BellyitchBlog

We love social good initiatives that help children and families and that’s why we’re happy to report about innovative company whose entire business model is centered on helping kids in need.

Sydney Paige is woman-owned company that makes very sturdy, cute and practical backpacks, school accessories and books and partners with worthy causes to donate a matching product for each sold. That way customers know their purchases will have a philanthropic effect as well.

This month, Sydney Paige is teaming up with an inspiring nonprofit, Rainbow Pack. This organization was started by founder Riley Joy Gantt when she was just ten years old and is dedicated to providing elementary school students with educational tools they need to be successful learners irrespective of their financial circumstances.

It’s a big deal because Sydney Paige is upping the donation match this round from its traditional one purchase/one donation model.

Sydney Paige has agreed to donate two of their premium backpacks for every bag purchased while Rainbow Pack has committed to fill all bags with their very own ‘homework’ supplies. This is a major twist to Sydney Paige’s Buy One/Give one mantra as they have implemented a Buy One/Give TWO model.

And the packs are also good for another very important thing: the environment. Sydney Paige backpacks are made from eco-friendly materials of 100% cotton canvas, natural leather, nickel free hardware and/or recycled polyester.

We know because we got a chance to check one out up close and personal: the Guidi Laptop Rucksack which actually helps Matthew McConaughey and his wife, our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Camila Alves McConaughey’s nonprofit just keep livin foundation. This nonprofit works with local non-profits to run after school fitness and wellness programs in inner-city high schools and the results have been incredible! Participants get in shape and gain confidence while also improving their grades, attendance and behavior.

My daughter GiGi (pictured below) headed off to school with a pack provided complimentary of the company in exchange for the review. Indeed, the material was quality and the hardware was durable. It is light weight and not too heavy. A lot of back packs weigh a lot even while empty but after a child adds their books and perhaps a laptop or other tablet in there, it can be very hard for him or her to carry.

The price point is medium at $95 but when you consider that the pack will also be used in charity, it becomes worth the investment. When you know that your purchase will actually help another person, and in this case another child, it moves it closer to the basket of other forms of active philanthropy.

It’s definitely a product we can support and get behind! kudos to Sydney Paige, Rainbow Packs, the just keep livin’ foundation and others working to help make positive impacts in the lives of more children.

I was doing some last minute back-to-school shopping with my children at Target and I bumped into the Yoobi social good company’s display of products. Yoobi is a company that sells colorful, vibrant home, office and school supplies that give back. For every Yoobi item purchased, Yoobi donates an item to a classroom in need right here in the U.S. Together with the Kids In Need Foundation, Yoobi has impacted more than 1.5 million kids nationwide.

The Yoobi x iamOTHER folders I purchased from Target

This Summer, the company announced a partnership with producer, businessman and recording artist Pharell Williams and his umbrella media company called i am OTHER, a creative collective specializing in music, film, television, fashion and technology.

The resulting initiative is called Yoobi x i am OTHER and according to a press release I received in July, it embodies a positive message about self-acceptance, individuality and motivation to meet one’s potential while giving back to those less fortunate.

Pharrell Williams described the purpose behind the collection, “Being OTHER is knowing that that which makes you different is what makes you special, and that when unique individuals come together, collectively there’s a lot of power in that. The goal of this Yoobi x i am OTHER collection is to inspire kids and give them the confidence to celebrate their uniqueness. We also want to inspire kids to take care of others and give back to their communities. When I think back to my time in school, I realize how important having the right tools were in my life which is why I relate to Yoobi’s mission. It is hard enough for a child in a compromised school and educational system to do well. We need to be able to provide them with the tools they need to succeed because education is everything.”

The items are available exclusively at Target, Yoobi.com and Yoobi’s flagship store. The collection features over 50 unique items including a wide range of i am OTHER designed notebooks and binders, backpacks, pens and pencils, folders, lunch bags, and more.

“This is a complicated time in the world. We wake up every day with a responsibility to make our kids feel safe and to answer their challenging questions. Now more than ever it is important for them to feel supported and empowered to embrace their differences and sameness, their faults and perfections. Knowledge isn’t just what is taught in books, but teaching tolerance, acceptance, love and most of all, compassion for others. Teachers today have a lot on their plate, and together with

Yoobi’s CEO and Co-Founder Ido Leffler chimed in: “Pharrell and i am OTHER, we want to help make a part of their job a little easier – by providing the right tools to ensure everyone starts on the same playing field and has the same opportunities to succeed, while sharing a message that we believe will resonate and inspire.”

The items were created with the input of children who participated in a focus group. Learn more about the partnership, Yoobi and iamOTHER here:

And at a recent launch this August 10 that I missed getting my invitation to, I noticed that our blog subject alums Christina Milian and Mayte Garcia attended the Los Angeles, California event.

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Singer, actress & Reality TV star Christina Milian attends Yoobi x iamOTHER LA launch event

Mayte Garcia and daughter at Yoobi x i AM OTHER launch event in LA.

Here are some of the items you can get: