What they do:
To stimulate the local economy, Holly and Todd Petitt taught people in African villages in Malawi to design and sew reusable cloth shopping bags for sale in the US.
Inspiration:
A documentary about Malawi’s poverty, disease and disasters inspired the Pettis of Loveland CO to make a difference.
About the business:
Learning that Malawi produces cotton, the Petitt's formed a non-profit corporation, purchased local cloth, and brought foot powered sewing machines into the villages. More than 4,000 bags were sold the first year, mostly through africabags.org. 100% of the profit returns to the villages.
He started his first business in college. He sold his second business to Clear Channel. He came within four minutes of winning CBS’s the Amazing Race. He’s led an interesting life, but what Blake Mycoskie is best known for is starting TOMS Shoes, the company that has donated well over a million shoes to needy men, women, and children.
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Selena Cuffe recognized an injustice, and decided to do something that many of us forget is even an option: help people AND make money.