Black-owned company wins $25K grant designing eyewear that honors African and Caribbean heritage

November 25, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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CITYWIDE — A BLACK-OWNED BROOKLYN BUSINESS, VONTÉLLE, which has also donated eyewear for needy children, was awarded a $25,000 grant from Daymond John’s 5th Annual Black Entrepreneurs Day, held on Saturday, Nov. 23. The business was also spotlighted on a national livestream with millions of viewers. This year, Vontèlle’s success story was made possible in collaboration with the NAACP and Hilton, who sponsored the grant. Vontélle produces “better-fitting vibrant, fashion-forward eyewear,” with an emphasis on designing and crafting products that honor African, Caribbean and Latin heritage, according to the company’s website. Owners Nancey Harris & Tracy Green aim to provide beauty and size inclusivity to all eyeglass wearers. Moreover, Harris and Green have partnered with the NYC Department of Education to provide eyewear to foster, homeless and immigrant children across the five boroughs.

The Annual Black Entrepreneurs Day, which aims to inspire, educate and provide direct financial support to Black-owned businesses, has donated more than $1M to 40 Black businesses across the country since it started in 2020. Guests at Saturday’s awards ceremony included Flava Flav, Kelly Rowland and Jordan Chiles.

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