Just ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, GODIVA has announced the launch of The Lady GODIVA Initiative, a new program designed to support charitable organizations that empower women around the world.

The Lady GODIVA Initiative pays tribute to one of the most empowered women in history, Lady GODIVA, by asking its chocolatiers to nominate their favorite charitable organizations that embody her spirit. Through this organic strategy, GODIVA plans to identify organizations that are in the greatest need of corporate support.

From the nominated nonprofits, GODIVA will select five organizations, one in the U.S., Canada, Belgium, England, and China, that will each receive a $25,000 grant to continue their inspirational work to empower women.

“At GODIVA, we aim to bring the spirit and values of Lady GODIVA to life through our company culture and the way we do business every single day,” says Annie Young-Scrivner, CEO of GODIVA. “This International Women's Day, we are honored to launch The Lady Godiva Initiative to recognize and reward charitable organizations across the globe that are changing women's lives for the better and making the world a more wonderful place.”