(PM is PurposeMall | KI is Kona Ice)

PM: What products or services does your company provide?

KI: We are a mobile shaved ice experience- providing not only a delicious treat but also smiles.

PM: How did you get your initial inspiration?

KI:  This is a franchise, so we heard about the company from friends and wanted to jump on board.

PM: Why did you decide to add a "give back" component?

KI: The company has always had a give back component- Kona Ice is very generous nationwide.

PM: Tell us more about the impact your company is having on the world?

KI: Our company gives back in all of the local communities it is involved in.  We love to make a difference in our local communities with monetary donations and building community and bringing people together.

PM: What is the greatest or most inspirational story you've heard from the impact your "give back" component has had?

KI: 5. At a local Title 1 school they saved up their Kona Ice Giveback money and took all of the lowest income students on a special fun day of several activities- paying for the activities and bus for all of the students.

PM: If you could only choose one of your products or services, which one really gets you excited?

KI: We only have one product and service- so shaved ice treats!  It gets us excited because it is a great product- we use a base of pure cane sugar and all natural stevia to bring the sugar content down and also have vitamins C and D in the flavors so we provide flavor and nutrition.

PM: Plans for the future?

KI: Our plans for the future are to continue to work on giving back to the community and help unify people.  We have given back tens of thousands of dollars already in the first two years of operation here in the Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas and can't wait to see where we can give back next!  

If you are interested in learning more check out the video below.  If you would like to get in touch with Kona Ice of Wesley Chapel or Kona Ice in your neck of the woods, check out the links after the video.  Enjoy!

Kona Ice Wesley Chapel - http://www.facebook.com/pg/KonaIceWesleyChapel

Kona Ice - http://www.kona-ice.com

PD: Purple Door Coffee full service coffee company. We operate a cafe in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver which we've been running for over 4 years. We also have a coffee roasting facility that provides the coffee to our shop as well as to wholesale accounts  and online customers. We also are a wholesaler for commercial grade brewing equipment. The service that we offer as our organizational mission is that we exclusively hire and job train young people who have been homeless and are working to leave homelessness behind. We provide a year of supportive, transitional employment. We teach job and life skills and help our employees land permanent employment or head down a career path through school or other training programs. 

PM: How did you get your initial inspiration?

PD: Our initial inspiration was from our partner organization, Dry Bones Denver. Dry Bones has been doing outreach among homeless youth and young adults in Denver for over 16 years. They quickly realized that one of the primary needs of this community was job training. I interned for Dry Bones in the summer of 2009 and really fell in love with the population of young people on the streets of Denver. Myself and another intern picked up the dream of Dry Bones to provide a job training program for homeless young people, and we opened our doors in April of 2013. 

PM: Why did you decide to add a "give back" component?

PD: It wasn't a decision to add a give back component, but more of a figuring out the vehicle of our giving back. We decided on a coffee shop because of the various skills that can be learned, the team dynamic of the work, the fact that coffee shops tend to foster community, and Madison (my co-founder) and I really loved coffee. 

PM: Tell us more about the impact your company is having on the world?

PD: We're able to employ 5 young people at a time. As our roasting grows we'll be able to create more jobs for young people exiting homelessness. We will also be able to add more supportive services to the folks we're employing. Denver has a large population of homeless young people, and research shows that job training and employment are two of the integral components of permanently exiting homelessness. 

PM: What is the greatest or most inspirational story you've heard from the impact your "give back" component has had?

PD: One of our graduates first hit the streets when she was very young, was a heroine addict, spent time in prison and has multiple felonies. She completed our program, has housing is married, and has a beautiful baby girl. We've hired her as an assistant manager and will soon train her to be a bookkeeper. We hope she will stay on as our bookkeeper for the long term, but we also know that she might move on once she has that skill set, and we would be so excited for her if that is the case.  

CHECK OUT HER VIDEO STORY HERE:

PD: I love that we roast coffee now. I love being a barista and love everything about coffee, but the fact that we are roasting now allows us to distinguish ourselves as a leader in our industry, diversify how we train, increase our profit margins and impact the lives of coffee growers alongside our staff.

Learn More at http://www.purpledoorcoffee.com

Dancing for Donations' Sara Battaglia is a dance instructor with passion.  Passion not just for her art, but also for the community.  Her program offers dance classes in exchange for donations to charitable organizations!  They currently have four different classes for kids ages 2-13 and at all stages of ability!   PurposeMall had the chance to hear from Sara, and we think you'll be inspired to get moving yourself! 

(PM - PurposeMall | SB - Sara Battaglia)

PM: What products or services does your company provide?

SB: My program offers dance classes to all abilities of children in exchange for donations to different charitable organizations.  We currently offer 2 different age groups, 2-6 and 6-up.  We currently teach ballet, tap, jazz, and hope to add acro and other dance styles soon!  Classes take place at the wonderful, We Rock the Spectrum-Tampa!  Our wonderful facility allows us to use this space for free, they love being able to give back to the community as well! 

PM: How did you get your initial inspiration?

SB: My inspiration for the program was solely my love for dance, children, and giving back.  I wanted to find a way to put all of the things I love into one thing and that is how the program was created!

PM: Why did you decide to add a "give back" component? 

SB: The “give back” component was something that I was always passionate about.  I love to give to the community and my students.  I am always willing to help my students in, or outside of class.  I know when I was a child, my dance teacher was a huge role model for me, even today they still are!  I want to be that for other children; a role model, teacher, and a friend!  I wanted to offer dance classes to kids who may not typically “fit in” in a dance studio setting.  I do not see a disability, I see someone who is simply differently abled.  I also know that dance is very expensive! I wanted kids whose parents could not afford it to be able to dance.  I also always want to help the community and being a college student, financially that is not always an easy option.  The program lets me do multiple things I love, teaching ALL kids dance and giving back to the community!

PM: Tell us more about the impact your company is having on the world? 

SB: For one, it is allowing special needs kids to be involved in an all-inclusive environment.  It is also allowing typical kids to be in an environment where being in a wheelchair, or being “different” is normal, and accepted!  Many programs try to isolate special needs kids into their own classes or category and I simply don’t think that benefits them!  They are no less than the other children, they just need to learn differently, or move differently and that is completely ok! 

Second, we allow these classes basically “free!”  It gives children an opportunity that they may not have otherwise.  They get to be social, make friends, exercise, have fun, and learn to follow a teacher!  

Lastly, we take donations instead of charging for classes.  So far, we have donated to Feeding Tampa Bay, the Humane Society, My Brother Rocks the Spectrum, STANO foundation, the Epilepsy Foundation, as well as several other organizations.  Currently, we are collecting items for the Low Rider Dachshund Rescue of FL (lots of dog items!) and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (about $500 now).

PM: What is the greatest or most inspirational story you've heard from the impact your "give back" component has had? 

SB: I think what continues to inspire me to continue this program is how it impacts not only the parents but also the children.  One of my students came to the second class I ever had.  She has a rare form of autism and was honestly running around the room!  I wasn’t sure what to do! Her mom asked me if it was okay if she continued to come.   I said “Absolutely! As long as she is having fun! I don’t care!”  Well, that same child comes weekly and is a completely different kid. She not only follows, but she even sings the songs! Not every day is a good day for her, or any of my kids for that matter.  However, persistence is what really shows in any child’s life.  

PM: If you could only choose one of your products or services, which one really gets you excited?

SB: Well we only really have the 2 services! Dance classes and giving back.  But if I were to choose I’d say we can really boogie! 😉 

PM: Plans for the future?

SB: Our plans for the near future are to host a holiday show.  We are still looking for a location to do so!  We also are hoping to become a non-profit to allow us to continue to grow and be able to accept more kids and have even more classes!

For long term, I see the program growing really large!  We went from 1 class of 15 kids to 5 classes, and the ability to take in 60 kids! We hope to continue to having children of all abilities feel welcomed and have a safe place to have fun and come dance! As well as, give back to the community in the donations that we collect!

For more information visit Dancing for Donation's Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/dancingfordonations/

Becky Reitmeyer, a Realtor with Keller Williams, gives a portion of all of her closings to help find a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa and Ewing's Sarcoma.  Specifically, she gives to CureSearch and Debra. 

We had the chance to hear more about her company and the causes she supports.  Enjoy! (PM is PurposeMall, BR is Becky Reitmeyer)

PM: What products or services does your company provide?

BR: I am a real estate agent in the Tampa Bay Area- I work with both buyers and sellers. 

PM: How did you get your initial inspiration?

BR: My inspiration for giving back comes from my loved ones.  My now 11 year old nephew Ryan has battled Ewing's Sarcoma- a bone cancer, twice in the last 5 years, and doctors say it is likely he will relapse again.

My 2 year niece Olivia was born November 21, 2014 with Epidermolysis Bullosa a genetic disorder that did not allow her skin to bind.  It is a condition she battled her whole life and she passed away December 16, 2016 from complications of this disorder.  

PM: Why did you decide to add a "give back" component?

BR: Nothing means more to me than my family and if I can help other families not have the same struggles we have gone through by supporting organizations that are looking for a cure it would be the greatest honor of my life.

PM: Tell us more about the impact your company is having on the world?

BR: My company's impact on the world may seem slight at this time but as I grow as a Realtor I hope that I can make a difference in service and in giving back.

PM: What is the greatest or most inspirational story you've heard from the impact your "give back" component has had?

BR: While not as a direct impact of my giving alone, but as a result of many many gifts clinical trials for both EB and many childhood cancers are being started and ran and that can be the start of a cure!!

PM: If you could only choose one of your products or services, which one really gets you excited?

BR: My favorite aspect of my job is helping families find the perfect home for them!

PM: Plans for the future?

BR: My plans for the future is to keep on keeping on, helping families with their home purchases and sales and hopefully hearing of a cure for EB and Ewing's Sarcoma!

Learn More at ->

Becky Reitmeyer http://www.liveinpinellas.com/

Cure Search www.curesearch.org

Debra www.debra.org

Ryan's Facebook page is 

Olivia's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/livvyslullaby

We had a chance to interview the passionate people who founded Woodchuck Customs based in Apollo Beach, Flordia... Here is what they had to say (PM is PurposeMall, WC is Woodchuck Customs)-  

PM: What products or services does your company provide?

WC: Rustic wood furniture and decor.

PM: How did you get your initial inspiration?

WC: We had been feeling God's calling to mission work, but did not have the financial means to support it. Also, our 16-year-old daughter is beginning to feel called toward the mission field as a career and we wanted to give her opportunities to experience that type of work. 

PM: Why did you decide to add a "give back" component?

WC: Two years ago when we moved into our home, I wanted to purchase a farm table but could not find what we wanted. Shawn, who had never built anything before, decided to build a farm table for us. It turned out beautifully, and he really enjoyed it, so he built a few other items. We got lots of compliments on his work, and people started asking why we don't build to sell. That was when we realized that God had provided this as a means to do His work through global missions. He has continued to use it to reach many is His name and for His glory. We are humbled and honored to be used of Him in this way.

PM: Tell us more about the impact your company is having on the world?

WC: This venture has allowed us to go with teams to countries in need to show love, shine light, and share the gospel... often with the "least of these". 

PM: What is the greatest or most inspirational story you've heard from the impact your "give back" component has had?

WC: We were most recently honored to work with an organization in Costa Rica who rescues girls from human trafficking and prostitution, which is legal in that country. 

PM: If you could only choose one of your products or services, which one really gets you excited?

WC: We love creating new custom products, but are best known for our farm, coffee, and console tables.

PM: Plans for the future?

WC: We will go where He calls us and do what He tells us to do for as long as he tells us.

FROM THEIR WEBSITE: Woodchuck Custom Furniture is a non-profit business which builds custom, rustic wood accent furniture and décor to benefit global missions. We have several samples on our page of items that have been created for different customers; however, we build to suit your needs! In most cases, we can adjust measurements and change stain/paint finishes to your liking. In many cases, you can send a picture of what you would like and we can build it to suit. Each piece is unique and will have slight imperfections, intentionally made to create a rustic look.
All proceeds from sales go toward mission work in countries of great need.