January 9, 2012
I’m both happy and sad to announce that we made our final donation to Growing Home today. This was the biggest donation that we’ve ever given to them and we want give a big thank you to everyone who bought a tee last year. It’s because of you guys that we were able to help Growing Home provide job training and access to healthy food to those in need.
Looking forward to a great 2012.
December 28, 2011
In 2011 we had the pleasure of partnering with Growing Home, a nonprofit based in Chicago that provides job training and organic food to those in need. We’ve enjoyed getting to know the amazing staff, learning more about the organization and helping out where we could.When we started thinking about who we wanted to partner with in 2012, we went into it with two criteria: one was that the organization has to work with children. It’s important to Clint and me that we support an organization that does proactive work – that lays stepping stones for future successes for children.Our second requirement was that the nonprofit was based in Minnesota. As you’ve seen with our new t-shirt designs, we’re going back to our roots and we really want to get involved in the community in Minnesota. The state is full of such active, compassionate people and we want to use that base of people to help us do work that creates change in the community.
That said, we’re very excited to announce that in 2012 our nonprofit partner will be Minnesota Computers for Schools. It was a pretty natural fit because not only does it meet our two requirements, but they also help create change in the world of recycling and prisoner rehabilitation – two issues that are also close to our hearts.
Since 1997, MCFS has placed nearly 60,000 computers in schools and nonprofits in Minnesota. This amazing organization trains Stillwater Correctional Facility inmates to refurbish computers donated by local businesses. The computers are then shipped to K-12 schools and nonprofits across the state for a nominal fee.
We’ll be giving you more information on this amazing organization and how your purchases go to helping them provide technology to those in need. You can get updates on our blog, Facebook, Twitter and in our e-newsletter.
Tired of hearing from us? Each month Executive Director, Tammy Gillard, will be writing guest posts on our blog to fill you in on what’s happening at MCFS. In the mean time, learn more about our new friends here.
October 9, 2011
I wanted to say thank you to everyone who bought a t-shirt from us this past quarter – and every other quarter for that matter. Your purchase helped Growing Home provide employment and job training to those Chicagoans in need. In case you didn’t know, when you buy a Scared Panda t-shirt you’re not only getting a sweet t-shirt, but you are helping our nonprofit partner, Growing Home, provide job training to individuals with one or more barriers to employment. We donate 10% of every sale to Growing Home who utilize these donations by providing green jobs through their organic agriculture business.
From Katie, me and all the people at Growing Home, we’d like to say thanks. If you are interested in volunteering yourselves they have a number of openings you can apply to. Or if you’d rather donate to the cause, check out their donation page on their website for more information.
August 18, 2011
Each year, we partner with a different nonprofit and when September rolls around, it’s time to start thinking about who we want to partner with in the upcoming year. This is always a difficult task because we are impressed by so many different nonprofits. One thing that’s very important to us is that the organization we work with does work that proactively helps the community and ultimately creates change.
That’s just one of the reasons we love working with Growing Home so much. The organization not only provides a holistic job training program for people who are changing their lives, but they work at the policy level to ensure that fresh, organic food is available to underserved communities. The organization touches so many causes that are important to use – job creation, eco-friendly, local agriculture and community development.
As we begin to think about our possible 2012 nonprofit partners we want to know – what causes are important to you?
April 5, 2011
April 1st was the beginning of the second quarter and the day we made our first donation to Growing Home. Awesome, right? So, a huge thank you goes out to all of you who bought tees this quarter. In case you didn’t know, 10% of your purchase is now on the way to helping the good people at Growing Home accomplish their goals.
If you are interested in learning more about Growing Home, sign up for their e-newsletter. An added bonus: everyone who signs up for Growing Home’s e-news mailing list between now and April 15th is entered into a drawing to receive a FREE summer CSA share.
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a farming model that directly links consumers and producers. Our members support the farm by making an up-front payment at the beginning of the growing season that contributes to the farm’s operating budget. In return, members receive a weekly share of the farm’s produce, and are invited to participate in farm events including our monthly potlucks, our harvest celebration, and are welcome to come visit the farm to u-pick berries or volunteer.
Growing Home’s summer CSA shares are 18 weeks long, and can reasonably feed a family of 3-4 who eat a medium amount of vegetables.
You can find out more about the Giveaway here, or sign up for a spring, fall, or even summer CSA share here.
January 3, 2011
Happy 2011 everybody. With the new year comes a new non-profit partner, Growing Home. As we welcome Growing Home into the Scared Panda family we also bid adieu to Esperanza Community Services.
When we started donating to local non-profits we gave 10% of each shirt sale to a different nonprofit. After three months we realized that this strategy wasn’t working the way we planned and the donations were being spread too thin. And, we weren’t able to get as involved with these nonprofits as we would have liked. Starting with the fourth quarter of 2010, we made the decision to move all donations for the rest of the year to Esperanza Community Services. Esperanza was the first nonprofit we partnered with when we made out debut shirt, Tamale! Tamale! It is an awesome organization and we are proud to have been able to work with them over the past year.
But just because we are taking on a new partner doesn’t mean that our relationship with Esperanza has to end, and neither does yours. If you bought a t-shirt in the last quarter of 2010 then you made a direct impact on the organization and both us and Esperanza thank you for that. If you would like to continue to donate or work with Esperanza in the future check out their website, you can donate online or sign up as a volunteer.
December 26, 2010
As most of you know, for the past couple of months we have been talking with multiple nonprofits throughout the city to determine who would be our official partner in 2011. After a lot of research, lengthy discussions and your input, we are happy to announce that Growing Home will be our 2011 partner.
Clint and I were both impressed with the work Growing Home does – from it’s job training program, to the impact the organization has on economic development and its social enterprise business. We’re very excited to kick off this partnership and get to know them better. Want to know more about this organization? Check out this interview I did earlier this month with Director of Resource Development, Rebekah Silverman.
As our official nonprofit partner, Growing Home will receive 10% of the profit from every sale in 2011 and, because we want to do more than give money, Clint and I will personally get involved with the organization to volunteer on a regular basis. We know how much you, our friends and customers, care about your community so for those of you in Chicago we’ll be putting together quarterly volunteer events so you can get involved with this wonderful organization as well.
Congratulations, Growing Home and welcome to the Scared Panda family.
December 13, 2010
In less than two weeks we’ll be announcing which Chicago non-profit will be our 2011 partner. We narrowed it down to three fantastic organizations who make a big impact in the city and now the rest is up to you! Voting has been open since Thanksgiving and you have until December to tell us who you think we should donate 10% of all t-shirt sales to in 2011.
Today’s post is about Growing Home, a Chicago-based non-profit that provides job training through an organic agriculture business. I asked Director of Resource Development, Rebekah Silverman, a few questions to about the organization, its mission and the impact it’s had on the city. Read what she had to say, head over to our voting headquarters and cast your vote!
December 4, 2010
We’re in the process of determining which Chicago non-profit will be our 2011 partner. We narrowed it down to three fantastic organizations who make a big impact in the city and now the rest is up to you! Voting has been open since Thanksgiving and you have until December to tell us who you think we should donate 10% of all t-shirt sales to in 2011.
Throughout the next couple of weeks we’ll be featuring posts about each of the nonprofits who are in the running to be our official 2011 nonprofit partner to help you cast your vote.
First up, Open Books. I asked Executive Director, Stacy Ratner a few questions to about the organization, its mission and the impact it’s had on the city, here’s what she had to say.
November 25, 2010
This Thanksgiving I’m thankful for countless things – my family and friends, my job, Stephanie Izard (that woman can cook!) and all of the wonderful people making a difference in Chicago.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been searching for the perfect 2011 nonprofit partner – an organization that makes positive change in Chicago. The nonprofit that is chosen will not only receive 10% of every sale, but will become a part of our little Scared Panda family. Clint and I will volunteer with them on a regular basis and we’ll have Scared Panda Volunteer Days a few times throughout the year when we open it up to you to come out, meet the inspiring people behind the organization and help make a difference.
After hours of research and meetings with amazing nonprofits throughout the city, we have narrowed it down to three incredible organizations. This is where you come in. From now until Christmas day, we want you to cast your vote. Tell us which nonprofit you think would make the best partner for Scared Panda.
Over the next couple of weeks we’ll do feature posts on each of these nonprofits to help you get a better idea about what exactly they do. But for now, check out their websites and the information below, cast your votes and tell your friends.
Open Books: Operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. Open Books offers signature literacy programs for more than 2,000 students from across Chicago each year.
Growing Home: Provides a transitional job program that lets previously-incarcerated and previously-homeless individuals prepare to re-enter the workforce not only by teaching job skills, but also by providing the chance to engage in what is for many a transformational experience.
The Night Ministry: Connects with Chicago’s vulnerable youth and adults, providing basic supplies, self-care supplies, free healthcare, housing and supportive services. The organization offers services at the moment of need on the street with its mobile health bus and provides shelters for homeless youth.
Happy Thanksgiving.
- Kate
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