Help Nick Re-launch His Vegan Food Co. For Animals
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I'm Nick! A devout animal rescuer since 2011, a meatless foodie, fitness nut & health enthusiast, and a cause-driven entrepreneur who believes companies should be mission-focused on doing good for the world, and not just in it for themselves. Here's my story, and what I need your help with.
In June 2015, I was looking for a platform to educate others about my main 3 credos; how to better the world through corporate social responsibility, why meatless food doesn't suck, and why it's important to rescue animals. So on a whim, I launched a summer event series called "Cooking For A Cause" in Buffalo, NY. I didn't know a thing about street vending. I didn't have any equipment. And to be frank- back then, I didn't have much cash either! (But I made one heck of a Quinoa Bowl!) So I sought out local sponsors to help fund the early expenses, while calling every event producer in town, and got into as many events as possible as a 'last minute' addition. We did 26 event days that year. And while we didn't make much profit, we had hundreds of engagements that empowered people to step up in life and do more for humanity and more for the animals in need.
In 2016 I upped the anti; using my experience from year 1 to add more events, worked with bigger sponsors, expanded my menu, and entered and WON the overall Best Burger award at the Hamburg Burgerfest. Yeah, my meatless creation beat out all the meat heads! So with a good batch of credentials behind me, I expanded into catering that year. I had 5-star reviews across the board, and was ready to start funding my beloved "The Soho Project;" the animal rights organization I founded after rescuing a street cat from the freezing cold that I named Soho. Soho only had 2 loving months with us, as his condition was tragically beyond repair. So with his tiny body held in my arms, he peacefully entered his next life without pain. That was a moment I would never forget, and a turning point in my life to take my work in rescue, and turn it into my life's work and legacy to forever change the broken system of how our animals are treated. And to do that, I knew I needed to think BIG. Sponsors for events only got me so far. I was grateful, but I knew I needed an endless stream of revenue to change this archaic system. I needed control over what happens when innocent animals lives are taken into so many so-called 'shelters', only to be put down due to 'lack of resources'. So the only way I could imagine a new life for the innocent, was to create companies of my own that fund this movement. This isn't for me, this is for them. It's my calling, it's my life's work, it's what I'm here to do. I've been blessed with the DNA to be an entrepreneur, but more importantly, with the heart to give a damn. It's taken me the last 15 years to be able to put all of this together. But here I am. This is what I'm doing with my life. And I need your help to get the wheels moving.
Covid took away a lot of lives, a lot of businesses, and a lot of advertising budgets. When I re-launched the company this year after spending the last few years finding my truth, my wife, and solid ground in my personal life; my sponsors I used to work with all had their resources cut off due to budget cuts all year. Scraped for time, my event season is rolling around the corner starting on May 30th. And since March, I've been funding everything from my personal savings. From insurance costs, to kitchen equipment, a company truck, square system, permits, incorporation cost, franchise tax, online hosting, and the many things I still need before I can set up shop again. Things like a generator, prep unit, deli case, and food supplies. This year is a little different than the past- where I'll be focusing on bottling our all natural dressings & spiceblendz; packaging our fresh-made salsa's, house-crafted protein bars, and selling those infamous Quinoa Bowls and Award Winning Burgers at specialty events. To continue distribution and online sales after the event season, I'll have online marketing costs, inventory, labeling, and will be creating seasonal baskets for the holiday market this year too.
The goal of the whole company, Avenue29 Foods, Inc., is to be able to support a consistent flow of funding into The Soho Project, so we can rescue, re-home, and rehabilitate every animal that comes our way, and across the globe, without ever having to say no! Meatless foods are my passion, but saving animals is my mission. Help me bring them both together, and let's make this world a better place for us and the animals, one step at a time.
Thank you so much for giving this project, dream, and company of mine a chance. Animals are the most innocent and pure creatures on our planet; their lives matter just as much as ours do. So on behalf of every living, breathing creature out there, THANK YOU, for any contribution you can make today and in the near future.
Also, please check out our websites www.thesohoproject.org
Buy a shirt at www.summerofthecity.com
And check out our meatless food company www.avenue29foods.com
Sincerely,
Nick Mussolini, Founder
Avenue29 Foods, Inc. & The Soho Project
In June 2015, I was looking for a platform to educate others about my main 3 credos; how to better the world through corporate social responsibility, why meatless food doesn't suck, and why it's important to rescue animals. So on a whim, I launched a summer event series called "Cooking For A Cause" in Buffalo, NY. I didn't know a thing about street vending. I didn't have any equipment. And to be frank- back then, I didn't have much cash either! (But I made one heck of a Quinoa Bowl!) So I sought out local sponsors to help fund the early expenses, while calling every event producer in town, and got into as many events as possible as a 'last minute' addition. We did 26 event days that year. And while we didn't make much profit, we had hundreds of engagements that empowered people to step up in life and do more for humanity and more for the animals in need.
In 2016 I upped the anti; using my experience from year 1 to add more events, worked with bigger sponsors, expanded my menu, and entered and WON the overall Best Burger award at the Hamburg Burgerfest. Yeah, my meatless creation beat out all the meat heads! So with a good batch of credentials behind me, I expanded into catering that year. I had 5-star reviews across the board, and was ready to start funding my beloved "The Soho Project;" the animal rights organization I founded after rescuing a street cat from the freezing cold that I named Soho. Soho only had 2 loving months with us, as his condition was tragically beyond repair. So with his tiny body held in my arms, he peacefully entered his next life without pain. That was a moment I would never forget, and a turning point in my life to take my work in rescue, and turn it into my life's work and legacy to forever change the broken system of how our animals are treated. And to do that, I knew I needed to think BIG. Sponsors for events only got me so far. I was grateful, but I knew I needed an endless stream of revenue to change this archaic system. I needed control over what happens when innocent animals lives are taken into so many so-called 'shelters', only to be put down due to 'lack of resources'. So the only way I could imagine a new life for the innocent, was to create companies of my own that fund this movement. This isn't for me, this is for them. It's my calling, it's my life's work, it's what I'm here to do. I've been blessed with the DNA to be an entrepreneur, but more importantly, with the heart to give a damn. It's taken me the last 15 years to be able to put all of this together. But here I am. This is what I'm doing with my life. And I need your help to get the wheels moving.
Covid took away a lot of lives, a lot of businesses, and a lot of advertising budgets. When I re-launched the company this year after spending the last few years finding my truth, my wife, and solid ground in my personal life; my sponsors I used to work with all had their resources cut off due to budget cuts all year. Scraped for time, my event season is rolling around the corner starting on May 30th. And since March, I've been funding everything from my personal savings. From insurance costs, to kitchen equipment, a company truck, square system, permits, incorporation cost, franchise tax, online hosting, and the many things I still need before I can set up shop again. Things like a generator, prep unit, deli case, and food supplies. This year is a little different than the past- where I'll be focusing on bottling our all natural dressings & spiceblendz; packaging our fresh-made salsa's, house-crafted protein bars, and selling those infamous Quinoa Bowls and Award Winning Burgers at specialty events. To continue distribution and online sales after the event season, I'll have online marketing costs, inventory, labeling, and will be creating seasonal baskets for the holiday market this year too.
The goal of the whole company, Avenue29 Foods, Inc., is to be able to support a consistent flow of funding into The Soho Project, so we can rescue, re-home, and rehabilitate every animal that comes our way, and across the globe, without ever having to say no! Meatless foods are my passion, but saving animals is my mission. Help me bring them both together, and let's make this world a better place for us and the animals, one step at a time.
Thank you so much for giving this project, dream, and company of mine a chance. Animals are the most innocent and pure creatures on our planet; their lives matter just as much as ours do. So on behalf of every living, breathing creature out there, THANK YOU, for any contribution you can make today and in the near future.
Also, please check out our websites www.thesohoproject.org
Buy a shirt at www.summerofthecity.com
And check out our meatless food company www.avenue29foods.com
Sincerely,
Nick Mussolini, Founder
Avenue29 Foods, Inc. & The Soho Project
Organizer
Nick Mussolini
Organizer
Buffalo, NY
