Repurpose Bowties: Growing Pains

QUICK SUMMARY:
Who: Repurpose Bowties. A small bowtie company that focuses on connecting people and things that matter through sustainibly sourced materials, fair wages, and equality. 
What: A fundraiser (here we are, afterall) to help us increase inventory, revamp our website, and get to the Emmys in September. Every dollar you donate, up to $5,000, will be matched by the Innovation Center at Regis University.
When: STARTING NOW!
Where: Anywhere.
Why: Because a small, local company has been given a chance to take sustainibly-sourced, fair-wage goods to the spotlight. We've been given an opportunity to connect even more people.

Here's the first video of a four-part video series about this journey.



FULL STORY:
Three years ago, I was homeless off and on. If somebody told me that in two years I would have started my own business, started college, and have an incredible support system, I wouldn't have believed them. 
Three years ago today, I parked my car behind a church in the suburbs and opened the trunk. The clothes I had piled in the back had to move to the front seat so I could set up a sleeping bag and a few pillows with the back seats of my small sedan down. It was summer, so it wouldn't be too cold. Every time I saw headlights, I woke up thinking it was somebody coming to tell me I couldn't sleep there. The nights were almost as long as the days this way. I would wake at the rising of the sun and drive to the public gym where I had a membership and could shower. Before leaving, I moved my belongings back to the trunk and packed up my sleeping bag. Throughout the day, I would move from coffee shop to coffee shop, just to get out of my car and stretch my legs before I'd drive back to the church for another night. 
Fast forward three years and I have a place to live, an incredible university, and my own business, Repurpose Bowties, that was just invited to a gifting suite at the Emmys.
I came to Regis University a few years ago not knowing that I had stumbled into one of the best chapters of my life. From day one, Regis has been so supportive of me and that support continues with this fundraiser. Every dollar raised will be matched by the Innovation Center, a new center on campus that helps young entrepreneurs start socially conscious businesses. Learn more about the innovation center here.
THE FUNDRAISER: 
My company, Repurpose Bowties was just extended an invitation to be a part of a gifting suite at this year's Emmys celebration in Los Angeles. While we are humbled and excited by this opportunity, we also need some help. My company is small and local, but we need to be in a different place. We need to have a larger inventory and more man-power to handle an influx after an event like this. That's why we need your help. 
Your donation will specifically help us to increase our inventory, streamline the ordering processes, update our website, and go to the Emmys. 
Every single dollar helps and this is why you should give: every time you spend a dollar, you vote. You vote for what you believe in. We're asking you to vote for us. Vote for a company that sustainibly sources its products, provides fair wages for labor, and believes in good.