Giving Partner Namesake Spotlight: Ellen & Ruby Room

Thrive Causemetics
2026-02-26T16:35:23-08:00

Meet Ellen Young, whose commitment to empowering youth inspired our Brilliant Eye Brightener™ Sparkling Liquid Eyeliner in shade ‘Brown Gold Shimmer’!

Ellen is the Board Chair of Ruby Room and a lifelong advocate for empowering youth through fashion. In 2008, she founded F-factor, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young people build confidence through personal style. In 2016, Ellen successfully led the merger of F-factor and Ruby Room, bringing together two organizations with a shared mission: to empower youth through fashion.

As a visionary leader, Ellen helped shape what are now Ruby Room’s signature programs. Under her leadership, services expanded to include he/him formal attire, a quinceañera dress program, and a cosmetics bar — ensuring more young people could access the clothing and products that help them look and feel their best.

Ellen’s passion for serving youth is deeply personal. Having witnessed the realities faced by children in foster care within her own family, she is continually inspired by the resilience and strength of young people navigating adversity.

For more than 20 years, Ruby Room has empowered youth across Washington State by providing access to clothing, hygiene products, and formal wear at no cost to qualified students. Through its welcoming boutique experience, teens attending prom, homecoming, quinceañeras, and other milestone events can select dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories in a safe and inclusive environment. Ruby Room believes that taking pride in your personal appearance is empowering, and that fashion can be a powerful tool for building confidence and self-expression.

Since 2019, Thrive Causemetics has proudly partnered with Ruby Room, donating over $250,000 worth of products to support low-income teens attending prom and other special events. We’ve packed makeup kits and visited their boutique to help create meaningful experiences for youth celebrating important milestones.

Ellen’s leadership embodies what Brilliant Eye Brightener™ represents: confidence, self-expression, and shining in your own unique way. Her work reminds us that when young people are given the opportunity to feel seen and celebrated, they step into their futures with greater strength.

Explore the Brilliant Eye Brightener™ Sparkling Liquid Eyeliner named after Ellen here! Every purchase supports our giving mission, uplifting youth and communities through partnerships like Ruby Room.