I started Elevat for the sake of mothers. While serving in Belize, I looked into the pleading eyes of a mother desperate to feed her family that day; eager for me to buy some of her handmade items. I could not forget that moment. As a mother of three myself, those eyes haunted me when I returned to my pleasant, comfortable life back in the American suburbs. Even though I had never wondered where my children’s next meal would come from, I connected with that deep desire to provide the best life I possibly could for my kids.

Mothers the world over have similar hopes and dreams for their families; safety, health, education and the opportunity to live up to their full potential. This is a thread that connects us all. We understand each other’s aspirations. While powerful men wage war, mothers desire peace. While father’s will, on average, spend 30-40% of their paychecks on the family's needs, by comparison, 90% of the average mother’s paycheck will be invested in the family. This is the reason we choose to sell women's handmade products. In a world where men have most often made the rules, we want women to have a seat at the table, as well.

Was there anyway to help that woman in Belize who needed to feed her family? The broader question; how could mothers the world over be elevated out of poverty, out of unsafe working conditions and acquire dignity in the eyes of their community and their own households? My answer to that question was the creation of Elevat. Today, Elevat has a passionate team who volunteer their time and creative resources to continue this mission:

”Elevating women around the globe to support themselves and their families with dignity by bringing their handmade goods to the world marketplace”

Soon, Elevate will celebrate its 10 year anniversary as a company! This is a milestone in our history, but we must not lose that original motivation and calling- to partner with mothers all over the world dreaming of giving their children a better life than they had.

Here’s wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all you strong, fierce and compassionate women across this beautiful, frightening and incredibly diverse globe! We see you, we hear you. We are you.