Kendra Scott and Ciara Team Up to Promote Children's Literacy, Inspire Kids to 'Dream Big' (Exclusive) Gillian TellingOctober 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM 0 Jason Lowrie/BFA.com Kendra Scott and Ciara Team Up For Children's Cause in NYC on Oct.
- - Kendra Scott and Ciara Team Up to Promote Children's Literacy, Inspire Kids to 'Dream Big' (Exclusive)
Gillian TellingOctober 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
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Kendra Scott and Ciara Team Up For Children's Cause in NYC on Oct. 27 -
Jewelry designer Kendra Scott and singer Ciara joined forced with their charitable foundations to donate books and read aloud to students in NYC
The goal of Scott's "Yellow Library" is to promote access to books where the children can mroe easily see themselves reflected in the characters
The two new friends also talked about how they found success by working hard and not taking no for an answer
Ciara and Kendra Scott know the importance of giving back.
On Oct. 27, the duo teamed up to donate a Yellow Library to PS 161 Pedro Albizu in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, N.Y. The mini libraries, part of the Kendra Scott Foundation, are yellow bookcases loaded with stories about kids from all backgrounds, to encourage childhood literacy in all kids — but especially those who don't usually see people who look like them in typical library books.
At the event, Ciara also read aloud from her inspirational children's book Why Not You, which she wrote with husband Russell Wilson in 2022.
Texas-based jewelry designer Scott says she started the Yellow Library program after realizing how many school children weren't seeing books that reflected their personal stories.
Jason Lowrie/BFA.com
Kendra Scott holds Ciara's Book "Why Not You" and Ciara holds Scott's book "Born to Shine"
"I just saw this was a need," Scott, 51, says.
"We also have so many children in Texas that are Spanish speaking, and they didn't have books in their libraries that they could relate to, or that their parents could read to them. So we thought, let's give Title One schools a program where they can actually have access to these types of books, where they could see themselves reflected in the stories and might think, 'OK, I could be him or I could be her.' So that was the idea — to help inspire them while instilling a love of reading."
Jason Lowrie/BFA.com
The Yellow Library donated to PS 161 in NYC showcases books about children with varying global backgrounds
Both Scott and Ciara have foundations where they work hard to help children believe in themselves —something they say was part of their own roads to success.
"I didn't come from the wealthiest background, but I dreamed really big and I believed, and worked really hard," Ciara says of becoming a successful entertainer at 16 and releasing her debut album at 19.
"I think sometimes you're motivated in life by what you don't have. But I'm so grateful for my beginnings, because I do believe that there's a lot of good that comes when it's not perfect or beautiful all the time. It really pushes you to figure out how to make a lot out of a little."
She adds, "I've always been a believer that where you come from in life doesn't determine how far you can go."
At the unveiling of the Yellow Library, the duo also took questions from a group of second graders and were treated to a performance of the school's cheerleading squad, who did a routine to Ciara's 2004 hit song "1, 2 Step."
Jason Lowrie/BFA.com
Kendra Scott and Ciara combine philanthropic efforts in NYC on Oct. 27
"It gets you emotional, because you can see your own kids in their faces," says Scott of talking with the students. (Scott has three children, ages 24, 22 and 12, and Ciara shares four children with Wilson, ages 2-11.) Both say that giving back does as much for them as it does for those who benefit from their philanthropy.
"I always remember my stepfather telling me, use the gifts you were given to do something good in this world," Scott says. "We've been given a lot of gifts. And so for us to be able to do something for others, to see the impact of the art we create and the things that we do that can really leave a lasting impact, it gives me so much fuel in my tank."
Ciara says the same is true of her and Wilson's Why Not You Foundation.
Jason Lowrie/BFA.com
Ciara in Morningside Heights, NYC on Oct. 27, 2025
"I think kids also need to have examples of people finding success, because a lot of people are told that they can't do something, and sometimes it just deflates them, and they decide to give up," the Grammy winner says.
She continues, "I just want to keep telling the kids, 'You know what? Keep trying. You have to have people around you that believe in you, even when you don't believe in yourself. If you don't fan that flame inside of you, it starts to dim.' It was like that today, coming here to say to these children, 'We believe in you. We see you, and we know you're capable of anything in this world.' Sometimes it just takes one person at one point in your life telling you that, that gives you that strength to live out your dreams."
Jason Lowrie/BFA.com
Ciara and Russell Wilson's 2022 children's book "Why Not You?"
Ciara adds that no one should ever expect overnight success — it's not a race to the top, but a journey.
"I always say, 'Run your race at your own pace,'" she says. "Your timing and flow is the perfect design for you."
To learn more about the Kendra Scott Foundation and Yellow Library, visit Kendrascott.com
To learn more about Ciara and Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation, visit whynotyoufdn.org
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