bloom in a Box program, quarterly in-person meetings, and ongoing communication with each awardee through calls and texts.  

As part of the Bloom Scholarship process, we open applications to our network of 200 girls in South Florida through Bloom at Home. Additionally, we partner directly with local high schools, Fort Lauderdale High and Piper High, by sending the administration and school counselors personal application invitations allowing them to encourage girls to apply. 

Once applications have been received, we host Zoom interviews with each applicant, allowing us further to understand their needs, dreams, and goals. We gear the interviews towards learning about the applicant as a whole using a thoughtful, humble, and warm approach.

Taylor’s Closet will not only support Bloom Scholarship awardees financially but act as a source of encouragement and empowerment throughout their college experience.

2023

Undergraduate studies

• Aajah Williams | Florida State University | Criminology

• Adriana Lee-Fook | University of Central Florida | Computer Science

• Ambrielle Samuels | Florida State University | Psychology

• Giovanna Milora | Northeastern University | Marketing

• Hiba Tigoudar | Florida State University | Computer Science

• Jhonelsy Chow | Broward College | Nursing

• Morgan Lucas | University of Central Florida | Accounting

• Nia Thomas | University of North Florida | Elementary Education

• Rejoice Kumah | Nova Southeastern University | Cybersecurity

• Soumia Dolcine | Florida Atlantic University | Architecture

• Victoria Ortiz | University of Southern California | Philosophy Politics

Graduate studies

• Rodnesha Dover | Florida International University | Master of Social Work

2022

Undergraduate studies

• Aajah Williams | Florida State University | Criminology

• Alexis Lundy | Florida State University | Engineering

• Ambrielle Samuels | Florida State University | Psychology

• Giovanna Milora | Northeastern University | Marketing

• Jessica Martin | Florida Atlantic University | Health Science

• Jhonelsy Chow | Broward College | Nursing

• Mariapaula Hoyos | Florida Atlantic University | Nursing

• Morgan Lucas | University of Central Florida | Accounting

• Nia Thomas | University of North Florida | Elementary Education

• Ruth St. Julien | Broward College | Psychology

Graduate studies

• Rodnesha Dover | Florida International University | Master of Social Work

Bloom at Home is an online platform that encourages and uplifts the girls in our network through weekly inspiring messages sent directly to their phones.

Check out Bloom At Home

In 2020, Taylor’s Closet shifted how we reach girls and developed Bloom at Home. Bloom at Home is a digital iteration of our after-school mentoring program and aims to empower, encourage, and inspire girls as they navigate through high school.

Linda Giambattista spent her career working in the cosmetic & fashion industry in sales and marketing for companies such as Estée Lauder, Swatch, DKNY, and Calvin Klein. After fifteen years in the industry, she started Taylor’s Closet with her daughter Lindsay to fulfill her desire to help teenage girls know their value.

Linda Giambattista
Executive Director & Co-Founder
linda@taylorscloset.org

Lindsay Giambattista Cox started Taylor’s Closet when she was fourteen. She studied fashion at the Savannah College of Art & Design and moved to NYC to work in design and production for Theory, Helmut Lang, and Ace&Jig. After five years in the fashion industry, she transitioned back into her role at Taylor’s Closet to help empower girls.

Lindsay Giambattista Cox
Program Director & Co-Founder
lindsay@taylorscloset.org

Through donations from designers such as Free People and XOXO, the storefront provided a shopping experience and a safe place for girls in need to feel loved and special. After ten years at brick-and-mortar locations and over 1 million dollars of clothing given away, Taylor’s Closet shifted into an after-school mentoring program for girls called Bloom. Based in Fort Lauderdale High School and Piper High School, Bloom reached 100 girls weekly for five years, creating a safe space for them to feel valued and empowered. Bloom consisted of three hours of after-school programming filled with creative projects, group discussions, and support. Student leaders created the Blooms Zine during Bloom’s existence, a mini-magazine developed with the Taylor’s Closet team. After schools closed in 2020 due to COVID-19, Taylor’s Closet shifted to a digital platform called Bloom at Home, reaching girls through content from the Blooms Zines.

Taylor’s Closet is named in memory of Lindsay’s twin sister, Taylor, who died at birth.

Bloom was a student-led after-school program that took place at local high schools in South Florida. Bloom created a safe space for girls to be empowered and reach their fullest potential.

Special thank you to Courtney Ortiz for our photography.

Blooms was a quarterly Zine created by girls for girls to empower, guide, and inspire.

Co-written by Bloom student leaders and in partnership with the Taylor’s Closet team, the Blooms Zine was created to inspire teenage girls. Each issue served as a resource guide for lessons and discussions taught at Bloom and covered a single topic commonly faced by teenage girls. The Blooms Zine included art and design objectives and inspiring sections meant to encourage and empower.

The content of the Blooms Zines is the foundation for our online platform Bloom at Home and continues to be a resource for our mission to empower girls.