Living with Purpose – Giveaway!

Founders of Pan Clothing with students of the Cammy School

Sometimes someone walks into your life and touches your heart and makes you view the world through a whole new lens. Your heart is touched, and you realize your life will never be the same. Meeting Tanner Beck and Jacky Cheng was one of those occurrences for me! At six month shy of 50, how could two college seniors effect me in such a way? Well – hold onto your screen because I am about to tell you … (Be sure to read to the end for your chance to win a Pan clothing tee!)

About a month ago, Tanner and Jacky were invited to speak at a Rotary meeting. You see, they are Rotaract members at Hampden-Sydney College, and during final exams their Junior year they launched a humanitarian clothing company that came into being from a conversation at our local coffee shop, Uptown Café, the prior October with funds raised through Kickstarter! Let that just wash over you for a moment —- I don’t know about you, but starting a humanitarian company WHILE in college AND studying/taking final exams was just not something that flew across my radar at nineteen/twenty years of age!

And yes – you read that right – not only did they start their own company at such a young age, but with every item purchased, five textbooks are donated to needy children!!!! You read that right – Pan Clothing is partnering to erase illiteracy!!! I was so fascinated by these young men and their amazing story, I asked them to meet with me so I could share their story. I met with Tanner and Jackie between their courses and business phone calls, and they were both sporting a Pan Clothing tee. It was just a few days before they were headed to Haiti to visit the school where Pan clothing had just provided 3,200 books to the Cammy School. A trip they viewed as a quality assurance visit to make sure the “charity is what it says”. “We cold called charities until they found one that was a good fit for our company. Hope for Haiti a small charity with a new CEO that was excited to try new things,” the men stated.

They met by happenstance – in the College Republicans club and hit it off, with many things on common. Both gentlemen are socially minded and joined Rotaract early in their career. Jacky was always coming up with business ideas, and one October morning at Uptown Cafe, he posed the idea of a clothing company that would give a portion of the sales to support education somehow. “We went on a Beyond the Hill trip to Dominican Republic to help build a school, and things came together as to how our company could help education,” says Jacky.

Pan clothing – giving others education

And what about their clothing line? Absolutely awesome!!!! The current line contains t-shirts and sweat shirts for both men and women, and they feel like absolute heaven. The fabric is a great weight and baby soft to the touch. And I love the color selection – phenomenal blues and greys that go with anything and can be dressed up or down! The packaging includes their logo and a post card with information about the company and how each purchase helps educate children across the globe. Each of my tribe is getting one for Christmas this year!

Their social mindedness is reflected in everything hey want to do. “Success in life should not be measured in just profits,” said Tanner. ” Yes, we are a business but what we are doing is impactful. All of these kids have textbooks because of our idea in a coffee shop,” responded Jacky.

When I asked Tanner and Jacky why anyone should buy this shirt, Tanner responded, “At the end of the day, you can go to J.Crew and buy a shirt, but it won’t be as good, it will be more expensive, and our shirt makes a difference.” Jacky agreed. “Some companies are socially aware, but Pan clothing is socially conscious.”

When they graduate in May 2018, they plan on headquartering Pan Clothing in New York City to further grow their business. “Since starting last May, I now look at shirts in a whole new way… This is the best t-shirt in our closet – but why shouldn’t it be?!”

You can follow their story here.

And now for the giveaway — For chance to win a Pan Clothing t-shirt, fill in the box below (don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber you are already entered to win! Also, for limited time – Pan clothing is offering a discount to Road Leading Home readers! To get 15% off your order, subscribe to Road Leading Home and receive a discount code!

Don’t forget to subscibe and enter to win below!

[contesthopper contest=”1675″]