A WORLD OF GOOD

Guided by the vision and passion of Carter Center founders Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, The Carter Center is a recognized leader in the global fight against neglected tropical diseases, focusing efforts to build health and hope in some of the poorest and most isolated places on earth. Together with the governments of Ethiopia and Sudan, The Carter Center has been working to prevent or eliminate devastating diseases such as river blindness and trachoma through mass drug administration programs. When asked to help, and with the financial support of YKK Corporation of America, YKK (China) Investment Co., Ltd. procured approximately 40,000 N95 medical masks and shipped them to Ethiopia. YKK Corporation of America secured an additional 4,700 masks and donated them to Sudan. YKK has been a supporter of The Carter Center for the past four decades and is honored to play a part in the important work being done by The Carter Center in Africa.

Committed and keen to make a difference, The Bugatti Group is expanding its environmental initiatives. The project “Welcoming a Beehive,” which started in summer 2020, was initiated when a group of employees expressed the desire to raise awareness of the essential role bees play in our agriculture and food production. Populations of bees, butterflies, bumblebees, and other pollinators are in significant decline around the world. Thanks to a beehive installed on the company’s premises, The Bugatti Group enabled its team to learn more about bees, their habits, and the important work they do. Through urban beekeeping company, Alveole, The Bugatti Group has been able to provide a safe and healthy living environment for a colony counting more than 70,000 bees. At the end of the summer, The Bugatti Group gladly collected 100 jars of honey!

Each year and every year, Airline International Luggage, Inc. donates to many local chapters and charitable organizations providing in-kind donations. Organizations supported include Make-A-Wish Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, Advocacy Center for the Children of El Paso, Temple Mount Sinai, Cowboys for Cancer Research, Community Partners of El Paso, Franklin High School PTSA, and more.

Que Factory had been a proud partner of Rainforest Trust for over four years and has helped protect over 30,000 acres of rainforest across the globe. In 2020, Que worked with Rainforest Trust to create the first marine protected reserve in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. This reserve helps protect the native plants and animals from encroachment of commercial fisheries. Some of the species that have been protected include Hawksbill Turtles, Great Hammerheads, and Stingrays. In addition to lagoons and mangroves, the reserve also protects over 30 kilometers of coastline that offers nesting beaches for sea turtles. Que continues to work with Rainforest Trust in their conservation efforts by donating 10% of all profits.

Through the Kids Wheelchair Network, established in 2005, Travelon contributes the foundational means to support thousands of disabled kids, many of whom are underprivileged, by helping them obtain wheelchairs and receive critical wheelchair fittings. From stepping up when COVID-19 hit and supplying a large warehousing facility for the storage and shipping of wheelchairs, to hosting all future fitting events, Travelon is helping disabled kids and their families get this most essential means of mobility and independence – a wheelchair. In addition, for over eight years, Travelon has contributed funding of over a quarter million dollars and the operational means that helps to bring Adaptive Adventures opportunities to the national adult disabled community, including our veterans.

Briggs & Riley recently announced a partnership with Comfort Cases, a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire communities to bring dignity and hope to youth entering foster care, for Briggs & Riley’s seventh annual “A Case for Giving” luggage trade-in event. Beginning May 1 and in honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month, the program highlighted the fact that many children in the foster care system travel from home to home with their belongings in a trash bag. To help change that, Briggs & Riley encouraged consumers to join this initiative by turning in their gently used rolling luggage for a $100 credit towards a new Briggs & Riley rolling bag. Backpacks, duffle bags and briefs could also be donated for a $50 credit towards a non-rolling Briggs & Riley piece. In collaboration with Comfort Cases, Briggs & Riley bags will be donating the bags to local foster care and family services agencies in each market to benefit children in need.

Over the past year, the Stephen Joseph company has worked hard to support their employees, as well as their Lubbock, Texas, community. They hand-made masks out of repurposed fabrics which were sold locally and donated to first responders. They began printing a “Strong Series” t-shirt, which helped to raise thousands of dollars for Meals on Wheels and South Plains Food Bank and supported their sales rep communities nationally. Further, employees were allowed to work from home, and those who would not be able to work from home were offered two weeks paid time off (in addition to paid time off if they contracted COVID) for them to use when and how they needed to care for their families. The company also initiated a Stephen Joseph Help Fund that could be used by their employees to make ends meet. In December they were able to donate over $70,000 in retail value to Toys for Tots, $10,000 to Meals on Wheels, and over $9,000 to Impact 6, a nonprofit that offers mentoring and opportunity to youth in under-resourced communities.

HYDAWAY, the makers of the collapsible, ultra-stashable, planet-friendly go-anywhere water bottle, has partnered with no2plastic.org to reduce single-use plastics one person, one business, and one bottle at a time. To this end, 5% of the sales from their Limited Edition Travel Packs are being donated to no2plastic.org. Each bottle features a unique silicone swirl pattern and the custom travel cases showcase original prints from photographer @browncannoniii. Includes one, limited edition, 17 oz or 25 oz spout lid bottle and custom travel case.

Through the Kids Wheelchair Network, Travelon contributes the foundational organization means to support thousands of disabled kids, many of whom are under-privileged, by helping them obtain a wheelchair and receive critical wheelchair fittings. For eight years and running, Travelon also contributes substantial funding and the operational means that helps to bring Adaptive Adventures opportunities to the national adult disabled community, including veterans. Adaptive Adventures, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a shining star in the mental and physical health of this underserved group. 

“It is about freedom through mobility,” Don Godshaw, Travelon founder and CEO states. “It is part of Travelon’s DNA to be a strong supporting member of the disabled community.”