In honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day, The Pad Project was featured on SoCal’s News Leader, ABC7 Eyewitness News!

Back in the classroom where this organization first began, Pad Project Ambassadors at Oakwood School came together to pack menstrual kits for our neighbors at Las Fotos Project, distributing 1,700+ pads and tampons to support young people in Boyle Heights.

This was a full circle moment rooted in community and youth activism. Special shoutout to Oakwood’s very own Jenna Thomas for a wonderful interview, highlighting the importance of menstrual equity and service.

With 40+ participants, The Pad Project and JP Morgan Chase teamed up to pack nearly 700 kits. These products were distributed to a school with a large immigrant and refugee population with very limited resources. Additionally, some students don’t feel comfortable seeking help from their male nurse during their cycles, so these products were especially appreciated.

Thank you to Women on the Move and Working Families Network for your partnership in bringing this event together!

Board Member, Rina Shah, hosted a fundraising and educational event at the Manhattan Beach Library, bringing together 35 mothers and daughters ages 10-13 for conversations on menstruation, hygiene, and dismantling stigma, particularly within Indian and South Asian communities. The program featured a screening of Period. End of Sentence., interactive discussions on menstrual myths and facts, and raised funds and products for the U.S. Pads for School Program, surpassing its $2,500 goal.

On April 12th, The Pad Project partnered with the Playa Vista Moms Group to host a special evening at Joliet in Playa Vista, where over 40 attendees gathered for cocktails, conversation, and a screening of our documentary, Period. End of Sentence.
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It was a truly meaningful night bringing together community members to connect, learn, and raise awareness around period poverty and period stigma worldwide. We are so grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so impactful. Together, we continue the conversation and move closer to a more equitable future. ❤️❤️

Our Executive Director, Melissa, and Director of U.S. Programs, Nicolette, were thrilled to spend time with such a thoughtful group of students and parents. This group of change-makers have shown such support for our mission, helping expand The Pad Project’s footprint in Los Angeles through continued engagement.

The energy and enthusiasm from this group are exactly what make this global leadership network so powerful, and we’re inspired by what we can build together!

On March 7th, in honor of International Women’s Day, The Pad Project and Altadena Girls teamed up to pack and donate nearly 16,000 period products.

With the support of CAA Foundation and Rif Care, we packed over 750 kits for students in the Pasadena Unified School District, many of whom were impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires. As part of our broader wildfire recovery efforts, this initiative was made possible in partnership with Altadena Girls, who generously hosted us in their space.

Who better than students themselves to imagine and help shape the role that learning can play in building fairness, understanding, and peace?

In March, Oakwood students gathered with the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights (OCHR) to explore Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—the right to education—and the urgent work of advancing SDG 4: quality education.

On February 21st, Saturday, Oakwood students and faculty brought together leading human rights activists from around the world for Oakwood’s Annual Gender Justice Summit, a landmark, student-driven event centered on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #5: achieving gender equality.

Organized and facilitated by a passionate team of advocacy-driven Oakwood students, the Summit embodied its powerful theme: Passing the Torch Across Generations—and the Gender Spectrum—to Light the Way for Lasting Change.

The Pad Project hosted a breakout session on Period Films Piercing Stigma., discussing the following films: Period. End of Sentence., Long Line of Ladies, Jane Austen’s Period Drama, and Impure.

Our fourth annual gala held on October 14, 2025 was another incredible success! A huge thank you to our sponsors, honorees, host committee, staff, and volunteers. We are grateful for every single person who was a part of our Embrace The Cycle Gala!

Held at Playa Studios, over 210 guests attended to celebrate International Day of the Girl and support our mission of expanding access to menstrual care products, combating period stigma, and championing menstrual equity for all.

Read our Embrace The Cycle Gala recap here.

Feeling incredibly grateful for our growing community of Ambassadors across Los Angeles and beyond! We welcomed everyone into the office for a deep dive into The Pad Project’s mission, connecting with the teams behind Period. End of Sentence. and Jane Austen’s Period Drama, and reflecting on the power of impact storytelling together was such a gift.

Thank you to Julia Aks, Steve Pinder, and Melissa Berton for joining our panel discussion!

In 2025, The Pad Project provided 7,000+ pads to Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. For over 30 years, they have stood as a beacon of hope in LA, allowing formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community. An unspoken side of incarceration is the lack of access to menstrual products, leaving women to use toilet paper, dirty sheets, or bleed on themselves. The Pad Project is extremely proud to bring awareness to this issue and stand firm in our mission to champion menstrual equity for all.

In June 2025, members of GenV and friends of The Pad Project teamed up for our annual Pad Packing Event! Together, we donated over 25,000 pads and tampons to our local partners in Los Angeles. We are immensely grateful to GenV and everyone who attended for raising awareness about period poverty and making a difference in our own community.

On Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, The Pad Project celebrated the North American Premiere of IMPURE right next to the United Nations Headquarters at UNICEF House in New York City. A powerful and unforgettable event that brought global attention to the urgent fight against period stigma, while also celebrating #MHDay2025 in a setting where cinema meets advocacy.

The screening of our film IMPURE was followed by a deeply moving and solutions-driven panel featuring changemakers in the fields of menstrual health, gender equality, and filmmaking, including The Pad Project’s Executive Director, Melissa Berton.

On Saturday, May 31st, our amazing 2024-2025 Ambassador cohort celebrated a productive year of menstrual equity work by gathering together to learn from each other! These photos are just a glimpse of the global impact and incredible projects presented at this year’s Showcase!

The Showcase was a testament to the Ambassadors’ dedication to building a future defined by menstrual equity and generating meaningful change. Through the partnerships, friendships, and projects completed by this cohort, The Pad Project has grown for the better.

Thank you to our Ambassadors, Advisors, Chairs, and all the partners involved in this path forward. Thank you for exuding kindness, opening your minds, and constantly providing support to The Pad Project. Thank you for all you have done and all you will continue to do within the menstrual equity movement.

On June 10th, 2025, The Pad Project teamed up with First Media for an afternoon of impact. We hosted a screening of Long Line of Ladies followed by a Q&A. We packed kits of period products including pads and tampons to donate to one of our local partners in LA. Together we donated over 8,000 products!

In May 2025, Sorelle Cohen, Sr. Director of Development, Marketing & Communications at The Pad Project, spoke at the USC OWN IT Women’s Leadership Summit. Sorelle returned to her alma mater to speak on the topic of “Driving Change: Marketing Excellence in a Dynamic Landscape” breakout panel alongside a group of dynamic, powerful, and inspiring women.

On November 6th, 2024, The Pad Project teamed up with First Media for an afternoon of impact. We hosted a screening of Period. End of Sentence., followed by a Q&A. We then packed bags of period products – including pads, tampons, and liners – to donate to one of our local partners in LA. Together we donated over 20,000 products!

The entire Pad Project community joined forces for our third annual Gala on October 17th, 2024!

The event celebrated the 5th anniversary of our Oscar-winning Netflix documentary short: Period. End of Sentence. and supported our mission of expanding access to menstrual care products, combating period stigma, and championing menstrual equity for all.

This year’s event was graciously chaired by Anissa Siegel and Candace Clark Trinchieri and honored James Astman, Ph.D, Headmaster Emeritus of Oakwood School, Kathy Spillar, Executive Director of Feminist Majority Foundation, Gouri Choudhury, Founder of Action India, and our Student Founders for their continued commitment to advancing menstrual equity. A huge thank you to our generous Sponsors, Gala Host Committee, Board of Directors, Staff, and Volunteers for making this year’s event a huge success. 

We are so grateful for every single person who was a part of our Red Carpet Gala! ❤️ 

View our Digital Tribute Journal here and the full event recap here.

Over 40 GenV Members and friends of The Pad Project, gathered together on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 at The Pad Project headquarters for a pad packing party to benefit women who lack access to affordable and hygienic menstrual products. Together, we packed 1,470 menstrual hygiene kits, including 10,290 tampons and 19,110 pads, and donated over 29,400 products to a nonprofit in Los Angeles. Thank you to GenV and everyone who attended for making the event a huge success!

On June 11, 2024, The Pad Project worked with Goldman Sachs to pack 5,971 tampons and 11,089 pads – donating a total of 17,060 products! Thank you to all the volunteers and organizers who supported this pad-packing party!

On May 29, 2024, The Pad Project and Natural Cycles partnered to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day – an internationally recognized day to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management around the world. This movement aims to make menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.

Globally, there is a lack of support and resources for girls, women, and people who menstruate to manage their periods. For this reason, thousands drop out of school each year when they reach puberty. The Pad Project and Natural Cycles teamed up to empower women, raise awareness about period poverty, and proclaim that #AccessMatters when it comes to menstrual health and education.

At the event, The Pad Project’s OSCAR-winning film, “Period. End of Sentence.” was screened, followed by an open dialogue about birth control and menstruation. Afterward, attendees participated in a Pad Packing Party. 35,000+ menstrual products were packed and donated to women in the New York area.

On Thursday, May 9th, 2024, The Pad Project hosted a shopping event at Tory Burch Melrose in honor of Mother’s Day and National Menstrual Health Awareness Month. Pad Project supporters attended the event to shop Tory Burch’s Mothers Day Spring Collection and learned about how the organization expands access to menstrual care products, combats period stigma, and champions menstrual equity for all. Tory Burch generously donated 20% of the evening’s proceeds in support of The Pad Project’s Los Angeles Programs. A HUGE thank you to all who attended!

On Monday, February 12th, 2024, The Pad Project welcomed Juana Chávez, to join us for our Voices Envisioned Speaker Series at The Oakwood School. The panel, led by Katherine Spillar, Executive Director of The Feminist Majority Foundation, featured Ashley Steimer-King, Senior Program Director of Girls Learn International, Inc, Juana Chávez, Community Organizer and Daughter of Dolores Huerta, Melissa Berton, Executive Director of The Pad Project and Oakwood Student Leaders from Somos Unidos and GECO.

The informative discussion focused on the progress and contemporary challenges faced by the women’s rights movement since 1973. Dolores Huerta who was originally scheduled to speak was unable to attend due to illness, but graciously recorded a very special video message that was shared with all event attendees. To view the video, please click here. For the video of Dolores Huerta’s message to The Pad Project and Oakwood School, please click here.

The Pad Project Ambassador Program’s 4th Annual Bleed Green Event took place on Saturday, January 27th! Big thanks to our Ambassador Program’s Operations Chair, Madhavi Akella, and Environment Track Advisors, Lauren Sotingeanu and Zoe Goldberger, for coordinating such a successful gathering. Bleed Green has held a key purpose in our programming to honor sustainability within the menstrual equity movement and explore product choice. It examines the use, barriers to entry, and perceptions on reusable vs. disposable menstrual products with interactive learning exercises. Madhavi, Lauren, and Zoe noted, “We hope that the resources shared during and after Bleed Green will continue to help inspire members of The Pad Project community to keep learning and improving menstrual equity sustainably.”

Our second annual gala on October 12, 2023 was another incredible success! Thank you to all of you who were available to join us or support us from afar! Held at Playa Studios with the theme Universal Access, Period., over 250 guests attended to celebrate International Day of the Girl. Funds raised at the event will support our international and U.S. programs. This year’s gala honored Julie Uhrman, Co-founder and President of Angel City FC & Suhani Mohan, Co-founder of Saral Designs, for their continued and distinguished work in advancing menstrual equity. Giselle Fernandez, Spectrum News 1 anchor and TV journalist, shared an inspiring video on her personal journey in menstrual education. Fernandez shared, “It’s unfathomable to me that in the 21st century, a woman’s education and wellbeing would be put on hold or taken away because of her natural, blessed monthly cycle that gives life to the future. Menstrual equity is a must and The Pad Project ensures it, period, end of story.”

Get the Gala Recap here >

We are proud to announce that The Pad Project has teamed up with Days for Girls, The Policy Project, PSI Europe, Share The Dignity Australia, and The Toilet Board Coalition to create the movement, Period Positive Workplace!

Organizations can commit to becoming a Period Positive Workplace by ensuring access to (free, subsidized, or products for-purchase) menstrual products in or near every bathroom used by people who menstruate. Workplaces who join this movement will help overcome the stigma and address possible workplace challenges stemming from menstruation.
We recognize and understand that menstruation is a natural and normal part of life, and we strive to develop workplaces that are inclusive and supportive of everyone who menstruates. Addressing basic menstrual needs is one way organizations can invest in gender equity and build inclusive spaces.

Research shows that eight out of ten women have started their period unexpectedly at work, and 96% of those have to leave work to get menstrual products. Workplaces that provide period products report reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, and higher collaboration from employees that menstruate. Similar to a spontaneous bloody nose, menstruation is an involuntary, spontaneous physical occurrence that can disrupt productivity if unmanaged. Organizations become stronger, and more inclusive by providing for menstrual needs.

Our commitment to creating a caring and compassionate workplace culture that values and supports every employee is unwavering. We recognize that ending period stigma is an ongoing process, and we are dedicated to taking meaningful steps to achieve this goal. We hope businesses will continue to join the movement to be Period Positive Workplaces.

On May 24, 2023, Gen V (Visionary Women) and The Pad Project hosted a Volunteer Pad Packing Party at The Pad Project’s office to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day. Upheld by the belief that “a period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education,” the event inspired future visionaries to pack pads for women lacking access to affordable menstrual products. GenV’s mission of promoting philanthropy and professional development–a perfect communal partnership with our Los Angeles-based staff. Together, we packed 600 menstrual hygiene kits and donated over 12,000 products to a Los Angeles women’s shelter!

On Saturday, May 20th at 9 am PST, The Pad Project’s Ambassador Program hosted our 2022-2023 Ambassador Showcase! Each year, Pad Project Ambassadors work in teams to generate projects that progress the menstrual equity movement forward through advocacy, arts, education, public health, and environment-focused works. At this showcase, Ambassadors presented their final projects, following months of research, ideation, and preparation, and celebrated their accomplishments and collective impact.

The Pad Project hosted our first ever in-person parallel event at the Commission on the Status of Women at the CCUN Chapel in Midtown New York City on Tuesday, March 14th at 2:30pm EDT! The 2023 forum theme was innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Our team and Ambassadors were honored to participate in this forum where we screened our latest film project, Long Line of Ladies, and engaged in conversation with members of the Karuk spiritual family to explore the significance of the cultural revitalization of Native ceremonies as they intersect with girls’ and women’s health.

The Pad Project has partnered with the Oakwood School to bring human rights activists from around the world together for our inaugural Gender Justice Summit. With a focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #5; to achieve Gender Equality, this landmark event features speakers working on international issues of girls’ access to education, menstrual and reproductive rights, and understanding how gender-based violence affects transgender individuals.

Breakout sessions will offer workshops on topics such as ecofeminism, the protests in Iran, self-identifying female representation in finance, STEAM, and more. Art installations and musical performances will animate the day, and the summit will culminate with a, “Women in Entertainment,” panel that will feature barrier-breaking talents and performers.

The Gender Justice Summit is presented in partnership with Oakwood School

On December 1st, The Pad Project hosted a webinar to share learnings from its international programs and what it takes to make decentralized models for product access work. It was an enriching discussion on how to conceptualize a program and be prepared for various operational challenges. Our speakers shared insights from their work in diverse communities across Africa and South Asia, tackling challenges related to community mobilization, imports, taxation, standards and so much more.

Our speakers include Jess Brainch from Uzima Pads, Mayank Jain from SumArth, Nafisa Jiddawi from WAJAMAMA, Lillian Bagala from Irise Uganda, Amy Peake from Loving Humanity, Abhijit Patil from Saral Designs, Karthik Thangavel from Real Relief, Diana Nelson from Days for Girls and Divyang Waghela from Tata Trusts. Thank you to all of our hosts and speakers for an engaging and educational webinar!

To watch the webinar click here to register and use the Passcode: Xbc8g&.#

For Giving Tuesday 2022, we were honored to partner with Larroude Shoes! Seasoned fashion director Marina Larroude spent the last two decades working side by side with the most talented creatives in the industry. Together with her husband, financier and business operator Ricardo Larroudé, they conceptualized Larroudé.

15% of proceeds from the sales on Giving Tuesday will benefit our pad-making machine programs in Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. These pad machine programs employ 6 or more local women, who produce and distribute low-cost quality pads to their community. To date, these programs have produced more than 200,000 pads and provided more than 80,000 girls with menstrual health education. 

A huge thank you to Larroude and everyone who participated!

Support the campaign here!

For Giving Tuesday 2022, The Pad Project teamed up with our partners at Hummingway to host a shopping event at GANNI on Wednesday, November 16th on Melrose in West Hollywood. 

20% of the proceeds from the event were used to support The Pad Project’s 10 pad-making machine programs across Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. 

We are so thankful for our partners at Hummingway, the GANNI team who hosted the event, and everyone who participated!

Support the campaign here!

To honor International Day of the Girl 2022, The Pad Project joined Tory Burch for a special event, donating proceeds directly to our 10 pad-making machine programs across Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

We couldn’t be more grateful to the Tory Burch team and to everyone who participated!

Support the campaign here!

The Pad Project, the menstrual equity nonprofit behind the Oscar-winning Netflix documentary Period. End of Sentence., hosted its inaugural gala with the theme of “Change the Conversation. Period.” The event took place on Thursday, May 12th at the Lombardi House in Hollywood, where 175 guests gathered to support The Pad Project’s programs. Guests represented several generations of menstrual equity advocates, from students to parents to grandparents.

This year, The Pad Project honored celebrity stylist Karla Welch, actress and activist Poorna Jagannathan, human rights activist Ruchira Gupta, and filmmaker Roya Sadat. We are extremely thankful for our supporters, sponsors, and attendees for making this event a success!

Read about the event here!

In honor of International Women’s Day, The Pad Project teamed up with Veronica Beard for a 1-day event to support the amazing work of our international partners. We are so excited to be part of Veronica Beard’s #VBGIVESBACK, an initiative that celebrates every woman’s ability to make a difference. Over the past six years, Veronica Beard has partnered with hundreds of nonprofits, and we are honored that they’ve chosen to support The Pad Project’s work. Thanks to our co hosts, Ashley Greene, Stacey Sher, and Maggie Brown for making this event possible!
Funds raised from the evening supported provind period products to Ukrainian refugees.

Read about Executive Director, Melissa’s Berton’s experience on the Veronica Beard’s
#MAKEITHAPPEN blog here!