A shirt can just be a shirt, but as we know, it can also be a way to raise money, raise awareness and raise thought.

"Giving Knows No Boundaries" Haiti Relief T-shirt

The Giving Knows No Boundaries shirt is a simple design with a powerful message. The blue and green colors, taken directly from a map, should remind us that we all live on the same earth. And when our neighbor is in trouble, we should help.

This message also not only challenges us to give, but reminds us to give beyond our own backyard – maybe even beyond our own comfort level. And from what we’ve seen, a few dollars from a lot of people adds up to a tremendous amount.

For this shirt, we’ve chosen to donate to the American Red Cross. They have been providing volunteers, first aid and supplies such as drinking water, tents and tools. They are also comforting children and providing support to those who have suffered emotional trauma.

But although we’d love for you all to purchase one of OUR shirts, we just simply encourage you to give in any way, to any reputable charity, to help provide some sort of relief to our neighbors whose world has been turned upside down.

In November, we found a pleasant surprise in our inbox. It was a message sent via our contact form from Bert Jacobs, Chief Executive Optimist of Life is Good. Yes, that Life is Good – the worldwide feel-good apparel company!

Apparently a co-worker turned him onto our site and he wanted to reach out. Here’s what he said:

“I just wanted to say hello and give you praise for your concept. Business and social work are considered different disciplines in most cultures. We have never believed that at LIG. It is clear to see that you don’t believe that either.”

We’ll be honest – at first we thought it might be a hoax or spam. But after a little more correspondence, we realized we were talking to the real thing!

We don’t do what we do for those who are watching – we do it for those who are needing. But sometimes it’s nice to know people are taking notice! It makes everything all the more worthwhile. : )

While bringing you opportunities to support state, national and international non-profits, we have learned that many of your efforts to raise money are locally focused. That’s where our new fundraisers come in!

We’ve developed a new fundraising program for groups that is especially helpful when hosting events, distributing materials throughout the community or meeting constituents in person. You can rally people to your cause by selling your own branded apparel and use the proceeds to benefit your group.

Our fundraising efforts operate much like our Exclusive Partnerships, except sales are handled primarily by the organization. We work with each group to provide free artwork - the design is donated at no cost to you.

We will also provide paper order forms for your event or to keep on hand, as well as post the fundraiser on our website. When the order forms are turned in and the money is collected, Greater Than Goods will produce the shirts. Again, at no upfront cost to the organization. You are only charged a wholesale cost when orders are turned in.

Are you looking to generate money for an important cause? We can help! Some inspiration for fundraisers include:

• Offsetting a friend or family member’s medical expenses
• Paying for new hospital equipment
• Restoring a historical site
• Building a new animal shelter

We hope that by adding yet another way to raise funds, we can help your group as much as possible! Contact me to chat more about Greater Than Goods and how we can help your organization!

Many children faced with surgery or hospitalization for a craniofacial defect are enjoying the comfort and support of a cute n’ cuddly companion. Thanks to a very special partnership between Dylan’s Smile and Greater Than Goods, this beary special effort as been able to continue - even through tough economic times.

The short-sleeve t-shirt and the long-sleeve thermal offered through Greater Than Goods have not only garnered lots of attention, but have certainly done their job in promoting our incredibly popular smile-producing free teddy bear program!

Thank you, Greater Than Goods! {And, for a limited time, enjoy $5 savings on both shirt designs!}

I love fishing. The floppy hats, nomenclature like doodlesock and hawg and its ability to serve a metaphor for self reliance and independence.

At some point everyone has come across the aphorism ‘Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Teach a person to fish, they eat for a lifetime.’ Down in West Virginia’s Jefferson & Berkeley Counties, Friends in Action of the Eastern Panhandle is teaching people how to fish. The non-profit pairs low-income families with mentors who serve as role models and provide emotional support; help with budgeting and parenting skills; tutor a child or help a parent acquire a GED or obtain a job; celebrate the good times and help get past the rough spots.

My original thumbnail didn’t actually have the Give/Teach quote. Rather, it was a bunch of fish with a hook hanging there all cryptic. This would’ve pushed the boundaries of our screen printing department, requiring multiple screens and locations unlike any shirt we have produced yet. But it didn’t convey the Give/Teach message very well. Or at all.

Speaking of the Give/Teach quote, traditionally it has been known as “give a Man a fish/teach a man to fish” which left me to wonder about women…wouldn’t they like to learn how to fish? I changed my phrase so that everyone can enjoy fishing.

The next drawing tested the waters with integrating the text with the fish. I started working on refining the drawing with pencil. This helped flesh out the style of the letterforms and fish.

I’m a very raw designer, instead of tight and technical, so I wasn’t concerned with making everything perfect for the final product.  I traced over the pencil with a pen and scanned it. From there I worked on the computer, redrawing it yet again, refining the forms and tweaking the colors. And ta-da, the completed design!

You can land yourself one over here.