Give Back a Pack

A New Year

2011-01-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

So 2010 is finally over, and 2011 is getting under way. For us at GBP, 2010 was a rollercoaster ride with an incredible amount of great experiences, including some major press coverage (check some of it out in our Press page).

The end of a year always seems to be the perfect moment to take a step back and reflect on what we've gone through. There are things we are grateful for, like good friends and a loving family, and things we are focused on fixing that will dictate how we live in the coming year.

In that vein, I read about a pretty interesting project called 'The Gratitude Book' where 365 authors wrote small paragraphs about what they were grateful for. As an additional, and very relevant in this case, bonus, a portion of all proceeds goes to FeedAmerica, the ASPCA, Make a Wish Foundation and Women for Women International. Check out the book here.

What are you grateful for?

Pay What You Want at Panera

2010-10-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

I saw this story earlier in the month about Panera, a chain of 'fancy fast food' restaurants. They have started a non-profit concept called "Community Cafe" that lets people choose what to pay for their food. It's meant to work as a soup kitchen, without the stigma associated with it. And their goal is to have enough customers that pay full price (or more) to have it be self-sustaining as a business.

They've received an overwhelming show of positive support, but I think the real test will be in the months to come once the shine wears off. Can they make this work? I hope they can, I love the idea.

This made me think not just about GBP but about businesses that help others in general. It's not enough to have good intentions, you need to provide a product that people actually want and, more importantly, you need to do it in a sustainable and self-sufficient way. You can help more people by surviving as a business for ten years than if you do a large volume of donations in one year but go bankrupt because your expenses are above your income. Hopefully their model works out and it expands.

They were profiled on USA Today. Check it out.

-Daniel

The Joy of Giving

2010-09-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid there was no better day for me than my birthday, followed closely by Christmas. Those were the two days in the year when receiving was at its max, presents, presents and more presents. Over the years, those two days have constantly lost importance in my life, to the extent that even some of my close friends comment on the fact that I don’t like my birthdays anymore. What changed? What happened? Does this happen to everyone?

I am going to go ahead and partly blame my adorable niece, Andrea, for my “issue”. Since I don’t have any children, Andrea is as close as it gets to my own child. Unfortunately, due to the fact that we are 3,000 miles apart, I only get to see Andrea about 2 or 3 times a year. The only thing that I MUST take with me when I go visit my brother is a present for Andrea. Seeing the extreme excitement in her face whenever I open the bag to take out her present is, like the MasterCard commercial would say, priceless. She was the one that showed me that I get more joy out of her happiness than out of mine own. Sure, I still love receiving, but I truly believe I gain more when I give than when I receive.

GBP helps me attain the feeling I get from giving to Andrea thousands of times. Whenever things get tough with GBP, I remind myself of the happiness that I get when we do the backpack drop offs. I remind myself of the smiles in the kids’ faces; the happiness and relief that those kids’ parents feel when they realize their kids are getting the tools to attain the world’s most powerful weapon, education. I urge you all to give, any way you want, maybe by making your significant other a nice breakfast in bed on a random Saturday, maybe by holding the door open for someone, maybe just getting your train conductor or your doorman a coffee one morning, anything to make someone else happy, if you do this I guarantee you will experience true joy.

-Nick

The Groupon of Social Giving

2010-09-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

There's a new group buying site hot on the heels of the incredibly successful Groupon.com ( 17 million subscribers across 230 cities) and it has a conscience. Deals For Deeds was started by two entrepreneurs in Washington D.C. that thought there was nothing wrong with helping others as part of a business plan - a philosophy we applaud and very dear to our GBP hearts.

We actually partnered with Deals for Deeds over the 2010 Labor Day weekend and received a great response. They were nice enough to give us three full days of coverage (usually organizations get one) and it's definitely a partnership we want to repeat in the future. As we come up with new products (stay tuned!) we'll want to spread the word as much as possible and partnerships with organizations like these are one of the best ways for us to do that.

If you live in the D.C. area go ahead and check them out and let us know if you have heard of similar groups that are doing something good for their communities.

-Daniel

Not just a backpack

2010-09-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Scene one: cute little girl in a uniform
Scene two: cute little girl screaming while fighting with her vest and skirt

As I saw a little girl attempting to strip out of her uniform this morning, I couldn't help but think of my own elementary school days. I'd wake up and put on my socks half asleep. I'd grab those khaki shorts I wasn't sure were made for men or women but I knew I had to wear anyways. I'd be dropped off in a school where both girls and boys wore the same exact outfit; not exactly style at its best. The only thing that let me stand out, my most cherished possession at 13 was my purple backpack.

While the rest of the kids had the typical Jansport backpack, mine was unique. My best friends and I had bought ours together. We had chosen one that would represent us as a group. It was special because there was meaning behind it, because of the story it told. To a child, a backpack can be more than just a bag for all their stuff; it can be the one thing that lets them demonstrate their likes, what they believe it. This is why we believe in the importance of backpacks. We are happy to share our story through our backpacks and invite you to become part of a greater movement; one that you'll be proud to represent.

Nahila

Advancing Millennium Development Goal #2

2010-09-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Millennium Development Goal #2 is to Achieve Universal Primary Education. The first target, to "ensure that by 2015 children everywhere - boys and girls alike - will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling", is both ambitious and needed.

Education provides the opportunity to prevent poverty, to create wealth, and lift all economies. In our interconnected world, a rising tide does indeed lift all boats.

From policy and advocacy to actual teaching, the ways to become involved are numerous - and the smallest investments reap multiple rewards.

What are your favorite ways to advance education? We would love to hear from you!

The Team at GBP

http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/education.shtml
http://www.chindiarising.info/

Miami Herald Interview

2010-08-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

A special thank you to the Miami Herald today. They came fully equipped with their professional photographer Chris and ultra kind writer Daiana. The GBP Team was there to show them a day in the life of packing, sorting, counting, filling and packaging backpacks. We're extremely excited to share the story of our movement to all of South Florida and continue to build the buzz that has everyone talking about GBP. Well the wait is short and the article is coming out in Sunday's edition and the placement of it is TBD but we will let you know as soon we find out!

Taylor Stitch

2010-08-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, while searching for a new pair of shirts, I came across a website that really gets the job done when it comes to overall feeling. If you haven't already heard of Taylor Stitch, you're in for a nice treat. Founded in San Francisco, TS does a wonderful job creating custom button down shirts. Although their shirts are perfectly crafted, their creativeness, personality and overall style is what has this company in route to great success. The Lower East Side meets the West Coast!

To see for yourself visit their website @ Taylor Stitch and check out the very colorful and thoughtful blog to pick their brain.

Cheers,

Renzo

GBP on the Radio

2010-08-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

We've gone international and have crossed the border over to Canada! Well on the radio that is :)

On a side note - check out the song On the Radio by Regina Spektor.

Here is what CHML News wrote about us. Happy to have been given 5 minutes of airtime to promote the movement!

"Today on the Daily Distraction, Give-Back-A-Pack. Canadian Nick Kling, and his partner Renzo Pisa have put together an amazing program that will help you get the school supplies you need for your kids, and help young students in Latin America too (At a 1-1 Donation ratio! WOW!). PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE YOU START YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING!" (full story here)

INTRODUCING GIVE BACK A PACK!

2010-06-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who has helped bring Give Back a Pack into reality!

The Give Back a Pack Foundation has donated over one thousand backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need over the past year. In that time, we have developed a brand new line of backpacks and apparel that will engage a larger audience to help us continue our efforts. We dream of a day in which every child, regardless of socioeconomic class, has the tools necessary to achieve the education they so richly deserve.

That dream, fueled by hard work and the dedication of our supporters, has made way for the launch of our Give Back a Pack brand. We cannot wait to hear what you think and we look forward to growing together and making the dream of many children across the globe into a reality!

Thanks again,

The Give Back a Pack Team!