Photo by T&T Photography
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women Who Give a Hoot for Designed For Joy
Invest in Women—Influence Change
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan., 20, 2021 – With a name that says it all, Women Who Give a Hoot is a noteworthy philanthropic organization. Founded in 2016, the Women Who Give A Hoot organization is comprised of public-spirited women who each donate $100 to a single pot and then decide on one nonprofit to receive the funds. To date, their giving circle has donated more than $348,000 to local nonprofit organizations. In late 2020, Designed For Joy (DFJ) was announced as the latest $10,000 award recipient.
From its inception, Designed For Joy maintained the goal of pitching their mission to Women Who Give a Hoot and earning a nomination. When the opportunity presented itself, DFJ jumped at the chance to tell this impactful group of collective givers the DFJ mission and the success stories from the women they serve.
The Women Who Give A Hoot learned how DFJ employs women emerging from situations like trafficking, prison, and homelessness. The group also heard why it is vital for artisans to earn a living wage. Since they began three years ago, Designed For Joy has hired 42 women, and recently celebrated disbursing $100,000 in artisan salaries.
Financial support for DFJ helps the group continue to provide artisans with living wage work hours while building confidence and refreshing resumes, ultimately launching equipped women into the marketplace. "A $10,000 donation will allow us to pay for payroll and materials for five women to work for six weeks. In those six weeks, they'll create $40,000 worth of product. DFJ will sell that product, reinvest and be able to hire 20 more women for six weeks. This is a sustainable way to help the most high-risk women in our community," described Cary Heise, Designed For Joy Executive Director and Founder.
Designed For Joy is grateful to be considered among the other presenters, Raleigh Dream Center and U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). Both organizations perform amazing work advocating for children, feeding Raleigh, and caring for refugees.
DFJ is happy to announce a new partnership with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). "With their recent referral, we've hired a young Syrian refugee woman who is a wonderful addition to our team," said Heise.
Designed For Joy would like to thank Women Who Give a Hoot, their business partner Coastal Credit Union, and each of the members who nominated DFJ. Their encouragement and investment in local nonprofits is truly making a difference in our community.
DFJ would also like to thank WRAL TV for featuring the pitch meeting, which allowed public viewing of the selection process for the first time. Finally, a huge thank you to the many volunteers, friends, and board members (current and former) who helped craft the 100 Women pitch and who prayed for our success. Together, the DFJ family provides sustainable help for high-risk women with safe, dignified, living-wage jobs.
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About Designed For Joy
Designed For Joy is a transitional work experience for women coming from trafficking, homelessness, time in prison, overcoming addiction or other vulnerable situations. We provide living wage work hours while building confidence and refreshing resumes.
The women who create our brand with us are those living at high risk for sex and labor trafficking and/or food and housing insecurities. We partner with long-running ministries or local NGOs serving women that may be coming out of trafficking, emergency situations, generational poverty, homelessness, rehab, or prison. We believe in a community approach. In this holistic care approach, we take the vocational resource component while our professional partners do what they do best.
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