Communi-tee, Generosi-tee, Chari-tee, Graphic-tee… What do all of these things have in common? They are each a major part of the Giraphic Prints T-Fund, and just like all of our T-Fund recipients, they all end in TEES!
Since February of 2016 Giraphic Prints has taken an initiative to give back to the community that has given us so much by doing the one thing we do best: Custom, Quality, Graphic T-Shirts.
For the last 10 months we have hand-picked certain jobs that benefit our community or it’s residents and donated a portion of the order as our way of saying, “Thanks!” From non-profits like It Takes a Village BR, philanthropies like Dance Marathon here at LSU, to TEDX, to flood relief efforts after the tragic flooding in August, here at Giraphic Prints we believe in the goodness of people, so we’re putting our money where our mouth is. In the last 10 months Giraphic Prints has awarded over $7,000 in t-shirts to over a dozen local Baton Rouge organizations.
But we can’t do it on our own.
We need you, the concerned citizen, the good deed do-er, the helping hand, to show us all of the incredible works of charity going on in our beautiful city. If you know of an event or organization whether it be existing, up-and-coming, or in-the-making, if you wanna help-so do we! Visit our website, message us on Facebook, or swing by our shop to get your job on our list of T-Fund candidates, and we’ll do everything we can to make your t-shirt a reality. That’s what we’ve been doing for almost 10 years here in Baton Rouge, and you can take THAT to the bank.
The 13th annual Hot Art Cool Nights festival marked our 4th event as part of the Mid City Merchants Association and was a great success! The event, which is held in early May, is one of the two annual Mid City Merchants festivals during which numerous businesses in the area come together for a night of art and music. In preparation for each of these parties, our hard-working employees clear the shop of its usual chaos and transform the space to welcome our visiting artists and the many guests who pass through.
Take a look below to find out more about what you may have missed!
Featured Artists
Anna Peterson @annamarinapete Nellie Reesby @nellienelliebobellie Juan Karlo Randolph @perception_inception Annalynne Talbert @annalynnetalbert
From modest beginnings, our company has gradually evolved into one of the largest providers of screen-printed apparel in the southern region of Louisiana. As we continue to grow, it becomes increasingly important to us that we recognize all of the support we have received from the community that has helped to get us where we are today. We couldn’t have done it without you!
This February, as part of our dedication to our community, we proudly launched our newest campaign, the “T-Fund”. Over the course of this year, we will be donating $10,000 in screen-printed apparel to worthy causes. So far, we have received a wonderful response — check out our first recipients below!
It Takes a Village BR
It Takes A Village BR is a nonprofit organization devoted to serving the Greater Baton Rouge community. Every Sunday, volunteers of this organization feed the homeless and less fortunate under the north Blvd bridge.
To learn more about this organization, visit their Facebook page.
Athletics Anonymous
Athletics Anonymous is a local softball league geared towards helping people who participate in a Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous programs and are active in sobriety. Its purpose is to provide a positive outlet in staying clean an sober – to give people in recovery strength and hope for a new and better way of life.
LSU Dance Marathon
DanceMarathon at LSU is a year-round philanthropic organization through which LSU students raise money for our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. DanceMarathon has a remarkable capability to unite students across LSU’s campus under a common goal of making miracles- to provide life-saving medical care for children, ensuring that no child is turned away because of an inability to pay. It is entirely student-run and culminates in a 26.2 hour DanceMarathon celebrating patients and families that have received treatment at the hospital as well as the students and various donors that have contributed to the cause. For these 26.2 hours, students pledge to stay on their feet – dancing, standing, playing games, listening to live entertainment, enjoying great local food, and hearing personal stories from children and families treated by Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital– to show their commitment to ensuring that no child fights alone. Every couple of hours, we have what we call a “Miracle Family” come and share their story. It makes what we are doing so much more important and makes the students that much more passionate about the organization.
“Comma Club” shirts are awarded to students who go above and beyond in their fundraising, bringing in a minimum of $1,000.00 in donations.
Learn more about the Dance Marathon at LSU by visiting their Facebook page.
If your organization is doing something amazing, we want to hear about it! Visit our website to submit an application to our T-Fund.
Giraphic Prints is super ~jazzed~ to announce that we are now the official merchandise vendor for Baton Rouge’s longest running outdoor music series, Live After 5!
The event is FREE and is located at The Crest at Galvez Plaza in North Boulevard/Town Square every Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, September 4th through October 23rd.
You can find our tent in front of the library across from the Old State Capitol building.
We’ll be selling 5 exclusive Live After 5 designs as well as an assortment of collegiate licensed LSU t-shirts from Tiger District.
Check out some of the designs below (available in both youth and adult sizes):
Every month, the Giraphic Prints crew randomly selects one lucky customer from a list of that month’s orders as the recipient of our Giraffle prize drawing!
The winner of this drawing receives a surprise order for free screen-printing or embroidery services.
The Giraphic Prints crew is excited to announce our recent membership with KIVA — a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a community of independent lenders and microfinance institutions to alleviate poverty and empower people to create opportunities for themselves worldwide!
Meet our third borrower: Artesanas Santiago Group – Also known as the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank, they are a group of women specializing in weaving and embroidering fabrics for “huipiles” (traditional blouses) from Santiago de Atitlán, Sololá, Guatemala.
Many tourists love to visit the town because of the strikingly bright colors that are the inspiration and hallmark of the “huipiles” (traditional blouses) proudly made and worn by the local Tz’utujil speaking Maya women. Along with the bright flowers on the “huipiles” seen in the above photo, they are also known for their many embroidered bird designs.
Ten women, who did not have the opportunity for a formal education, formed the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Artesanas Santiago” (Santiago Artisans). The women have spent many years in the artisan and craft business of weaving and embroidering fabrics for “huipiles” that have been commissioned by clients. Some of the women also raise chickens.
“Artesanas Santiago’s” president is Micaela, who is married with two children. Right now, the demand for her textiles is very high and she is getting many orders for her “huipiles.” She is requesting a loan to purchase a variety of typical fabrics and many different colored threads for embroidering. Micaela hopes that in buying these textile supplies, she will be able to improve her “huipiles,” increase her customer base, and generate more income.
Micaela and her Trust Bank companions enjoy being clients of Friendship Bridge through many loan cycles. They have had the opportunity to learn about gender equity, good business investments, and holistic health. These topics and many more are a part of Friendship Bridge’s “Microcredit Plus” program of micro loans and non-formal education that has proven to be a win-win combination for the women, helping them to move from poverty to a brighter and more successful future.
Meet our second borrower: Dúo Buena Vista De San Martin – fabric maker, traditional embroiderer, and chicken breeder from San Martin Jilotepeque, Chimaltenango, Guatemala.
Dúo Buena Vista De San Martin
This partnership was formed by Ana Luisa, who is 26 years old and from San Martin. She has earned a living for the last four years breeding chickens as well as producing fabrics and traditional embroidery.
She has a two year old son and is expecting a second child. Providing the best for her children is her motivation to strive and work hard in her business. This is the third loan she has applied for and she has paid back previous loans on time.
She’s thankful to Kiva lenders and the support they provide, she sends them her blessings and wishes them great prosperity.
She is applying for the loan in order to buy chickens, chicken feed and materials for embroidery which will enable her to continue in her business.
To make a contribution to Ana Luisa + Dúo Buena Vista De San Martin, visit their Kiva page: Dúo Buena Vista De San Martin
Meet our first borrower: Alexis Mauricio – a screen-printer from Sabaneta, Colombia
Alexis is a hard working man committed to tailoring, screen printing and distributing his own line of clothing.
Alexis completes the entire process in his home, and started his business with the sole objective of buying his own home. He continues to work hard to achieve his goal. He wants to show his mother his appreciation for everything she has done and continues to do for him.
In order to improve his production process and lower costs, Alexis is seeking a loan to use to buy a screen printing machine to finalize the printing process.
Alexis’s goal is to see his clothing brand enter commercial centers, so he is studying the market to offer something different that the market will respond to well.
A loan to Alexis will give him the opportunity to have in his home all of the equipment necessary to tailor and print a t-shirt.To make a contribution to Alexis, visit his KIVA page:Alexis Mauricio
Get yourselves down to Giraphic Prints for our second party in Mid City!!
4556 Government Street @ the corner of Government and Mouton.
Featured artists include:
William Thomas (printmaking) Jeffrey Livingston (multimedia) Ellen Ogden (painting), Liz Martin/ My O My Firefly (jewelry) Juan Karlo Randolph +O’mar Finley (video projection).
Music by Eric Milano
Free drinks + pizza courtesy of The Chimes Restaurant & Tap Room andRotolo’s Pizzeria
