ANN INC. and Vital Voices Global Partnership Announce 2015 ANNpower Fellows

NEW YORK, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ANN INC., the parent Company of Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey, and Vital Voices Global Partnership are proud to announce the 2015 ANNpower Fellows.

The incoming class of 2015 ANNpower Fellows come from 29 states and Puerto Rico, and have demonstrated a commitment to creating positive change in their communities.  These 50 young women represent a diverse group who aspire to build cross-cultural exchange, inspire engagement in the arts and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), advance critical conversations on health issues, or combat serious societal issues.  An example is Amanda, a high school junior, who hopes to tackle low literacy rates in her community by implementing a program for disadvantaged youth. She plans to teach writing, reading and spoken-word poetry to youth to increase literacy skills while also raising awareness for social justice in her hometown of Los Angeles. Meet Amanda and all of the 2015 ANNpower Fellows by visiting ANNpower.org.

"This year's ANNpower Fellows represent an exceptional group of young women," said Kay Krill, President and CEO of ANN INC. "They are breaking down barriers, redefining societal roles and paving the way for real impact in our communities. ANN INC. is thrilled to invest in these women to help unlock their potential and empower them to become our future leaders."

In January 2015, Ann Taylor and LOFT launched a nationwide campaign in-stores and online to identify the next generation of global trailblazers and invite them to apply to become ANNpower Fellows. With an unprecedented level of competition this year, ANN INC., in partnership with Vital Voices, selected 50 accomplished young women, all current high school sophomores and juniors, to become ANNpower Fellows. Fellows will participate in the 2015 ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., June 14-17.

During the Leadership Forum, the Fellows will participate in three days of comprehensive leadership training and mentorship. The young women will meet and be mentored by influential and celebrated women leaders in business, politics and media from across the globe, as well as executives from ANN INC., including the Company's President and CEO, Kay Krill. Using the knowledge and tools gained at the Forum, Fellows will implement innovative community projects that will move the needle on important issues at the local and national level.

"Each year, we are inspired and energized by the talented young women selected to join the ANNpower Initiative. Our program affords these girls a unique opportunity to develop their own leadership skills and learn from women leaders in the Vital Voices network and ANN INC. senior leadership. These incredible young leaders use this opportunity to create sustainable change in their own communities and make their mark on the world," said Vital Voices President and CEO, Alyse Nelson.

Following the ANNpower Leadership Forum, the Fellows will return to their communities to implement their projects. Each Fellow will be eligible to receive an ANNpower Project Grant to put her ideas into action. To date, ANNpower Fellows have positively impacted 45,000 people in 15 countries around the world.

To learn more about the ANNpower Initiative, visit ANNpower.org.

About the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative
The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a groundbreaking partnership between ANN INC. and Vital Voices Global Partnership to empower young women from across the U.S. with the leadership skills they need to affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders. The ANNpower Initiative aims to provide leadership skills and mentorship to 50 ANNpower Fellows annually and is designed to positively impact more than 5,500 people in their collective communities and around the world each year. Visit annpower.org for more information.

About ANN INC.
ANN INC. is the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, two of the leading women's specialty retail fashion brands in North America. As of January 31, 2015, the Company operated 1,030 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT, LOFT Outlet and Lou & Grey stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. Our Ann Taylor and LOFT brands are also available online in more than 100 countries worldwide at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com or at our LOFT franchise stores in Mexico. Visit ANNINC.com for more information (NYSE: ANN).

About Vital Voices Global Partnership
Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading non-governmental organization that identifies, invests in and brings visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities. Founded by Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 1997, the organization trains and mentors women leaders as agents of transformative change in economic development, human rights and political participation. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Network includes more than 14,000 leaders representing 144 countries who have trained and mentored 500,000 additional women and girls in their communities. Visit vitalvoices.org to learn more.

SOURCE ANN INC.

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