Each year, AEO honors one associate who has achieved significant accomplishments, personifies our values and who has left an indelible impact on our company and people. We are proud to celebrate 20 years of AEO ICON and spotlight the top three finalists of 2024.
Meet Marcie Eberhart, Senior Director – Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy and 2024 AEO ICON finalist!
For more than two decades, Marcie has played an instrumental role in fostering AEO’s culture of giving and service. In 2024, she drove significant social impact through her leadership of the AEO Foundation, the Aerie Real Foundation and the AE Foundation with product donations and contributions totaling $10.6 million.
Her strategic vision led to establishing the AE Foundation–providing more than $850,000 in grants to support the mental health and wellbeing of our customers since its launch in 2024. In addition, she helped the Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy team surpass $1 million in fundraising for the annual AEO Foundation Golf Classic and provide more than $1 million in funding for the Steven A. Davis Scholarship for Social Justice.
Marcie has enriched the fabric of our local communities, supported AEO associates and customers in need and contributed to disaster relief on a global scale – embodying a commitment to “Build a Better World.”
Get to know Marcie through a special Q&A below!
Which of AEO’s values is your favorite and why?
Teamwork is my favorite AEO value. As a very small, but mighty, Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy team, we count on so many associates throughout the company to help bring our charitable campaigns to life. A tremendous amount of teamwork is shown by our associates in supporting our communities in need.
What is your proudest accomplishment at AEO?
I’ve been at AEO since 2004, and in that time, our brands, our foundations and our customers have contributed nearly $100 million dollars in monetary and merchandise donations to support people in need in the US and across the globe. I feel extremely privileged to have been part of this work.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
When making decisions in life, such as deciding on a job, buying a house or choosing a spouse, if your answer isn’t “heck ya!” then you should probably pass.
Tell us a fun fact! What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am the mother of four teenage boys and spend a lot of my free time in hockey rinks. The smell of hockey gear is something you never forget.
