The Beauty Changes Lives Foundation posthumously honored Leo Passage, founder of Pivot Point International, in Chicago this March.
Held at the Art Institute of Chicago, the sold-out Beauty Changes Lives (BCL) event was attended by a “who’s who” of industry and media leaders. Leo Passage’s widow Lenie and son Robert accepted the award on behalf of a man who literally changed the lives of thousands of beauty professionals from all over the country. “The Legacy Award celebrates the spirit and very heart of the beauty industry,” said Lynelle Lynch, president of the BCL Foundation. “Our industry is about so much more than art. Every day, established beauty professionals are nurturing and mentoring the next generation of leadership and no one demonstrated that generous spirit more than Leo Passage.”
The convergence of art and beauty was on full display during the evening’s featured “Trilogy of Beauty,” spotlighting NEXTGEN artists as the beauty industry’s future creative leaders. Each NEXTGEN artist, with assistance from their sponsoring mentor, interpreted Street Wear, Underground and Avant-Garde in hair and fashion for the 800 beauty industry notables who attended the gala.
While Passage delighted in the arts, he was also an extraordinary business visionary and advocate for continuing education. Throughout his career he made a point of nurturing emerging talent, never forgetting how the industry helped him upon his immigration from The Netherlands in 1958. “He would have experienced such joy at the creative artistry of the NEXTGEN presentations. He had a gift for seeing talent in others before they saw it in themselves,” said Robert Passage, Pivot Point chairman/CEO, second vice president of Cosmetologists Chicago and treasurer of BCL.
—Marianne Dougherty
PHOTOGRAPHY: Babak