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Matthew Moses was so inspired after volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, he decided to raise awareness by founding an organization of his own.
Partnering with his sister, Jana, Moses founded PIF Apparel, a clothing line with a purpose to go beyond just fashion to help others. With an online store, PIF (or Pay It Forward) “connects the next generations of donors with the best charities in the world,” Moses said. The line, started in August, consists of T-shirts for now, with plans for a wider range of items in the future. Anyone interested in becoming what Moses calls a “change agent” can purchase shirts with 25 percent of the cost going to a charity of their choice. PIF selects four new national and international charities every month to support.
Moses said today’s youth have an opportunity to make a positive change because technology has made lending a hand more accessible. Twenty years ago, the technology didn’t exist. “You don’t have to grow up in a certain part of the world to impact change,” Moses said. “
Still working his full-time job as a rep at a local financial services firm, the Toledo native said operating PIF is like working a second job. Except it’s a second job that feels less like work and more like his calling.
PIF Apparel,1700 Woodlands Dr., Suite 100, Maumee.
888-648-7516. www.pifapparel.com, facebook.com/PIFApparel or twitter.com/PIFApparel. All T-shirts cost $23.
