It is with overwhelming gratefulness (and a little tardiness!) that we write this update for you all. 2014 was an incredible year for us: we dove headfirst into product creation and commissioned projects, made our first donation to International Justice Mission (IJM), hosted a launch party, premiered our website and online shop, attended the IJM DC Benefit Dinner, and made our first major donation to The Red Window Project.
We learned a lot about small business, working together, creativity under pressure, and generosity from you, our supporters! Late nights and lots of laughing make this endeavor very fun, but seeing the final numbers and the amount we were able to donate at the end of this year - knowing the many ways this donation is going to help transform the lives of rescued victims of slavery - makes this project so worth it.
Folks, we are so very proud to announce to you all that your generous contributions to our little shop allowed Freely Collective to donate $2,000 to The Red Window Project!
To make the event even more meaningful, I was able to sit down with Red Window Project US Director Mark Fischer and give him the donation in person. I first met Mark nearly two years ago when Sara and I flew to LA for the Freedom and Fashion conference. Mark sat on a panel for one of the workshops I attended where representatives from organizations directly involved in the fight against human trafficking answered questions about the industry and the financial means required for sustaining their inspiring work. I spoke with him afterward about the possibility of a small business partnering and giving profits on a regular basis. Mark has been an incredible encouragement to us and it was so rewarding to see him two years later, check in hand.
Thanks, Mark, for your support! Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Please see what Mark had to say, here. It's incredible to see the difference our contribution can make in the lives of these men and women!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part of this with us.
We have many exciting things in store for 2015 and are so looking forward to sharing them with you all. Please continue to contact us with questions, commissions, and collaboration ideas! We love new projects and working with creative people!
Here's to a new year!
xX The Freely Collective Team Xx