Skip to main content

Feel Good Friday – Givedon

We were overthinking the name of the new shirting line, Givedon until we asked the owners for an explanation:

GIVE = “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we GIVE.” – Winston Churchill

DON = A title in the Spanish language used to address a man worthy of respect and honor.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Founded in Miami in September (this line is brand spankin’ new!) by Willy Moeller and Felipe Perez-Anda; Both were born in Ecuador and raised in Miami. The boys wanted to create a brand that was good looking as well as having a philanthropic angle. After a trip to a clothing trade show, they knew that a shirting line was the route they wanted to go. The product is made of 100% cotton; the duo started with eight shirts and more are rolling out on a steady basis.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Willy and Felipe are not just writing a check to some organization in another country; they have people on the ground in Latin America who are always searching for new people to work with. Their partner organization, ‘Fundación Verdad y Vida Ava’, has been helping people and communities in Ecuador for over seven years. Together they are able to ensure the delivery of gifts and that their customer’s contributions are donated. You can see some great images of happy kids with new toys here.

In addition to helping the company deliver toys to little ones, Fundación Verdad y Vida Ava also organizes events for the children, where they are provided with food, clothes, and school supplies. They also provide emotional support seminars for the children’s parents.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Givedon also works with two other foundations: Henry Davis and Casa Victoria.

Henry Davis is a foundation located near the Andes mountain range in Ecuador, South America. It is the home of more than 100 Ecuadorian orphans. These big-hearted kids need lots of love and attention, so their commitment with them is to provide all the support they can offer.

Casa Victoria is another wonderful organization dedicated to helping the community of San Roque, a poverty-stricken neighborhood in Old Town Quito.

This is only the beginning for this new company. As Givedon grows, so will their ability to better the lives of the children all over Latin America. They are starting out with toys, but continuing with building schools, help centers, parks, and houses in the future.

Editors' Recommendations

Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
How You Can Help the Australian Bushfire Relief Efforts
australia fires

After months of hearing about the raging bushfires in Australia, your natural response is likely “How can I help?” The answer to that question is nearly as difficult to find as a solution for the climate change that caused the fires in the first place. A quick Google search will yield hundreds of organizations promising to provide aid for people displaced by the fires. Meanwhile, individual do-gooders around the world are stepping up to help in their unique ways, from the 6-year-old boy in Massachusetts sending handmade clay koalas as thank-you gifts to those who donated to wildlife relief funds, to the 20-year-old Instagram model who rewarded her followers with nude selfies after they contributed to the Australian Red Cross.

While it’s very cool that people around the world are doing their part to help repair the damage caused by this natural disaster, it can be tricky to discern which aid efforts will do the most good. As crass as it might sound, if you’re going to donate, you want the most bang for your buck. And it’s no secret that some efforts at aid have more integrity than others. Some use the disaster as an opportunity to scam off others’ goodwill, while other organizations redistribute donations to cover “administrative costs” and put just a small percentage into the hands of disaster victims.

Read more
15 Green Gift Ideas for an Environmentally Friendly Holiday
MightyNest MightFix Subscription Box

Whether you have an environmentally conscious friend or you're trying to inspire others to join you on your quest to save the planet, you can gift green for the holidays — the internet is littered with a multitude of products to choose from. A lot of these products can be misleading, though. We’ve hand-selected products ranging from under $10 to a few hundred dollars that have a real impact on the environment so you can truly feel good about what you are giving. Check out our green gift guide below for a little holiday inspiration.
Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls

Time to toss out those dryer sheets and instead toss in a wool dryer ball. These Smart Sheep Dryer Balls are made from 100% premium New Zealand wool, are all-natural, and contain absolutely no synthetic fibers or chemicals. They also last for years and are gentler on your clothing than plastic dryer balls. In addition, they also save your dryer from residues left from chemical-based fabric softeners.

Read more
7 Ways to Give Back During the Holidays
give back holidays

Well, folks, we’ve officially arrived at the beginning of the Holiday Season™. Though widely regarded as the "mOsT wOnDeRfUl TiMe Of ThE yEaR," I personally find the stretch from Thanksgiving to the New Year incredibly stressful. Yes, I love wintry celebrations. Yes, I love spending time with my family. But something about the gift-giving-capitalistic frenzy of the season makes me want to bury my head in the sand ‘till January.

Since that’s not the most practical solution, I thought maybe I’d approach the season a little differently this year. Instead of stressing out about giving gifts, maybe I could find some creative ways to give back. This list is by no means definitive but should provide you with plenty of fodder to inspire your own charitable ambitions.
Give to Native Causes
One of the easiest ways to give back is by donating money to important causes. With a simple click, you can support organizations, fund initiatives, and get the word out about issues you care about. While you can (and should) funnel cash toward whatever group you want, I’d recommend giving back to a Native or Indigenous cause this holiday season. And not because of some loyalty to the Thanksgiving myth we’re sold from the crib, but in recognition of the systematic oppression still experienced by many indigenous communities in the United States. It’s a drop in a very large bucket, but one that at least acknowledges the major work we as a country need to do to support Native populations.

Read more