Girls lets get on board with supporting Haiti
January 31, 2010
By Becky Schlikerman (Southtown Star, Tinley Park)
Anthony Thompson was on a flight from Europe back to his home in Los Angeles when inspiration struck. The 29-year-old Southland native realized he needed to find a way to raise money to give back - he simply couldn't afford to donate to the many causes he wanted to give to.
"I always felt like I didn't have enough money to give to everything," he said. So Thompson, using his background in fashion, decided to create a trendy brand selling graphic T-shirts to raise money for his philanthropic efforts. That was in 2008.
Two years later, Thompson's newest design under the brand name Gesu Cristo is raising money to benefit an orphanage in ravaged Haiti. Profits from the $19.97 graphic T-shirt emblazoned with colorful blocks and a crown will go toward an In Touch Ministries orphanage in Saint-Marc, Haiti. The orphanage is run by Beverly-native Carolyn Walker, who used to babysit Thompson when he was a kid. The orphanage hasn't been damaged, but they're seeing a lot of children who need help, Thompson said.
So 100 percent of the profits from the 2,000-some T-shirts that are sold will be a great help to provide food, fuel and other necessities to the kids, he said.
This isn't the first time the fledgling project has helped children in need. Last year, Thompson's Gesu Cristo project sent about $2,000 to an orphanage in Uganda. Thompson decided to continue the project this year, but hadn't yet chosen a recipient of the cash collected. But then the earthquake ravaged Haiti - killing and displacing thousands of people. "When the earthquake happened, we jumped in," Thompson said.
But Thompson isn't going door-to-door selling the trendy shirts. He's taken to the Internet - using social media including Facebook, Twitter and a blog - to spread his message. "Someone that is ordinary can be extraordinary," he said of using these new methods. Thompson, who now lives in Tinley Park, grew up surrounded by philanthropic efforts.
His father, Robb Thompson, is the pastor of Family Harvest Church, where Anthony now works. "I grew up with my parents giving to a lot of people," Thompson said.
Visit oneshirtonecause.com if you'd like to purchase a T-shirt to benefit the Haitian orphanage.
The views expressed in these blog posts are those of the author and not of the SouthtownStar.
By Becky Schlikerman (Southtown Star, Tinley Park)
Anthony Thompson was on a flight from Europe back to his home in Los Angeles when inspiration struck. The 29-year-old Southland native realized he needed to find a way to raise money to give back - he simply couldn't afford to donate to the many causes he wanted to give to.
"I always felt like I didn't have enough money to give to everything," he said. So Thompson, using his background in fashion, decided to create a trendy brand selling graphic T-shirts to raise money for his philanthropic efforts. That was in 2008.
Two years later, Thompson's newest design under the brand name Gesu Cristo is raising money to benefit an orphanage in ravaged Haiti. Profits from the $19.97 graphic T-shirt emblazoned with colorful blocks and a crown will go toward an In Touch Ministries orphanage in Saint-Marc, Haiti. The orphanage is run by Beverly-native Carolyn Walker, who used to babysit Thompson when he was a kid. The orphanage hasn't been damaged, but they're seeing a lot of children who need help, Thompson said.
So 100 percent of the profits from the 2,000-some T-shirts that are sold will be a great help to provide food, fuel and other necessities to the kids, he said.
This isn't the first time the fledgling project has helped children in need. Last year, Thompson's Gesu Cristo project sent about $2,000 to an orphanage in Uganda. Thompson decided to continue the project this year, but hadn't yet chosen a recipient of the cash collected. But then the earthquake ravaged Haiti - killing and displacing thousands of people. "When the earthquake happened, we jumped in," Thompson said.
But Thompson isn't going door-to-door selling the trendy shirts. He's taken to the Internet - using social media including Facebook, Twitter and a blog - to spread his message. "Someone that is ordinary can be extraordinary," he said of using these new methods. Thompson, who now lives in Tinley Park, grew up surrounded by philanthropic efforts.
His father, Robb Thompson, is the pastor of Family Harvest Church, where Anthony now works. "I grew up with my parents giving to a lot of people," Thompson said.
Visit oneshirtonecause.com if you'd like to purchase a T-shirt to benefit the Haitian orphanage.
The views expressed in these blog posts are those of the author and not of the SouthtownStar.
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