For the last 6 years, Daily Planet Productions has teamed with StreetWise and 30 local artists to make hand-screened designer t-shirts and other merchandise to sell. It's all part of a campaign called Give A Shi*t. 100% of the profits go to StreetWise. To date, Give A Shi*t has donated over $140,000 to StreetWise.
Due to the pandemic this year's line of t-shirts will be debuted on-line at sww.giveashirt.net.
Featured artists included Jeff Tweedy, Cody Hudson, Jon Langford, Jay Ryan, CHema Skandal, Matthew Hoffman, Nate Azark and Frank Orrall.
"This year has brought many challenges to our friends at Streetwise as they have had many weeks when they could not sell the magazine and it looks to be a long winter ahead. So the vendors need all of us more than ever. People in Chicago are always looking for different ways to give back to those in need and Give A Shi*t offers a chance to buy meaningful holiday gifts for friends and family while supporting the hard-working vendors of StreetWise," said Scott Marvel, President of Daily Planet Productions.
StreetWise helps homeless and at-risk individuals seeking to build a better life with employment opportunities. It provides a dignified means of addressing the crisis of poverty and homelessness, and allows individuals with immediate access to a respectable and legitimate earned income through their own hard work.
Well-known on the streets of Chicago, StreetWise vendors make their own way to the StreetWise office where they pay $0.90 for the magazine they sell for $2.00, making a $1.10 profit on each sale.
"Our mission is to 'give a hand up, not a hand out' as our vendors work to earn an income selling magazines every day" said Julie Youngquist, Executive Director of StreetWise. "We are so fortunate to have found such generous partners at Daily Planet and with local artists who are committed to making a difference in our city."
Each t-shirt is sold for $25 and there are also long sleeve thermals, sweatshirts, tanks, hats and more for sale on line. For more information, go to Giveashirt.net, or contact Daily Planet at 312.640.7447 or StreetWise at 773.334.6600.
