New York City - Joining in this new era of social responsibility, consumer marketing, endorsement and licensing, the firm Legacy Group, LLC, a for-profit charity, today announced a new venture, pairing the initiative with representatives from some of America's most iconic families.

Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin and Sara Delano Roosevelt are the first to sign on as "Legacy Women." Each will lend their name and likeness to Legacy for the purpose of branding and marketing manufactured goods to provide much-needed support to charitable causes. In addition, Legacy will develop endorsement opportunities for them.

Legacy will enter into licensing agreements with manufacturers of consumer products, including apparel, leather goods, jewelry, watches, fragrances, home furnishings, and cosmetics. The company will work closely with its licensees on product development and design, as well as marketing and promotional strategies to highlight the high-profile brand image and the philanthropic benefits associated with the purchase of the product. In turn, licensees then pay royalties on the net sales of the products which are split between Legacy and a chosen recipient organization.

Legacy Group was founded by Ralph Destino, Jr., who has an extensive background in sales and marketing. "What we have created with Legacy is a socially minded for-profit charity that is the first of its kind," said Destino. "Through marketing, endorsement and branding of specific goods, we have the potential to bring much needed fiscal support to charitable causes."

The three Legacy Women will not profit monetarily from the venture. All proceeds will instead go to the charities of their choice. While all three Legacy Women are the bearers of lofty surnames, each comes from a respectively diverse background and has chosen to champion causes reflective of their own experiences and values.

Kick Kennedy, granddaughter of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy and daughter of noted conservationist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an environmentalist, student and intern for Rolling Stone magazine. Her exploits as a white-water paddler were recently chronicled in the IMAX film "Grand Canyon Adventures." Her proceeds will go to the Waterkeeper Alliance.

Sara Delano Roosevelt, great-granddaughter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt is a mother of three and is actively involved with the Boys and Girls Club of America. She lends her efforts in support of that organization.

Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, an eighth generation descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt, is a Los Angeles-based singer and actress. She has composed, recorded, and donated special musical performances to both the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Greater California and the American Cancer Society. The beneficiary of her Legacy Group participation is the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the highly respected organization founded in 1994 and subsequently led by the late Liz Tilberis, the beloved editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar. Since her death in 1999, the Fund has received major support from the fashion, beauty, and entertainment industries.

"The Kennedy, Vanderbilt, and Roosevelt family names are richly embedded in American political and philanthropic history," stated Legacy's Chairman Ralph Destino, Sr. and former President of Cartier, Inc. "We are pleased to be working with such intelligent and bright young women."

Legacy has already gained the attention of the fashion industry. World-renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier donated his time and services to the project by shooting the promotional photos of the Legacy Women from his studios in midtown Manhattan. Lauren Santo Domingo, contributing editor at Vogue magazine, voluntarily served as artistic director for the Demarchelier shoot.

The Legacy Group plans to expand its charitable endeavors by attracting other major names to its roster of prominent American families in the future.