Realize Your Beauty

What Realize Your Beauty does

Realize Your Beauty, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization incorporated in New York State in 2010 and headquartered at 99 Wall Street, NYC, with secondary offices in Salida, Colorado. The organization promotes positive body image to children and adolescents through theatre arts, delivering educational plays, presentations, and workshops directly to schools, festivals, and youth-serving organizations. Its core programs include school-year educational programming for pre-K through 12th grade students across NYC and a summer sleepaway camp (Camp Realize Your Beauty) for youth ages 8-15, hosted at YMCA of the Rockies facilities in Granby and Estes Park, Colorado.

The organization's underlying methodology combines interactive theatre performances with body-positivity, self-esteem, and eating-disorder-awareness curricula, including multi-week workshop series (e.g., a 12-workshop residency with the Mt. Vernon Youth Bureau GEM program). Ancillary offerings include branded merchandise sold via an online storefront (pins $10, hoodies $35, accessories $2-$40, sterling silver sparrow pendant $40) and an annual "Realize Your Beauty Day" celebration on April 28. The merchandise store and merchandise programs function as awareness and modest fundraising vehicles rather than primary revenue engines.

Revenue is derived from tax-deductible individual donations, corporate sponsorships and grants (e.g., a $500 grant from See Beautiful in 2022), camp registration fees ($275 for a 2020 virtual camp), and e-commerce merchandise sales. The organization is almost entirely volunteer-run, contributing over 2,200 volunteer hours annually, with a single executive director (Stacey Lorin Merkl), a small board (Kellie Amend as Board President, Catherine Weingarten as Secretary/Resident Playwright, Tracy Jennissen), and a notable advisory board member (Christy Reeves, CEO of I AM THAT GIRL). Distribution leverages strategic partnerships with Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Girls Inc., NEDA (a member of CEDO), and YMCA of the Rockies.

Name

Realize Your Beauty

Legal name

Realize Your Beauty, Inc.

Website

https://realizeyourbeauty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Realize Your Beauty is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers theatre-arts educational programs to youth in NYC schools and Colorado summer camps to promote positive body image, self-esteem, and eating disorder awareness.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education & Body Positivity Programs

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Youth theatre education
• Body positivity programs
• Eating disorder awareness
• Youth summer camps
• Educational workshop programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions to 501(c)(3) organization. Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding from organizations like See Beautiful ($500 grant).
2. E-commerce Product Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including enamel pins, hoodies, t-shirts, wristbands, decals, bracelets, badges, tote bags, and jewelry through online store.
3. Summer Camp Registration: Registration fees for summer sleepaway camp programs in Colorado for youth ages 8-15, with virtual camp options during COVID.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Realize Your Beauty is a nonprofit that delivers educational theatre arts programs — including plays, presentations, and workshops — to promote positive body image, self-esteem, and eating disorder awareness among youth. It operates a year-round school program for pre-K through 12th grade in NYC, a summer sleepaway camp for ages 8-15 in Colorado, an annual RYB Day celebration, and a branded merchandise store whose proceeds support programming.

Product overview

Realize Your Beauty is a non-profit organization that promotes positive body image to youth through theatre arts. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including educational theatre programs and workshops delivered in schools and theatres, year-round school programs for pre-K through 12th grade in NYC, and a summer sleepaway camp in Colorado. The organization also operates a merchandise store selling branded items including enamel pins, apparel, accessories, and jewelry, with proceeds supporting programs. Core programs focus on fostering inner beauty, building self-esteem, and raising awareness about eating disorders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RYB Educational Theatre Programs Educational plays, presentations, and workshops delivered in schools, festivals, and local theatres to promote self-esteem, body positivity, and eating disorder awareness among youth through theatre arts.
• RYB School Year Programs Year-round educational programming for pre-K through 12th grade students in New York City schools, including workshops and performances focused on body positivity and self-esteem.
• Camp Realize Your Beauty (Summer Sleepaway Camp) Body-positive summer theatre camp located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains combining traditional camp activities with workshops designed to build confidence, life skills, and positive body image. For youth ages 8-15.
• RYB Day Annual celebration day to honor what makes individuals uniquely beautiful, with activities held across the country each April 28.
• RYB Merchandise Store Branded merchandise including enamel pins, hoodies, t-shirts, wristbands, mirror decals, aluminum bracelets, iron-on badges, tote bags, and jewelry, with proceeds supporting programs.
• RYB 'I Am Beautiful Pledge' Mirror Decal Static cling mirror decal featuring the Realize Your Beauty pledge, designed as a daily reminder of self-worth; proceeds support summer camps.
• RYB Hoodie Soft cozy hoodie featuring RYB Logo on front and 'Realize Your Beauty' text on back, available in sizes XS-3XL.
• RYB Unisex Tee Soft and comfortable unisex t-shirt featuring Realize Your Beauty branding.
• RYB Sparrow Pendant Custom-made sterling silver sparrow pendant, handmade by Jeaneane McKinnon of Laurel Springs Designs. Chain not included.
• RYB Tote Bag Two-tone deluxe tote bag (black/beige) with RYB logo in fuchsia, measuring 19" x 15" x 6".

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of students reached annually through school programs, special events and summer camps

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Girl Scouts of Greater New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner organization working with RYB for body positivity programming and workshops. RYB has participated in Girl Scouts events including Leader Extravaganza 2012, 100th Anniversary Bridge Crossing Event, and Girl Scouts of Greater New York activities.
• Girls Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for youth empowerment and body positivity programs. RYB participated in 'Yes She Can! Girls Take Back Their Education Summit 2012' in collaboration with Girls Inc. of NYC.
• NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for eating disorder awareness and education. RYB is featured in NEDA's Recovery Heroes campaign for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW). RYB is a member of CEDO (Collaborative of Eating Disorders Organizations).
• Endangered Bodies InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization focused on body positivity. RYB Founder interviewed regarding work to remove plastic surgery apps designed for children.
• Endangered Bodies NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NYC chapter of Endangered Bodies. Partnered with RYB and NEDA for Twitter Chat on BMI truth and fitnessgram issues.
• Mt. Vernon Youth BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEM (Girls Embracing Maturity) Program partnership. RYB conducted a series of 12 workshops for Spring Semester 2018 with the Mt. Vernon Youth Bureau.
• YMCA of the RockiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for Camp Realize Your Beauty summer sleepaway camp. Locations include Granby, CO (Snow Mountain Ranch) and Estes Park, CO.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Body Positive: Nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for positive body image and helping people live free from size discrimination and disordered eating. Highly comparable mission to RYB but operates through facilitator-training programs rather than theatre-based delivery.
• I AM THAT GIRL: Youth-empowerment nonprofit focused on self-esteem and mental wellness for adolescent girls. Christy Reeves, CEO of I AM THAT GIRL, serves on RYB's advisory board, evidencing operational overlap in mission, target audience, and delivery approach.
• See Beautiful: Philanthropy company and recurring funder of RYB (grant award, Non-Profit of the Month, ongoing support). Operates in adjacent beauty/positivity mission space, distributing grants to small nonprofits with similar themes.
• Endangered Bodies International: International coalition running body-positivity campaigns including opposing plastic-surgery apps for children—a campaign RYB's founder publicly supported. Directly aligned mission and overlapping partners (NEDA, Endangered Bodies NYC).

Emerging players

• Atlantic Acting School: NYC-based theatre-training institution serving youth and adults with conservatory programs and outreach. Comparable in delivery mechanism (theatre education) but its mission centers on acting craft rather than body-positivity outcomes.
• Project HEAL: Nonprofit focused on eating-disorder awareness, prevention, and access to treatment for young people. Overlaps RYB in target demographic (youth) and prevention-oriented mission.
• Eating Disorder Hope: Organization providing education, resources, and treatment referrals for eating disorders with a prevention/awareness focus. Mission adjacent to RYB's eating-disorder-awareness arm.

Broad incumbents

• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): The leading U.S. nonprofit on eating-disorder awareness, treatment, and recovery. RYB is a formal strategic partner and is featured in NEDA's Recovery Heroes campaign. NEDA operates at far greater scale and broader scope than RYB.
• Born This Way Foundation: Founded by Lady Gaga and supported by major donors, this foundation focuses on youth mental health, kindness, and self-esteem. Significantly larger scope and funding than RYB, but overlapping audience and body-image/self-esteem mission.

Regional players

• Girl Scouts of Greater New York: Core partner of RYB delivering self-esteem programming to NYC girls. Much larger organization, but shares target demographic and serves as a delivery channel for body-positivity curricula including RYB's workshops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/realizeyourbeauty
• Facebookfacebook.com/realizeyourbeautyinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/rybnyc
• Xx.com/bodylove_ryb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/realize-your-beauty-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Realize Your Beauty