Divine Hug

When Vision Meets Opportunity, Dreams Take Shape...

Divine Hug provides youth, from underrepresented communities, with sustainable work experience in all aspects of fashion design, retail, wholesale, trade, and entrepreneurship. Students majoring in business, finance, accounting, marketing, photography, fashion design, and entrepreneurship, are placed at a local fashion brand for a transformative three-month experience where they develop a product from concept through production. 

When students join our program they have a vision, determination, and a dream to succeed. Something powerful happens when they step into a room filled with peers, creative tools, and a mentor who sees their potential. Their world expands, their ideas sharpen and they start seeing their dreams turn into reality. 

Divine Hug exists to close the gap between education and employment by giving students ownership of their learning, their craft, and their future.

Students are given full ownership of the creative and commercial journey. They learn to collaborate on design while sourcing, budgeting, launching, and selling real products in real markets.

They leave with a resume of experience, a network of mentors, and the confidence that only comes from doing the work — not just learning about it. 

This year, your support of our annual fundraiser will help us expand Divine Hug’s reach, fund more student cohorts, and provide essential resources for young creators who are ready to lead.

Join us in wrapping our students in purpose, creativity, and possibility. Support Divine Hug — and help us deliver opportunity, one student at a time.

Testimonials

"My name is Roman Savino. I am a high school youth staff with Divine Hug, where I serve as their Financial Associate. Divine Hug has offered me work experience like no other. As a result of my immigrant background, I've had limited access to finance-related roles. Thanks to Divine Hug, I can now do what I love. I have sharpened my critical thinking, communication, and responsibility skills through my work. I have also become proficient in Excel, non-profit budgeting, research funding opportunities, and how for-profit financial strategies can transfer into non-profit plans. Through my role with the organization, I now feel comfortable pursuing a degree in finance at a university.
Roman Savino - Divine Hug Financial Associate

"I am experimenting in mix media painting so these supplies would help my thought process a ton and let me be free!"
Chloe Higginbottom - Fine Arts Student

"Helping myself improve my creativity and dreams of teaching kindergarten and students the importance's of art and mental health :)!"
Miso - Art Education Student

"I'm currently enrolled and taking Fashion 10 at El Camino College which is primarily garment construction. This is my passion and really the only thing that motivated me in furthering my education. The list of required supplies for this class is lengthy and would be not only a financial help but just a general relief off of my shoulders. I will use them in pursuing my knowledge and understanding the intricate art of what is garment construction."
Christopher Cortez - Fashion Design Student

“My name is Marline and I am a college student from Long Beach City college. I was given an internship opportunity with Divine Hug focusing on business administration works including the financial parts. I am glad that I have this opportunity to learn and receive hands-on experience on what I am looking for in my career path. With these skills I learned, I won’t feel lost anymore and I’m hoping to further pursue my career in financing while helping the surrounding communities.”                                                                                                   Laysokmarline Heang - Business Administration Student

"I support Divine Hug because of all the wonderful work they do in and around the communities of Greater Long Beach. Divine Hug supplies all KINDS of baby products and supplies to help keep little ones cozy and SAFE! Kudos to Rosie, Intern Roman, and Staff - and best of luck in "Long Beach Gives 2023" too!
D Abshire - South Coast Chorale Board, Development Chair

"Having good information on prenatal and neonatal health is vital for new families. The Port of Long Beach is proud to support Diving Hug and the "Operation Baby Bump" Community Baby Shower."
The Port of Long Beach