Back in September, the EPA announced that Pine-Sol cleaning solution can effectively kill the coronavirus on surfaces and should be used to help prevent the spread of the virus. Earlier this month, the brand decided to open its first-ever online retail shop for customers to order the products directly from the official website. Now, superstar couple, actor Boris Kodjoe and his wife, actress Nicole Ari Parker, have teamed with the brand to help families stay safe and to give back to the Black community with an initiative to help Black female entrepreneurs.
The couple will promote the brand and their initiative to support the digitalundivided, inea nonprofit, social startup that develops programs to help stimulate economic growth for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs, both of whom have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the proceeds from the support will support the organization in addition to a $250,000 donation to kick off the partnership.
“Black females have been faithful to Pine-Sol for generations and they sat down and they said, ‘Let’s create something that will go directly to Black female entrepreneurs,'” said Parker in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE
. “And they came up with the pine store.”Parker says that since the news of Pine-Sol being used to effectively kill the COVID-19 virus on surfaces emerged, she incorporates the products in her cleaning routine to keep her and her family safe. “I put it in a spray bottle. Sometimes I spray the front entry where people are walking. You’re already asking people to wear masks when they come over and to wash their hands,” says Parker.
The couple said they have worked to help others struggling during the public health crisis, including the essential workers among the most at risk to get the virus. “I got to give her a lot of credit. [Nicole] pivoted, and as a Black female entrepreneur, started to help [raise funds for her] our heroes initiatives, giving away masks with first responders and essential workers at the tune of over $500,000,” Kodjoe explains.
During the holidays, the couple will do their best to keep the Christmas spirit alive in the household while being grateful for what they have–and, of course, helping others in need. “Be of service, reach out to your neighbor stay safe,” Kodjoe says. “That’s all we can do right now and that’s why we partnered with Pine-Sol, because they have the same idea of how to support our community and make sure that people have [these] opportunities.”