The 6th recently interviewed Sara Pietig, a Kansas Miss Amazing Ambassador. An ambassador is a volunteer leadership position within the state where the women of the program can go out and recruit and spread the Miss Amazing mission to the community. During here time as a representative, Sara went above and beyond in showing her leadership skills, thus earning her the opportunity to continue as an ambassador. What better way to demonstrate the mission than granting opportunities within the program. We are proud to support such a wonderful organization and are delighted to learn more about Sara’s story, why she chose to participate in the pageant, and what this opportunity means to her.

Ambassador Sara Pietig and her mother Kristie

Haven't written a blog post in a while but heading towards a new year, I thought, now is as good a time as any. What I've (we've) tried to do with this brand over just a few short years with limited time and resources, is accept the challenge of both building and refining an unknown brand from nothing, and simultaneously seeking out opportunities to collaborate with organizations and individuals interested in helping make a positive impact. The latter effort is a challenge for even an established brand, but the spirit of service of the people I've met pursuing this feature of the brand is part of what originally inspired it, and what leaves me encouraged to as I often say, "Do More, Be More & Give More". 

With the recent holiday fresh in our minds, I wanted to take an opportunity to give thanks. I'm grateful to any friend, family, or stranger who has stumbled upon The 6th and shown any gesture of support, whether it was with a purchase, a follow (@mardemel), or simply spreading the word. I launched this website and brand operating it as a one-man show in 2019 outside of a very full-time job. I didn't know a pandemic and all that would come with it would soon follow. For many of those reasons, it's still very much a solo sidee venture I operate outside of my full-time job. But now, The 6th is a small but growing community of followers, customers, collaborators, and non-profit partners that understand or want to be part of the mission because every little bit makes a difference. I'm grateful for every one of you. Connecting with such inspiring people across all walks of life is what allows us to grow our brand and increase our impact slowly but surely. 

Featured Nonprofit

In Q4 of 2022, The 6th named Kansas Miss Amazing as our "Featured Nonprofit" and has offered branded merchandise as part of their 2022 campaign called, "Beautifully Different". Kansas Miss Amazing is one of the many chapters of the overarching Miss Amazing organization, a nationally renowned 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Each chapter in every state works yearly to be part of a broader national self-esteem movement for girls and women with disabilities. 

An Introduction

I had the opportunity to interview Michelle Roberts, the State Director at Kansas Miss Amazing, to learn more about the organization and how it is impacting these young women. 

Michelle shared some personal reflections about her own experience and what it means to her and so many other women to be a part of the Miss Amazing mission:

"As a woman with a disability it took me time to become comfortable with who I was.  Society has its own idea of what disability means and those miss conception have an effect on how you are treated and how you perceive yourself.  Miss Amazing is a tool that can be used to discover your own self-worth and to change the perception of what disability is or can be."

A major breakthrough for this organization was for others to understand and see it as more than just a pageant.  This is a program that assists women in their growth throughout the year.  Growth cannot happen at just one yearly event which is why the understating of how our program works is very important.

The Impact

"I don’t know when I first thought I was making a difference, but I see the difference being made every day through the growth of the women I serve with this program.  Watching ladies achieve their goals that they set forth for themselves.  Watching women who were more concerned about what others thought in the beginning come out of their shells and use their voices however those voices may be used."

This past year, Kansas Miss Amazing held an advocacy day at the Kansas state capital spending the day learning how advocacy works and practicing it live was a wonderful experience for all.  Most importantly, it was also a great experience for the politicians who inhabit the state building.  They learned about these women's struggles and learned about disability in a way that could not just be read in a report. 

Kansas Miss Amazing also received a mini grant from the Kansas Leadership Institute.  This grant will assist in helping the women grow their leadership skills in a real-world environment.  They hope this grant will not only assist the women but also assist in growing the leadership of the organization through those they serve.

On Donations

"Donations are always the best or purchasing items such as our shirts from programs that give back to our program."

Kansas Miss Amazing also has a monthly donation program called the GEM Collective.  These individuals not only assist with donations, but they also receive a yearly email specific from one of the representatives highlighting how their donation assists them in achieving their goals for the year.  This money goes to assist in running the program all year and provides the stability needed to receive grants from other donors.

"Donation of time and talent is always appreciated.  WE are always in need of volunteers to assist us in the daily running of our program and our yearly amplify."

The donation dollars from The 6^th Clothing Co will go towards providing yearlong programming.  Kansas Miss Amazing holds a yearly leadership bootcamp that is provided at no cost to the women where they discuss leadership from the disability perspective.  Activities such as their Advocacy Day and other social events where the women can meet to discuss topics that are important to them.  

Show Your Support

mardemel worked with Kansas Miss Amazing to design custom merch in support of the partnership. With the purchase of one of our designs, not only are you raising awareness for this nonprofit, but additionally, 16% of the product's listed sales price is automatically donated to Kansas Miss Amazing during their Featured Nonprofit period. Also, when you shop other items from our unrelated New Collections, 6% of the listed product sales price on those products will additionally be automatically donated.

Not only does a percentage of your purchase go back to the organizations we support, but by shopping and wearing these items, you share their message, support their mission, and increase awareness to a broader public. This is how you, as a customer of The 6th, are able to Do, Be, and Give More and make an impact even as just one individual. 

"You can see the effect of your donation in many different aspects of our program and in our communities and our state.  When you see a woman with disabilities whether, they came from our program or not be able to define themselves on their own terms and have the courage and the power to do so, this is a direct effect or an indirect effect of our program.  Creating change is the focus of Kansas Miss Amazing rather that change is with the individuals we serve or in the communities they live."

If you’re looking for more ways to give to this nonprofit there are many ways to show your support:

• Donate directly to Kansas Miss Amazing via their website.
• Volunteer your time to be a part of their team.
• Show your support on social media by following along.
• Get your tickets to the next Miss Amazing Pageant in your state.

It Starts With You

As always, mardemel, could not be more happy to have your support. By repping The 6th and our partners, you become the brand and the change. Help us find and "Like" you by tagging @mardemel or hashtag #repthe6th on Instagram or Facebook for a chance to be featured on our social media pages.  

For new partnership or collaboration considerations please contact us via social media or you can also reach us directly here.  

– From drop-seat jumpsuits to golf joggers, these companies are innovating with style. – 

Hi 6th Fam, Badi M. Tolo, Founder/Creative Director of The 6th. I've been quietly working on a number of projects and partnerships lately to close out an eventful 2021, as well as gear up for 2022. 

For a little background if you're new to this brand, I launched this online store in 2019. It's been a lot of early mornings and late nights, struggle, patience, and determination, to keep it going as a side hustle first, and now a small but meaningful brand trying to gain traction in a crowded marketplace. To say that navigating building a brand from the ground up in this new world has been difficult is an understatement.

But none of the difficulty and (outside doubt) that I knew would come with this idea, has ever mattered to me. When this whole thing started, I simply wanted to create merch with a message. And with whatever sales that came from it, I wanted to give a little back to "The 6th Man" of the business world, Nonprofits. Since it's inception, The 6th has not only donated to or partnered directly with nearly 20 different nonprofits in under 3 years, but we've most recently partnered with innovative, globally recognized technology companies like Shopping Gives, to give YOU, our customers, the transparency and trust I sought to demonstrate from day 1 through my social media engagement and collaboration with our Nonprofit Spotlights. Today, when you add to cart to shop The 6th Apparel or any items from our New Collections, you see exactly how much and to whom, 6% of your sales price will be automatically donated. Not only that, but you can also choose your own nonprofit from one of our Featured Nonprofits when you hit the UPDATE button on the Shopping Gives Widget.

Separately, when you shop the Cause Collection, The 6th will donate between 30-40% of sales proceeds on those specialty items directly back to those partners on a quarterly or annual basis providing a report of any sales made on behalf of their nonprofit or cause directly to them as a show of continued support for the good work they do.

So, what does it mean to be "The 6th Man/6th Woman"? In the game of basketball, it's the first player off the bench often recognized as the best player not in the starting 5, but to those who know it and live it, and to me especially, it's so much more. The 6th is both an underdog story and a mentality. That's why we say "I AM The 6th" with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder. You know what you bring, but you also know you have to be a team player and make sacrifices to get your opportunity. But you're always ready when it's your time. That feeling can translate across moments throughout our entire lives not just limited to sports.

Sometimes it doesn't work out the way that you want, but the key is to always believe. To know that while you might have to carve your path alone sometimes, you are part of a greater team, a tribe if you will, of people just like you. They just want to contribute and see us all win. That underdog story is my story, but it's also the story of anyone who has ever struggled in life. Building this brand was just the next chapter of mine, and I've been determined to write it my way. But I couldn't do it without my tribe.

Your support and the growth of this brand are what lead to an opportunity to get recognized as one of 15 top fashion and apparel brands. In an industry so deep and decades old, this was a humbling and welcome moment to share our message. The 6th is honored to land in the #6 spot recognizing our launch, our message, and the mission to make a difference.

https://mardemel.com/story/sponsor-story/establish-pr/2021/10/01/meet-15-top-fashion-and-apparel-brands-making-strides-industry-today/5935038001/

We've all felt overlooked and under-appreciated at times. Rather than let those moments define us, choose to embrace them as part of your journey to prove you belong, because you do. The 6th brand is meant to demonstrate and encourage all to KNOW and believe that they can Do More, Be More, and Give More. That's what it means to be "The 6th".

The rallying cry of The 6th is a simple one, "I AM The 6th. WE ARE One Tribe." I hope everyone who supports or discovers this brand grows to believe not only in themselves, but also in each other. 

Every day brings a new challenge and opportunity to prove yourself and accomplish something big or small. Sometimes you have to lose to win. My journey hasn't been an easy or perfect one, but one thing I know, is I will Never Stop Working. Join me and Rep the 6th!

Sincerely,
Badi Marcel Tolo
Founder/Creative Director
mardemel

ALH has the unique opportunity to address the health, social, and economic needs of older adults in Colorado who are at risk of losing their independence and identity with age. The population of Coloradoans aged 65 and older is expected to double over the next ten years, reaching 1.3 million individuals by 2030 (CDPHE). Several studies conducted by AARP show the majority of older adults (>90%) prefer to age in their homes rather than move into an assisted living facility or similar accommodations. However, independent living can be increasingly difficult as one ages given the numerous health, social, and economic factors needed to thrive. Meeting these needs is even more difficult if the older individual has reduced social networks of support. Studies show that 35% of older adults with long-term care needs live more than an hour away from family caretakers. In addition, a Harvard Study on Aging (2016) identified social isolation and loneliness as one of the biggest public health crises facing older adults. The study found that loneliness increases older adults’ risk of disease, harms both mental health and the immune system, contributes to early-onset dementia, and increases the likelihood of sickness, premature death, and high medical expenses. 

With a rapidly growing older adult population, economic realities of shrinking pensions, and uncertainty of government supports such as Social Security and Medicare, ALH bridges the gap by using cost-effective resources found in every community: good neighbors. ALH pairs neighbors within a certain radius to assist members with everyday tasks and reduces social isolation and loneliness, empowering them to age safely in their homes.

ALH volunteers help with tasks including yard work, snow removal, home organization, technology assistance, friendly visits, caregiver respite, and transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, and social events. To coordinate services, ALH staff work closely with members to answer questions, assist with the ALH application, and facilitate service requests. Upon registration, staff members welcome members and orient them to the service request process. The initial welcome meeting, which is currently held over the phone, provides greater insight into the new members’ needs and helps develop trust. If older adults have immediate needs, ALH staff empower them to be solution-oriented, providing warm referrals to additional community services and/or brainstorming individuals in their networks that may be able to assist them. In 2020, ALH engaged 2,800 volunteers to complete more than 10,500 service requests for 1,200 older adults.  

While ALH strives to ensure that the holistic needs of older adults are met, the scale, immediacy, and volume of those needs has increased due to COVID-19. ALH has adapted and scaled its service provision to meet immediate needs in accordance with current health and safety guidelines. In lieu of in-person visits, volunteers make frequent care calls to provide health check-ins, social connection, and reduce loneliness. Volunteers also deliver groceries, medical prescriptions, and other essential supplies.

Unlike other local organizations that only provide services during traditional business hours, ALH’s neighborhood volunteers provide services seven days a week at all hours. Through the duration of the pandemic, ALH strives to meet the basic needs of older adults and other high-risk populations, combat social isolation, and keep people connected to their communities.

But amid all the doom and gloom, have you noticed any positives of this pandemic?

Neighbors are helping neighbors. Volunteers are donating blood. Sewers are making masks. Musicians are playing concerts from their balconies. The list goes on.

All you do-gooders out there, we see you! We’re beyond impressed, and you truly give us hope for humanity—and for the future post-COVID-19.

We at mardemel also remain committed to doing good in our community (and beyond!).

We will get through this. We ARE getting through this. And we’re confident our collective efforts are making a difference.

One of our latest nonprofit partners, Colorado Miss Amazing, are no strangers to helping either. Here’s how they’re spreading positivity among those facing challenges of a different sort.

Recent Partnerships

Much like everyone else, the ripple effects of COVID-19 has had a negative impact on our business operations, partnership opportunities and many events we were excited about this year, but we still wanted to highlight the work we have done and that our partners do. One of our 2020 highlighted nonprofit Partners of the Month was Colorado Miss Amazing.

Left to Right: Jeanie Kochis, Badi Tolo–Founder/CEO mardemel, 
Phoebe Kochis–Former Pageant Queen and Daughter of Jeanie Kochis,
Laurie Pierce–Social Media Director Colorado Miss Amazing
(Photo taken during preparation for event before postponement due to COVID-19 concerns)

“Proceeds will go toward the expenses associated with holding our events for our participants, as well as to workshops intended to teach valuable life skills and provide opportunities to our participants to set goals and reach them,” Jeanie said.

Jeanie went on to say, “Because we are a self-advocacy organization, we see a lot of personal growth in our participants. I see so many of them become the best version of themselves, with our program contributing to that fact.

“Many of them gain the confidence to go on and do more for their cause and platform. It is indeed rewarding.”

In fact, these women are so amazing, you may have seen them out in the world making a difference.

“Some have gone on to become public speakers, actresses, dancers, policymakers, committee members, singers, performers, and entrepreneurs. When you see a woman with a disability helping a customer, or in a commercial, or dancing on a TV show, or acting in a movie, she quite possibly was a Miss Amazing participant!” Jeanie said.

 We’re not crying, you’re crying!

If you’re feeling as inspired by this organization as we are, Colorado Miss Amazing is always seeking volunteers and committee members to help plan and produce events, as well as photographers, videographers, caterers, florists, builders, entertainers, printers, promoters, and more.

“When given the opportunity, these girls and women soar. And we get to witness it!” added Jeanie.

For further event details and the most up-to-date information about this nonprofit, visit the Colorado Miss Amazing website.  

Wrapping Up 

We at mardemel wish you and yours health and positivity amid these trying times. Please check out our Cause Collection here, as well as on Facebook and Instagram (Please use hashtags #repthe6th #onetribe) to connect and spread our mission of inspiring confidence and unity.

We hope you’ll take a minute to check out the Cause Collection for other merchandise that supports our past highlighted nonprofits. Together we are more powerful, and right now especially, we are so grateful for all who shop The 6th because its about more than clothing.

As always, if you would like to submit an organization that could benefit from a partnership, we encourage you to let us know in the comments below. You can also reach us directly here.

Thank you for all of your support and for being part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

As 2019 came to a close, and we had time to reflect on our accomplishments from the past year, we could not be more proud, excited, or driven. Not only were we able to make new creative and inspirational wearable art, but we’ve also been able to connect with changemakers in our community. Meeting leaders who spend their time and careers giving back to their community has been truly inspirational, and has ignited a drive for this brand to do and give even more in the coming year!

We hope that going forward, this blog serves as more than just an information source about nonprofits and how they are participating in their community. We hope to inspire you to get involved: learn how you (yes you) can join the conversation, learn how you can make a difference, and inspire you to creatively and actively have an impact of your own!

Newest Partnership

We are very excited to announce our first partner of 2020, Womxn’s March Denver. The Womxn’s March Denver is a collective of womxn* (defined as those targeted by sexism) “committed to amplifying marginalized voices in the movement to end sexism, oppression, and injustice. Through community engagement, protest, education, and leadership, we leverage our platform to ignite action.” At mardemel, we match this organization’s enthusiasm.

We spoke with Angela Astle, the Chair of Marketing and Programming, in order to learn more about the advances Womxn’s March of Denver is making. Right now, this amazing organization is gearing up for the Fourth Annual March and Impact Expo taking place January 18th. This year’s march is structured around the theme “Our Vote is Our Voice. Let’s Get Loud!”

What is the Womxn’s March?

Following the 2016 election, three proactive local community members Karen Hinkel, Cheetah McClellan, and Jessica Rodgers began organizing Denver’s Women’s March. On January 21st, 2017 similar marches were held on every continent around the globe, making it the largest global event in history. In Denver that day, over 180,000 marchers congregated in an effort to magnify and acknowledge the voices of those marginalized within our community. 

Members of Womxn's March Denver Leadership

While our alignment is with our sister marches that share the namesake of March On, we decided to change the name to Womxn’s March Denver, recognizing the importance of inclusion of all people experiencing sexism by using the “X” in the spelling of womxn.

In 2020, we are passionately working on creating more opportunities for future leaders and volunteers to join us in highlighting the work being done in our communities. We plan to keep marching on until all marginalized voices are heard, and organizations that are doing the work to support those voices, are lifted up.

With this amazing organization’s combined efforts, and support within the community, the 2020 Womxn’s March is projected to be the most impactful yet. 

Goals of the 2020 Womxn’s March

Angela explained that in addition to being a “march,” mardemel’s newest partner is also stimulating a movement. It’s not about being complacent; it's about taking action by speaking out. In the true spirit of the theme “Our Vote is Our Voice” the hope is to inspire people to act with their vote in the 2020 election. The Womxn’s March is focusing on educating individuals in the community about the true power of their vote. In particular, the nonprofit is focusing on 17 year olds who will be 18 by November 3rd. 

How Can You Help?

It costs money and a great deal of time to put on this kind of event. While many believe it is just a march, they have no idea how many hours, brainpower, and volunteers it takes to pull off an event of this size. 

As you know, mardemel will be donating 6% of their profits from this month’s website purchases in support of the Womxn’s March Denver. We’re also featuring custom designs on our website. Not just t-shirts in support of Womxn’s March, mardemel has also produced mugs, tote bags, sweatshirts, tanks, and stickers. 50% of the profits from these sales will go directly towards helping this amazing organization achieve its goals, in addition to our 6% contribution.  

You can purchase any of our products to increase our donation to Womxn's March Denver, however there are lots of other ways to show your support. Register to attend the 2020 march on January 18th from 9:30-3:30. You’ll learn more about making your voice heard, and playing a part in the development of your community. There will be many vendors, interviews, art, and more! It’s an amazing opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who want to have a positive impact on the future of this country.

There are lots more ways to get involved:

• Follow along and share posts from Womxn’s March Denver Instagram @womxnsmarchdenver
• Follow and engage on Facebook.  
• Show your support on Twitter. 
• Volunteer for the March on January 18th.
• Make a cash donation
• Join the leadership at Womxn’s March Denver.
• Attend community workshops. 
• Raise awareness and show your support.

The Womxn’s March Denver Chair of Marketing and Programming, Angela Astle explains that, “all proceeds are going to cover the March expenses and our annual expenses to keep us marching into next year. You wouldn’t think porta-potties are that expensive but they are!” 

If your new year’s resolution is to donate your time and make your community a place that reflects your values and beliefs, getting involved with the Womxn’s March Denver is the perfect way to start.

Wishing You the Best Year Yet

Take a look at our Cause Collection to view some apparel we made to suppport our past highlighted nonprofit partners that are working to make our world a better place. As we did at the end of 2019, we maintain a commitment to these great organizations and will make a contribution on any ongoing sales of these past partners to them at the conclusion of the 2020 calendar. mardemel is looking to make 2020 a year of giving and growth, we hope you’ll join us in our pursuits!

Follow and engage us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter so we can highlight and support, and connect our growing tribe. You can always shop our collection of new and unique designs and products to rep mardemel and show your support of our mission of giving! 

As always, if you would like to submit an organization that could benefit from a partnership, we encourage you to let us know in the comments below or you can also contact us directly here to share your favorite nonprofit!

In the coming year we hope to continue to grow, to reach more people, and place our unique mark on the philanthropic community as more than just a clothing brand. We’d love to hear about your resolutions and how you've made/hope to make an impact in your communities! Let’s all continue to inspire each other and work together and let’s make 2020 the best year yet!

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

UPDATE (some pics from the march on January 18, 2020)

Badi Tolo, Founder/CEO of The 6th &
Angela Astle, Chair of Marketing/Programming at Womxn's March Denver

  

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this brand is taking time to be extra thankful. We are thankful to the leadership within the organizations we partner with. It is such a pleasure to connect with such inspiring people, and building those bridges allows us to grow our audience and increase our impact. We are also incredibly thankful to those of you who have donated and made purchases on the website to help support these changemakers in our community. 

While mardemel takes a little extra time to give thanks this month, we also encourage our followers and supporters to do the same. We see mardemel as a community of like-minded people, who see the importance of interconnectedness in the community. This brand aspires to continue to expand our reach and to give back to the people around us, the other members of this tribe. 

Merging Positivity with Creativity

This month’s partner is an incredible organization that has evolved significantly in the ten years since its inception. Mirror Image Arts was founded in 2008 with the mission to encourage a positive body image and self-worth by creating an emotional connection through performance. The organization’s goal was to discourage eating disorders by giving youth a positive channel to express themselves: theater. Through performance, young people are able to send a message and share a story.

With bullying being at the root of these self-destructive behaviors, Mirror Image Arts made it their mission to encourage social-emotional learning through theater. In 2013 they shifted their mission to “use theater as language to inspire dialogue, encourage awareness and promote action in order to build a strong, compassionate and empowered community.”

Today, Mirror Image Arts continues to connect with young people to empower them to use their voice to make a change. They’ve developed programs to help youths connect with one another and grow. With in-school theater, community theater, and professional development programs designed to increase belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.

Watching the Impact

mardemel connected with Maya Osterman Van-Grack,  the Program & Partnerships Director at Mirror Image Arts, to learn more about the organization and how it is impacting the community. Maya became involved with Mirror Image Arts four years ago upon moving to Colorado. She really connected with the organization’s artistic vision.

Photo Credit: Jamey Rabold

Maya shared with us when she really began to feel that she was making an impact. Her reflection gave us a very clear vision of the ability of this wonderful organization to make a change.

"My very first program as a contracted facilitator. I had two weeks to learn the curriculum and when I showed up at my first recreation center to lead a program I saw the immediate impact it had on the youth. They got more comfortable moving in their bodies, activating their voices, and sharing stories with each other. Every program since then is a constant reminder of why I do what I do; of how imperative it is for youth to have safe spaces to share their thoughts and feelings, to discover who they are and who they want to be."

Since the organization's rebirth in 2013 they have developed over 159 programs and connected with almost 4000 youth in Colorado. There is no denying the positive influence Mirror Image Arts has had on young people. We at mardemel have been moved and inspired by the advances this organization has made, as well as all of the young lives that have been touched, and maybe even saved, through Mirror Image Arts programming.

Looking to the Future

With a focus on your people, the positive impact of Mirror Image Arts will continue for years to come. However, the benefits of the program expands beyond just working with youths. Maya confirmed that the future is bright for this organization, “We want to ensure we continue to bring high quality, intentional programming to as many youth and the adults who work with youth as we can. I have dreams of Restorative Theatre running in every residential facility in Colorado along with a robust re-entry program with wrap around services to support true reintegration into the community.”

Photo Credit: Jamey Rabold

Mirror Image Arts continues to evaluate the needs of the community, in order to structure their programs to meet the needs of those involved. As they restructure their five year plan, their mission remains the same: to encourage social-emotional learning and empower young people.

Show Your Support

As always, mardemel has worked with Mirror Image Arts to design custom t-shirts in support of the November’s partnership. With the purchase of one of our designs, not only are you raising awareness for this fabulous nonprofit, but 50% of your purchase goes directly to Mirror Image Arts. Plus 6% of the total profits from all of the items sold on mardemel site in the month of November will also be donated to this amazing organization, allowing one youth participate in our Restorative Theatre 8 week Improvisation program for free.

In addition to a percentage of your purchase going directly to the organization, by wearing the Mirror Image Arts t-shirt you share their mission, and increase community knowledge of the impact this amazing organization has. 

If you know of a youth who might benefit from participating in Mirror Image Arts, you can get involved on their website. If you’re looking for more ways to give this nonprofit there are many ways to show your support:

• Donate directly to Mirror Image Arts via their website.
• Volunteer your time to be a part of their team.
• Show your support on social media by following along.
• Attend one of their performances or events.
• Get your tickets to their annual fundraising Gala.

Wrapping Up

As always we here at mardemel, could not be more happy to have your support. By following along on facebook you enable yourself to spread our mission of inspiring confidence and unity. You can also learn more about our monthly partners as well as new products on our website. Show us a little extra support by tagging #repthe6th on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our social media pages. 

Engaging with us, you become a true member of our tribe, and together we play an increasing role in making our community a better place. If you feel especially connected to one of our monthly causes, please share our blogs and social media posts, to enable us to give back more.

We hope you’ll take a minute to check out the Cause Collection on our website for new merchandise that supports nonprofits each month. Our goal is to inspire others to think about how they can improve not only their community, but the world as a whole. Together we are more powerful, and this month especially, we are so grateful and thankful to all of you!

As always, if you would like to submit an organization that could benefit from a partnership, we encourage you to let us know in the comments below. You can also reach us directly here. 

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

For those of you who are new to the Blog, or who may not know much about how mardemel works to give back to the community, check out the New Beginnings blog post. Here we dive into how this brand came to be, and the mission of charity and generosity that we are striving to perpetuate.

Lupus Colorado

September’s nonprofit partnership is with Lupus Colorado. This organization is Colorado’s only nonprofit organization serving individuals and families with lupus.  Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.

Lupus is more prevalent in this country than AIDS, sickle cell anemia, cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis. However, because the symptoms of Lupus often mimic those of other ailments, it is extremely difficult to diagnose. There is presently no cure for this disease, however there is treatment that can help reduce the symptoms.

Lupus Colorado was established in 1972 for the purpose of providing support, education, and training to those affected by lupus. Their mission is to, “improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus and to promote efforts for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure of lupus.”

The organization’s Board of Directors and professional staff is comprised of individuals who are, or have been, affected by lupus in some way. This includes Eden Van Essen, the Development and Programs Director, who was able to give mardemel some insight into how Lupus Colorado is making a difference in their community. 

Making an Impact

Living with lupus can be extremely difficult because symptoms are typically not outwardly visible, so it is difficult for others to see how they suffer and persevere through each day. Lupus Colorado offers a wide variety of resources and services to those who are impacted, starting with an Emergency Financial Assistance Program. The expenses accumulating from diagnosis, treatment, and management of the disease can be debilitating. Financial support is available for prescription medication, office visits, and other needs that require a one-time financial payment. 

In additional to financial aid for medical bills, Lupus Colorado asl offers support in the form of EOC Utility Assistance. Through the support of Energy Outreach Colorado, this organization is able to offer home energy assistance to individuals with lupus. Help is available for utility bills for qualifying applicants through an annual grant, which can ease the financial burden of those suffering.

Lupus Colorado also provides support services and educational programs to individuals and family members affected by Lupus. Informal telephone support is available to people who want to speak with another person who has experienced similar situations and issues in living with this disease. The organization has also developed programming designed to educate this community. Lupus Colorado also provides an extensive directory of resources to make living with lupus as easy as possible. 

How Lupus Colorado is Raising Funds and Awareness

Each year Lupus Colorado hosts a community walk to raise money and increase awareness in Colorado. The 2018 walk raised $69,000 more than doubling the previous year’s donations. This year’s walk is September 21st, and it’s not too late to register. Every dollar raised at the Lupus Colorado Community walk stays in the State of Colorado to benefit local families. By participating in this event, you are directly impacting fellow Coloradans living with this debilitating disease.


2018 Lupus Colorado Community Walk, Photo Credit: Jimmy Garrett

In addition to fundraisers and donations, Lupus Colorado relies heavily on grants to develop programming:

“Our newest and most significant breakthrough has been with our recent partnership with

GlaxoSmithKline. They were able to fund our most recent program, Living Well With Lupus,

through a generous grant. We have just completed our first year of this new Living Well With

Lupus program. This program teaches self-management skills to our lupus patients and their

caretakers which helps them to manage their fatigue, stress, pain, and depression. Our next

series of LWWL classes will begin later this fall and again in the spring.”

-Eden Van Essen, Development & Program Director

How Can You Help?

As always, mardemel has designed t-shirts in support of the Lupus Colorado and September’s partnership. By purchasing one of our designs, not only are you raising awareness for those affected by lupus, but 50% of your purchase goes directly to Lupus Colorado. Plus 6% of the total profits from mardemel’s sales in the month of September will also be donated to this amazing organization.

The majority of these donations will go towards the Emergency Assistance Fund. This fund helps pay for any non-recurring expense that lupus patients are having difficulty with: medical bills, utility bills, new beds, car repairs so they can get to doctor’s appointments, wigs, dental care and so many others.

In addition to buying a shirt or making a purchase from mardemel’s extensive collection, there are lots of other ways you can contribute to this amazing nonprofit organization:

• Attend an event! This brings you face-to-face with the community Lupus Colorado Serves. View the events calendar here!
• Volunteer! There are many ways you can donate your time to help improve the lives of individuals living with lupus.
• Donate your used vehicle. 
• Make a financial contribution.
• Follow along on Facebook to stay updated.

Wrapping Up

We hope you’ll take a minute to check out our Cause Collection for new merchandise each month that supports one of our nonprofit partnerships! Purchases of these items result in a direct donation to that cause. Additionally any purchase from our website is an opportunity to not only give back an additional 6%, but to help raise awareness and spread the message of support and solidarity.

Don’t forget we want to hear from you! Write to us to let us know about your favorite nonprofit organization, or tell us about individuals who are making a difference! We love to learn about causes that we can support in the future and work to share their message.

Yet again, thank you for all of your support, and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

Welcome back to mardemel blog! We’re happy you’ve decided to join us. If you’ve been following along you know we usually use this space to highlight our partnership from the previous month. Here we educate our readers on the mission of whatever nonprofit we worked with the last month, reporting on the outcome. However, this month we’ve decided to jump ahead and talk about the organization we’re working with right now, The Respect Team.

First off, here are some fun facts to share. Did you know that August is “Admit You’re Happy Month”? We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about some of the reasons we, here at mardemel, have to be happy:

We say it every month, but starting mardemel has been a wonderful way to connect with groups and individuals who strive to make their community a better place. Not only do we get to meet and talk to these changemakers, we get to help support their mission. We also have a bright and optimistic outlook for the future of our brand. All of that makes us happy.

What are some of the things that make you happy? They say the best way to improve your mood and make yourself feel better is to perform an act of kindness for someone else. So, if you are struggling to answer the question of what makes you happy, we hope you’ll feel inspired by the spirit of mardemel, and turn things around with an act of charity or giving.

This week is also “Be Kind to Humankind” week so this month’s partner is the perfect match to embody the spirit of “Be Kind to Humankind” week. The Respect Team is a wonderful organization that is doing their part to empower teens, as well as encourage and promote a mentality of kindness and respect.

The Respect Team Message

The Respect Team Is an organization based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2015, motivational speakers Scott Haddix and Amy Hanna started the non-profit speaking organization. Their mission being to promote healthy relationships, as well as respect for oneself and others, among teenagers.

In a time when mental health was taboo, Co-Founder/Director Amy Hanna struggled with depression and contemplated ending her own life. It was in overcoming this difficult time that the inspiration for the Respect Team took root.

“Yes, we talk about how to resolve conflict, and how to have healthy friendships and healthy relationships, but really the biggest message that we want students to hear is, ‘You are valuable and your life matters. And because you are valuable and your life matters, so do the lives of others.’ If we can teach our youth how to respect themselves and respect others, we start at the source of all of the problems that our youth face and we start changing the statistics that attack them too.”

Programs and Initiatives

The Respect Team travels to public and private schools in the greater Fort Wayne area, providing presentations for students at no cost to the school. The non-profit also hosts events for teenagers, as well as provides dozens of online resources for students, parents, and educators.

The organization started in 2015 with just three speakers, and virtually no funding. Today the Respect Team is in 42 schools, speaking to almost 9,000 students with a budget of a little over $100,000 each year. The community has been wildly supportive, and their contribution to the lives of these young students has been well-received and highly sought after.

Witnessing the changes in the students in the program and seeing the effects on the community confirms this organization is making a powerful impact. Presentations include discussions on topics such as dating violence, domestic violence, suicide/self-harm, grief, eating disorders, sexual assault, abuse, and pregnancy.

Starting with seventh grade, the Respect Team works with middle schoolers in order to promote self-respect. Students learn S.E.L.F.-respect by focusing on their Skills, Experiences, Likes, and Foundation. They will also learn about how to avoid different hindrances in life that could threaten the health of their S.E.L.F.

Moving into eighth grade, the program turns to mutual respect. Students are taught to think through what it means to know who they are, who they will become and how to set limits in life to make sure their future goals can happen.

Finally, the program designed for high school students explores respect in relationships. It focuses on the subjects of respecting yourself by learning your personality style and communication style and respecting others by learning how differences can be respected and understood. Students also learn that setting boundaries in relationships can not only help with self-respect but also with respect of others.

Success and Outlook

In the Respect Team’s short tenure, they have been nominated for the Athena Awards, the Vitality Awards, and the Champions of Change Awards. Each year they’ve held an event called the 360AWARDS where they honor local high school students who are making a positive difference in their home, school, and community. After this year’s awards in September, they will have given 92 awards to our local teens and $16,000 in scholarships.

In order to continue to raise money to fund these valuable programs, as well as to provide these scholarships and awards, the Respect Team relies on the contributions of others. That’s why we at mardemel was so excited to be approached for the opportunity to partner.

In addition to donating 6% of August’s profits to the Respect Team, mardemel also had the privilege of designing two new products with them in mind. 50% of the proceeds from the purchases of these shirts goes directly to the Respect Team.

Our hope is that customers will post a picture of themselves on social media wearing their purchase with the hashtag #Repthe6th. Together with the Respect Team, mardemel would love to see the message of respect go viral and spread beyond Indiana and spread around the nation and around the world.

In addition to buying and wearing a shirt to support the Respect Team you can also donate directly here. You can also contact them directly to inquire about hosting one of their educational programs in your school or facility.

In Conclusion

We hope you take time to celebrate “Admit You’re Happy Month” and more specifically “Be Kind to Humankind Week.” We also hope you’ll check out the Cause Collection on our website for new merchandise that supports the nonprofit of the month partnerships! There is still time to order your Respect Team apparel! Purchases of these items give us the opportunity to give more, as well as raise awareness and spread the message.

As you know, we’re always excited to learn about your favorite organization, about individuals who are making a difference! We want to know about any and all potential causes that mardemel can support in the future, and help to amplify their message.

Thank each and every one of you, again, for your continued support, and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

Outreach - Spay and Neuter

Pet Food Drive

One of PawsCo’s primary goals is to reduce homelessness for pets. Unfortunately some families and individuals in Colorado are in a position of having to relinquish their pet to a shelter, simply because they do not have enough money to feed them. In an effort to reduce this type of occurrence PawsCo helps to provide pet food to families so that pets do not have to leave a loving home.

The Food Bank of the Rockies has identified a need of 10,000 pounds of pet food each month to meet the requests from their food banks, and PawsCo’s goal is to support the 120,000 pounds of pet food needed to keep pets with their families. The ongoing drive collects dry and canned animal food and distributes it to families in need through a partnership with the Food Bank of the Rockies. PawsCo partnerships allow us to purchase food at a fraction of the cost, ultimately feeding more pets.

PawsCo works to ensure that some monetary donations, as well as all donations of pet food are distributed in order to keep pets with their families. 

Pet Adoptions

PawsCo has a serious focus on helping pets who have the most need within the state of Colorado. PawsCo works with shelters to find loving homes for animals who are not thriving in a shelter setting or do not have adoption options within the shelter. PawsCo is an all-breed rescue where pets live in foster homes prior to adoption, and receive love, training, and medical care they need to be successful adoption candidates.

PawsCo also hosts multiple adoption events a year in order to place these animals. Attending an adoption event, individuals and families can easily find and adopt their newest family member easily, and help PawsCo achieve its ultimate goal. 
You can even start shopping for a dog or cat on the PawsCo website.

Making a Difference

PawCo’s Executive Director, Tiana Nelson described the organization to us so perfectly:

“PawsCo is all about each of us being able to make a difference - that we are better together than as individuals. Our organization is made up of professionals by day, and animal rescuers by night... Over the past six years we have rescued about 1800 animals, and the thing that makes me the most proud is that we are focused on helping the animals who need us the most - animals who have medical or behavioral issues that need to be addressed outside of the shelter system. The team that runs PawsCo is all volunteer, but it's the most professional and dedicated group I have ever had the pleasure of working with.”

This month we were excited and proud to be making our donation to PawsCo. In addition to donating 6% of last month’s sales to PawsCo, mardemel also produced Colorado themed adopt t-shirts and tanks specifically designed to promote PawsCo's mission. 50% of the profits from the t-shirt sales went directly to PawsCo, which will allow them to continue to promote community animal awareness, as well as spay and neuter, feed, and adopt out pets into their forever homes! We also will continue to donate 10% of the proceeds from these tees/tanks moving forward as our commitment to PawsCo's great work in addition to growing our brand and products to highlight our new Nonprofits of the Month.






In addition to purchasing a t-shirt to support PawCo in their mission, there are also lots of other ways you can contribute to the success of this amazing animal-loving organization:

• Donate - Through their website you can donate money to help a struggling family feed their pet, provide medical attention to unhealthy pets to get well, or provide resources to improve animals’ chances at being adopted. 
• Volunteer - Become a part of PawsCo’s incredible group of energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate volunteers.
• Foster - By fostering a dog or car, you will be incredibly important to the success of our rescue’s mission to save the lives of animals from underserved shelters as well as helping to prepare for their forever homes.
• Adopt - Check out some of the sweet faces of pets that need homes today!
• Follow along on Facebook - Check out the PawsCo facebook page to learn about the animals this organization is helping, find out about PawsCo events, or just look at cute pictures of dogs and cats!

In Conclusion

We hope that learning about month’s partnership leaves you feeling inspired and that you’ll consider adopting your next pet! We’re so excited to help play a small role in the exciting work that PawsCo is doing, and make a difference in the lives of pets and their families.
 
We also hope you’ll check out our Cause Collection on our website for new merchandise that supports the nonprofit of the month partnerships! Purchases of these items result in an increased donation, and any purchase from our website is an opportunity to not only give back, but to help raise awareness and spread the message.

As always, we’d love to learn about your favorite organization, or to hear us about individuals who are making a difference! We want to know about any and all potential causes that mardemel can support in the future, and work to amplify their message in any way.

Thank you all, again, for your continued support, and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

Although we only celebrate Earth Day once a year, the reality is that we should act like every day is Earth Day -  especially given the current state of our planet. While the 6th does not have an official, affiliated partner this month, we still want to do our part to give back and remind everybody that we are running out of time to save our Earth. 

That's why when you purchase any of our new Eco-related tees/tanks/accessories during the month of July, we've committed to donating 10% of proceeds to NRDC*, a proven nonprofit that we selected to make a donation to because they work to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC's mission works,  "to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends" 

National Resource Defense Council

NRDC "works with millions of  members and online activities with the expertise of some 600 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild."

They focus heavily on preventing climate change, preserving land, protecting the oceans and fresh-water eco-systems, and tons of other super cool initiatives that all revolve around its mission of "safeguarding the earth."

Get Involved

You can get involved with the NRDC through several ways, including something as simple as signing a petition. Learn more on their website: https://mardemel.com/get-involved

In addition to getting involved with the NRDC, here are some ideas for small things you can do to make a difference:

• Buy any of our Earth Day 365 Collection items and we'll donate 10% back

• OR buy any other product from the 6th and we’ll donate an additional 10% of the sales price. 

• Buy biodegradable silverware to use on-the-go (like at work), instead of using plastic silverware - super cheap on Amazon!

• If you have a pet, consider buying biodegradable poop bags for on the go

• Buy a reusable water bottle or a camelback instead of plastic water bottles 

• Consider eating less beef - over 1,000 gallons of water are used per pound of beef!

• Bring reusable bags or totes to the grocery store 

• Pack your lunch in a lunchbox and store items in containers versus ziplock baggies

• Recycle, recycle, recycle! Check items before you buy them to make sure they are recyclable.

No matter how big or small your contribution or initiative is to help save the Earth, remember that it all adds up to the bigger picture. Together, we can make a difference.

As always, thank you for all of your support, and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

Disclaimer: mardemel. is not affiliated in any manner with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) or any of its programs, projects, or websites.    

This past month mardemel worked with the Association for Native American Sacred Trees and Places, or NASTaP. NASTaP is a relatively new organization, founded in 2017, however their powerful mission has enabled them to make much progress. The organization’s goal is to inspire discovery, appreciation, and conservation of culturally modified trees and places held sacred to Native Americans.

Photo credit: Janet Shown, CEO, NASTaP

NASTaP raises money to improve research, identification, interpretation, documentation, education, and conservation for Native American landmarks and landscapes. As an avid proponent for underserved and underrepresented communities, mardemel was proud to produce a collection of t-shirt designs from their logo and signature message, "Inspiration is Here", to help raise awareness and donations for this wonderful organization!

These unique shirts are currently available on our website. If you are interested in becoming a member or learning more about the Association for Native American Sacred Trees and Places, you can check out their website at NASTaP.org. And if you are interested in becoming further involved, or making a contribution there is more than one way to show your support:

• Follow NASTaP on Facebook.

• Make a donation.

• Volunteer with NASTaP.

• Sponsor an educational event!

Check back in next month to learn about our June partnership with PawsCo, an amazing Colorado animal rescue organization. And don’t forget to send in your suggestions for charities and organizations that you feel are making a difference!

Thanks again for all of your support and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

Each month we select a charity or nonprofit to contribute 6% of our net sales. We’ve been lucky to be able to work with an eclectic mix of locally-based charities. These well-established organizations have a significant impact on, not only our community here in Denver, Colorado, but beyond with rippling effects that spread the message of unity, goodwill, and fellowship that this brand attempts to embody.

Each partnership has afforded mardemel the opportunity to meet wonderful people, hear inspirational stories, and connect even further with our community. We are so pleased with what we have been able to accomplish in the short time since this brand’s inception.

April: National Autism Awareness Month

As some of you may or may not know, April is National Autism Awareness Month. If you’re not familiar with Autism, it is a broad range of conditions that are characterized by challenges with social skills, and affects 1 in 59 children in the United States.

National Autism Awareness Month was established to not only increase awareness of this condition that affects so many Americans, but to also reduce the stigma, and improve resources, services, and programs for those living with autism. Knowing this, mardemel felt this was the perfect opportunity to partner with an Autism related organization. In doing so, we are not only promoting awareness, but learning more about this developmental disorder ourselves.

Connecting with the Community

An early follower of mardemel on social media was Chana Bennett-Rumley. Chana is the mother of twin boys, both of whom are Autistic. She is a popular social media influencer advocating for those with Autism as well as promoting Autism awareness.

mardemel and Chana connected via social media after the Music Matters March event. Founder and CEO Badi Tolo reached out to her with the hopes of learning more about her role as an autism activist in the community and in homes she might share some insight on organizations we might make a donation to.

Through their conversations, Badi learned about Chana's story as a mother raising twin sons diagnosed with Autism as a near full time job. Through her tireless efforts to learn and discover more about the disorder, she would go on to learn more about herself. It was through this research and discovery that she would eventually discover and accept her own diagnosis of being on the Autism Spectrum. This diagnosis gave her many answers about her life and in her own words, 'has saved her life'. She now advocates for the unseen diagnoses of young girls and in particular minority females as they are often not on the radar of those who get the attention and help they require and deserve.

Naturally, a partnership and friendship was born between Chana and Badi as their missions to give a voice and support to those who are forgotten was very much in alignment.

Upon her suggestion, we decided to look into the organization, Developmental Pathways as the recipient of the 6% donation for National Autism Awareness Month.

Developmental Pathways is a Colorado-based nonprofit that provides resources and services to families of children with developmental disabilities. The organization’s mission is to, “To enrich the lives of people with developmental disabilities/delays by partnering to provide expertise, support, and advocacy in their pursuit of a meaningful life.”

Autism is one of the primary developmental disorders to affect children. Developmental Pathways is one of the area’s leading agencies in providing tools and support for families of children with Autism. Knowing that Chana, a mother of two Autistic children, was a fan and advocate of the nonprofit, made Developmental Pathways the perfect choice for this month’s charitable donation. 

About Developmental Pathways

Developmental Pathways offers early intervention, case management, and community outreach programs for individuals with developmental delays, as well as their families. They also partner with other community organizations to ensure those in need of their services receive optimum resources and tools to improve their daily lives.

Developmental Pathways impact on the community has been huge, and we were excited for the opportunity to partner with such a wonderful organization. mardemel connected with the organization’s Senior Events and Projects Coordinator, Jourdan Dorsey in order to learn more about the organization and how you can provide support.

Speaking with Jourdan we learned, in detail, some of the many ways that Developmental Pathways provides for the community it serves, beyond the traditional resources:

“One of my first and favorite memories of working here was when I was delivering Thanksgiving baskets to families receiving services from DP who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to eat a Thanksgiving meal. It was such an amazing experience to have families that I didn’t know and had never met, giving me hugs and thanking DP for making their Thanksgiving a special one.”

Jordan explained how the funds raised through mardemel donations will be used to help local families and individuals affected by developmental disabilities. The proceeds go towards respite for caregivers, providing reliable transportation to individuals who are not able to drive, and even help to offset the cost of much needed therapies such as physical, occupational, or speech.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Autism, this t-shirt is a great way to show your support, as well as give your own donation to the outstanding organization providing support in your community.

In addition to donating 6% of April’s profits to Developmental Pathways, mardemel also had the privilege of designing a t-shirt dedicated to Autism Awareness in partnership with Chana. We committed to donating an additional 50% of the proceeds directly back to Developmental Pathways as our nonprofit of the month.

These shirts will remain available for a limited time, while supplies last. You can shop them here! If you are interested in becoming further involved with Developmental Pathways, or making a further contribution to the organization, there is more than one way to do so:

• Donate through the Sun Foundation, here.
• Join their volunteer program.
• Work with purpose.
• Follow along on Facebook.
• Check out how and where funds are being utilized.

Wrapping Up

Check out our Cause Collection for new merchandise in support of our nonprofit of the month partnerships! Purchases of these items, result in an increased donation and any purchase from our website is an opportunity to not only give back an additional 6%, but to help raise awareness and spread the message of unity and support.

Don’t forget: you can always write to us to let us know about your favorite organization, or tell us about individuals who are making a difference! We love to learn about causes that we can support in the future and work to amplify their message in any way.

As always, thank you for all of your support, and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

In our March update, we discussed our goals for the mardemel and shared that we had made our donation from February sales to the Colorado African Organization, a great non-profit organization that exists to support Colorado’s refugee, immigrant, and asylum-seeking populations.

This Month’s Charitable Donation

As you know, we have made it our mission to give back 6% of our sales on a monthly basis to causes that we feel will improve the relationships and progress of the communities that we all share. Our brand is for all, which is why our signature message is that we are all One Tribe. Buying into the brand means the opportunity for you to directly support underrepresented causes and communities, education, and the arts. For the month of March, mardemel. connected with the organization Youth on Record, for their inaugural Music Matters March event.

Connecting with this Month’s Organization

Mike Trujillo, the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band The Trujillo Company, and Badi Tolo, Founder/CEO of mardemel., share a nearly 15 year friendship. Their friendship was first formed on a basketball court during their college years at the University of Wyoming. The Trujillo Company is an energetic rock duo that his been making waves in Denver since their inception in 2018. Mike and his cousin, Leny Trujillo also serve as Music Ambassadors for Youth on Record. Through the band’s social media activity, Badi began to take notice of Youth on Record some time ago.

Photo credit: Robert Castro (@castro_denver)

Andrea Viarrial-Murphy, the Director of Visibility & Operations at Youth on Record, took notice of this new brand that Mike had been hyping on Instagram: mardemel., and Badi and Andrea eventually connected through social media. From there, a connection, a friendship and a partnership was born. At Mike’s show in late February at The Gothic Theatre, Badi and Andrea formulated the plan behind the Music Matters T-Shirt to help boost donations to Youth on Record for their Music Matters March promotion.

About Youth on Record

Founded in 2008, and now celebrating its 10th year of amplifying the voices of our youth, Youth on Record is an organization that works with underserved juveniles to prepare them to successfully transition into adulthood. Their goal is to ensure that, “the youth we serve graduate from high school and are ready to enter the workforce, and transition to college or enter advanced technical training and careers.” 

Targeting Denver’s most vulnerable population, Youth on Record is a partnership that brings together the Denver music community, public schools, the housing authority, and the philanthropic sector. Their focus is on leveraging arts and specifically music, to inspire and re-engage with youths.

In the past decade, Youth on Record has become a nationally awarded organization empowering Colorado’s underserved youth to achieve their academic, artistic, and personal best by employing local, professional artists as their educators.

We’re sure that by now you know that building bridges and making connections is one of the primary focuses of the brand mardemel. With this mission of unity, working with Youth on Record was a no-brainer. Their connections within our community have had a profound impact, and we couldn’t be more pleased to work together.

Music Matters March

Music Matters March is an annual event sponsored and hosted by Youth on Record. Through the donations of partnering music venues throughout Denver, performing musicians, and concert-goers alike, the organization raised funds for their cause throughout a targeted campaign during the month of March.

As a well-established organization, Youth on Record has made an impact in the community that we at mardemel find truly inspirational. In addition to donating 6% of last month’s sales to Youth on Record, mardemel was honored to design and produce t-shirts specifically for their Music Matters March event. 50% of the profits from the t-shirt sales went directly to the Youth on Record organization, allowing us to further engage with this month’s organization.

These unique shirts are still available, and if you’re looking for a fashionable way to make your contribution to this wonderful organization, you can purchase one for yourself. And if you are interested in becoming further involved, or making a contribution to Youth on Record, there is more than one way to do so:

• Donate here.
• Purchase from our Wish List.
• Become a Music Ambassador.
• Listen and follow along to our Podcast or music.
• Follow, share, and shout out Youth on Record on social media. Facebook - Twitter - Instagram.

Moving Forward

We could not be any more excited about the success of March’s partnership! The success of the charities and organizations we work with inspires we at mardemel to Be More and Do More! The positive energy is what keeps this train moving.

For April, we will be donating to a non-profit in Colorado that supports individuals with developmental disabilities. We have partnered with Autism advocate, The Millenial Twin Mom in support of Autism Awareness Month to design a specialty t-shirt. Check out our Cause Collection for new merchandise in support of this month’s partnership and the missions these partners work so hard for! Any purchase from our website is an opportunity to not only give back, but to help raise awareness and spread the message of unity and support.

Don’t forget: you can always write to us about your favorite organizations, or individuals who are making a difference! We love to learn about causes that we can support in the future and work to amplify their message in any way.

Thanks again for all of your support and for being a part of The 6th fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe!

Entering March, we are very excited about some new opportunities and collaborations that we’ll be sharing with you soon. It’s truly a season of new beginnings. This time marks the transitional phase between the frigid Winter months, and the growth of new life in Spring. It is with this that we feel inspired to do more to strengthen our roots, continue to grow as a brand, and forge new connections promoting social awareness.

Through this blog, we will try to share how we are striving to achieve this mission. We will discuss how mardemel is making contributions within our community, and spreading the message beyond. You’ll learn how our customers help us to give back to the community as we highlight some of the partnerships and relationships we are establishing. This is a young brand and a young movement, but as a follower of this blog, and a customer of mardemel, you are already helping to make a difference.

Giving More

Founder and CEO, Badi Tolo strives to live a life of service, and this hunger to give back is what drove him to create a brand and idea that may expand his reach. mardemel promotes encouragement and empowerment of its customers and followers;  a reminder to ourselves and to each other that we are more. We hope to further inspire the giving spirit on which the brand was founded by encouraging those who support us to give more of themselves.

With each purchase from mardemel, 6% of sales will be donated monthly to a charity or non-profit. Each month, we select a cause that advocates for the rights and liberties of men, women, and children from all walks of life or aims to inspire and uplift segments of society through their efforts. While we continue to grow as a brand, we hope to use our platform to contribute to the success of others as well.

“Our goal is to help lift those, who are often forgotten, to new heights.” –Badi

For the month of January 2019, a percentage of profits were donated to the Denver Rescue Mission. The Denver Rescue Mission is an organization committed to helping those suffering from homelessness and addiction in Denver, Colorado. Promoting accountability, education, spiritual development, and community relationships, the Denver Rescue Mission is able to provide countless services and programs to an otherwise vulnerable population.

With mardemel based in Denver, donating to the Denver Rescue Mission was the perfect opportunity to give back locally and improve the community from which we’ve grown.

Thanks to organizations like the Denver Rescue Mission, donors, and volunteers, poverty and hardships don’t mean the end of the road for individuals and families who have fallen on hard times. Through emergency services, rehabilitation programs, educational services, and community outreach, this organization works with individuals who might need a little help to jumpstart their success. mardemel was proud to donate to such a noble and life-changing cause.

For the month of February 2019, we made our donation to the Colorado African Organization. The Colorado African Organization (CAO) is a nonprofit organization that exists to support Colorado’s refugee, immigrant, and asylum-seeking populations in their pursuit of integration, self-sufficiency and opportunity.

mardemel encourages our customers to become engaged and continue the practice of encouraging and uplifting others in need. You may feel you are only one fish in a big pond, but the role of the 6th man/woman isn’t to do everything, it’s to do what you can when the opportunity presents itself. Everyone plays a part, and your purchases and contributions have an impact and reach beyond your imagination.

Pay It Forward

Badi’s parents immigrated to the US to further their education and start a new life when he was just two years old. Now as a citizen, a working professional and a man building his own life, he honors the sacrifices and hard work of his family through his own efforts to give back and help others realize the American Dream. He strives to live a life of humility, acceptance, and kindness. Those who know him, know he has never let anything or anyone define who he is or who he has to be. His parents instilled this unwavering belief in him, and he hopes to spread this message far and wide.

His experiences as a young immigrant, a minority, a college graduate, an artist, a musician, and even as a cancer survivor have connected him to numerous social causes and ideals `over the course of his lifetime. As mardemel grows, he and this brand hope to broaden our scope of service and expand our reach. Through partnerships with charities, as well as promoting artists, athletes, and individuals who support our mission, our goal is to assist in the success and advancement of others wherever possible.

Anyone can become a part of the movement. By purchasing The 6th Clothing Co merchandise you are already giving back. By sporting our logo you help to us to promote the spirit and idea that we are a part of one team and One Tribe. We would love to hear about charities and social movements that our customers feel passionately about. Tell us about your favorite organizations, or individuals who are making a difference! We are always on the hunt for causes that we can support and amplify their message in any way.

Whatever challenges you or those around you face, we encourage you to never stop working to be more, do more, and give more.

One Tribe!

Thank you for visiting our site and becoming a part of The 6th Family.
My name is Badi Tolo, and I am the CEO/Founder of mardemel. 

mardemel. is an apparel brand I founded and created in the summer of 2018. The photo above, is the day I was sitting outside waiting to catch the lightrail to work, and I realized that an idea I'd been thinking about for years was going to happen...because I was gonna make it happen with whatever time, effort and ability I had in me. So here's my story, behind our story.

I was originally born in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). My parents moved to the U.S. when I was just 2 years old along with my older sister, then 4. Coming from families that stressed the importance of education, they came here in the early 80s to expand on the educational degrees in Nursing and French Studies they had received back home. Decades later, they honor the family, by serving their communities as educators in their respective fields.

Equipped with her Master of Science in Nursing: Health Care Systems and also a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Education, my mother is currently working as a Clinical Services Manager in Senior Care. My father is a published author and tenured Ph.D. Associate Professor, teaching French Language, French Literature and Francophone Literature. They have always supported my sisters and I in all of our pursuits and I would not be here today without the support and sacrifices of my parents.

Moving Around

We started our lives in the US living in Nashville, TN where my father continued his schooling and my mother worked as a Nurse. When he graduated and got a job offer we found ourselves moving across the country to Wyoming. Yes, Wyoming. Much like any of you, where I grew up is a part of who I am and the life lessons and experiences that shaped my outlook on life and for that I'm grateful.

So after high school, I went to school at the University of Wyoming where I received my Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Graphic Design. My first job in design began as a student intern for a small studio in Laramie, where the owner and a friend to this day, gave me my first shot. I had no idea what a graphic design degree had in store, but it was an opportunity for which I am forever grateful. 

After 4 years at Snowy Range Graphics, I moved to Denver in 2008 to see what the big city had in store. The timing of that decision was not ideal as the economy took an epic downward spiral. Many of you probably remember that time from your own experiences. I couldn't find a job but I wasn't about to give up and move back.

I made my own business cards and attended networking events. I learned how to do some code and with the help of a few developer friends I designed/built my portfolio website and I jumped on any freelance work I could get. Whatever it took. I eventually found a mentor who was helping individuals connect and learn more about how to grow a small business. We're still friends to this day and his success and genuine desire to help others continues to be an inspiration. 

Court Vision Creative

I came up with the name "Court Vision Creative" as I had played the position of Point Guard when I was younger and always loved having the ability and responsibility to create opportunities for my teammates.

During those years working part-time and as a freelance designer, I secured contracts doing graphics for the University of Wyoming's Athletics Marketing Department as well as a 2 year stint doing graphics for the University of Alabama-Birmingham's (UAB) Athletics Marketing Department. These opportunities allowed me to pay the bills, grow as a designer, a businessman and a marketer and enabled me to use my degree in a field I had always been passionate about, Sports. 

In December of 2011, a friend/partner in the UW Athletics Marketing Dept. brought their Grad Assistants down to Denver for dinner, a tour of Pepsi Center and an Avalanche-Red Wings game and she was kind enough to extend an invitation to me. Little did I know, but one of the Avs Marketing employees conducting the tour happened to be a friend I had played gym ball with all through college. Long story short, a position opened up with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment 2 weeks later and he shot me an email saying I should apply if interested. 

Working for the Colorado Avalanche? The Denver Nuggets?! The team I grew up loving and dreaming of playing for as a kid? I thought NO CHANCE, but why the hell not. So I applied and was shocked when I got called for an interview a couple weeks later and even more shocked when I got an offer. Living proof that even your greatest doubts can be overcome when you take the final bet on yourself. 

Seven years later, I've gone from Graphic Designer, to Senior Designer and now have served as an Art Director at Pepsi Center over the last 3+ years. I've always prided myself in representing as a team player, a good person, a true sports fanatic and a valuable creative mind assisting the growth and popularity of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth and Colorado Rapids.

The Next Challenge

As artists, we must continue to create and challenge ourselves in order to grow. With the support of my inspiring and amazing parents and sisters and some truly great friends, it is this drive that lead me to dream big once more and create mardemel.

The idea behind the logo is an evolution of my Court Vision Creative brand. Rooted in my love of the game of basketball. The logo symbolizes the lines at the top of the basketball key. The "6" represents the 6th man/woman, and the opening represents a lane for those who are behind the mission to step to the line. 

"My mission is to create and grow a brand that uplifts others, inspires confidence, and recognizes the role we all play in each other's success."

Our hope is that through continued growth and support of the mission, we can continue to grow and use our platform to positively impact our community and others. 

Whatever challenges you or those around you face, we encourage you to never stop working to be better, be kinder, be more and give more of yourself in your pursuits and in service of others. Anyone embracing that challenge will forever be a part of mardemel fam.

One Team. Together. One Tribe.

Much Love,
Badi M. Tolo