The holidays are over, but the need to do what is right stays with us year around. This is where SanMar’s A Canvas for Good comes in. For us, business is personal and the shirts used to create a unique message are personal too.

One of the world’s greatest resources are our children. They grow up so fast, so we grown-ups must make sure to give them the best start we can, as soon as possible. Through A Canvas for Good, SanMar is trying to do just that. Here are some of the latest shining examples of A Canvas for Good making positive differences in the lives of young people.

WAG-Able

When Paula Schiedler and Tammy Pebley’s daughters graduated from high school in the Portland, Oregon area, they knew they would be facing a hurdle. Their daughters, Hannah and Megan, have Down Syndrome. Transitioning from school to adulthood can be difficult for those without developmental challenges, but it can be even more daunting for those with Down Syndrome.

The women started their own small business, WAG-Able, making all-natural dog biscuits. They hoped to give their daughters and others with Down Syndrome a chance to learn a skill and prepare them for their lives ahead. The WAG-Able logo was printed on the company’s aprons, t-shirts and hats from SanMar. Paula saw a distinct change in her employees when they put on their outfits for work.

“They’re so proud,” Paula Schiedler said. “When they put on that uniform, they turn very serious and know that they are official.”

Schiedler said the clothes give them a sense of belonging and makes such a huge impact in her employees’ lives.

One Wakeboard at a Time

Julius Bloomston had an awakening, if you will. He grew up wakeboarding on Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake. When he stumbled upon a chance to put his wakeboarding knowledge and passion to work for a good cause, he dove in headlong. “I read in a publication about this organization that provides a day on the lake for kids,” said Julius Bloomston. “And I said, ‘Hey, I want to get involved with that.'”

Wake the World was started in North Carolina and now hosts more than 60 events in 28 states and Canada, with over 500 boaters volunteering their services. The Alabama chapter, Wake the World Alabama (WTWAL), is part of the national program providing a day of fun on the water for neglected, abused or disabled kids from local children’s homes.

Bloomston found out that the drivers who transported the kids to the lake had shirts, but the children who were participating did not. Bloomston is the owner of Right Turn Promotions in Birmingham. He reached out to SanMar’s Customer Merchandise Donation Fund and arranged for 150 blank t-shirts to be donated in time for the next event.

“Having SanMar there to provide a blank shirt for each kid might seem like a modest donation, but it means we’re closer to providing a screen printed T-shirt to keep as a memory for everyone involved that day,” Bloomston said. “That t-shirt is affecting someone’s life.”

The opportunity to tell us your story of doing the right thing is ongoing. You can go to canvasforgood.com to add yours, or share your story with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram. We would love to hear them. Thank you for being a canvas for good every day.