Philanthropy Driving the Fashion Industry
(Illustration by Iman Geddy)
Here at Limitless La Vie, we have been inspired by the great examples of philanthropy demonstrated by the businessmen, sports players, and actors who have used their fame and money to make the lives of others better. Warren Buffet, Denzel Washington, Paul Newman, Mark Zuckerberg, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, and Bill Gates may have taken different career paths, but in the end their success has not just enriched their lives, but the lives of the many that they have reached out to help.
Warren Buffet
The Button Down Oxford offers classic value without being flashy, making it a perfect choice for the investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet, whose business savvy delivers not just dividends but diversified support of a plethora of causes. In 2006 he pledged to give away more than 99% of his massive fortune to charity, and since then has been living up to that goal by donating 4% of his Berkshire Hathaway stocks every year. In 2017 alone, he gave away $3.17 billion dollars, following the simple principle that “If you’re in the luckiest 1% of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%”.
Denzel Washington
The men’s Button Blazer is a perfect fit for the award-winning actor Denzel Washington, whose philanthropic actions off-screen are just as noteworthy. He’s been an active supporter of the Fisher House Foundation, which provides welcoming homes near army base hospitals for the families of injured soldiers to stay in while their loved ones undergo treatment. As well, he is a founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and in 2018 donated one million dollars to the Wiley College debate team after starring in a film about the early days of the team. Perhaps his most notable philanthropic endeavor has been his long-standing relationship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). He credits the organization that he joined when he was 6 years old with being a powerful influence during his formative years, and he has striven to pay that helping hand forward, serving as the national spokesperson for the BGCA since 1992. He shares this life-long connection to the BGCA with the co-founders of Limitless La Vie, who also joined the organization as children! Whether it’s support for injured soldiers, education, or children around the world, Denzel lives by the philosophy “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even about what you’ve accomplished…It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better, it’s about what you’ve given back.”
Paul Newman
Relaxed but elegant, our men’s Chino pants match the timeless appeal of the late, great actor Paul Newman, whose legendary philanthropy lives on in Newman’s Own, inspiring companies like Limitless La Vie to make a lasting difference. From the very beginning, Newman was committed to using 100% of the profits from his company to help others, including the establishment of many children’s camps where more than 350,000 children suffering from serious medical conditions have been able to, as he put it, “Raise a little hell.” By 2015, the Newman’s Own Foundation had donated $450 million dollars to a variety of organizations helping people to improve their lives. Similarly, Limitless La Vie uses all its profits to help others also, reflecting his philosophy: “I respect generosity in people, and I respect it in companies too, I don’t see it as philanthropy; I see it as an investment in the community.”
Mark Zuckerburg
Our men’s Zipper Pullover is easy to wear but also stylish, perfect for a busy computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur like Mark Zuckerberg, who also dedicates a large share of his time and money to helping others. He and his wife Priscilla Chan have formed the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to use technology to work to solve problems in health, education and social inequality across the globe, pledging to devote 99% of their Facebook shares to that goal. Zuckerberg believes that “Our society has an obligation to invest now to improve the lives of all those coming into this world, not just those already here.”
Carmelo Anthony
The men’s Ikat Trim Long-sleeve Polo Shirt is a sporty fit for NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who has proven himself both a leader in basketball and off the court in his philanthropic endeavors. In 2005 he founded the Carmelo Anthony Foundation, which provides funds for disadvantaged children to improve their lives and futures through both education and recreation. He feels that he is just paying it forward, saying: “I am a product of people’s giving and sacrificing… It’s important for people around the world to recognize that we all have something we can give.”
Lebron James
The comfortable and flexible men’s Ikat Trim Polo Shirt is a perfect casual look for the off-court style exhibited by NBA star Lebron James, whose philanthropic endeavors are built on the promise to never forget where he came from. While he donates money to a variety of worthwhile children’s causes across the country, his home town of Akron, Ohio holds a special place in his heart and philanthropy. Especially notable is the huge commitment he’s made with his “I Promise” program, which will pay four years of college tuition for up to two thousand disadvantaged students from Akron. Lebron and his mother had a hard life while he was growing up, and now says: “Mom and I wanted to create a foundation that, regardless of where I was playing, would be dedicated to giving back to the community by enriching the support system that helped us along our journey.”
Bill Gates
The versatility of the V-Neck Sweater gets right to the point, pulling together a comfortable fit for a business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist like Bill Gates. He’s applied the same skills that made him the richest man in the world to giving away much of his wealth to try to solve some of the biggest problems facing people today. While still working on the global goal of eradicating polio by 2020, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has also started a campaign to fight against malaria, a major killer in many third-world countries. Meanwhile, they have decided to redirect their efforts to improve education in the United States and focus instead on the pervasive problem of poverty. He’s proven that he can succeed in both making and donating wealth, saying
“Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity—the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.”
Our menswear capsule collection lets you select comfortable, classic clothes which are both relaxed and elegant, and manufactured in an ethical fashion from high-quality textiles. Long-lasting and versatile, they take the worry out of clothing selection, letting you focus on the things that really matter- much as these remarkable men have done with their philanthropic efforts!
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