Giving back builds team morale, helps the community and creates a positive impact. Promo Marketing spoke to Glen Brumer, sales director of Royal Apparel, Hauppauge, N.Y., to learn about the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. (Clearwater.org), an organization that educates youth about protecting the environment.
Promo Marketing: Can you briefly describe Clearwater.org?
Glen Brumer: Clearwater, founded by legendary musician Pete Seeger and friends, is an incredible organization [that] starts with our youth, educating them on becoming our next leaders [and] on protecting our environment. They have had an amazing impact on our Hudson River. Their annual family-oriented Clearwater Festival Event uses their Clearwater Sloop voyage on the Hudson, with music, crafts and interactive exhibits, to raise funds and consciousness on the plight of the river and the earth.
PM: Why did Royal Apparel pick this particular cause?
GB: We choose Clearwater.org for the following reasons: 1. Our goals marry—we both stand for helping the environment. At Royal Apparel, we are using organic cottons and recycled yarns from bottles, and recycle our own water when producing our products. 2. There is also a great synergy as Clearwater.org is founded by Pete Seeger, the legendary musician, and we are also very involved in the musician’s world, supplying our products to many leading concert tours and bands. They are great supporters of our Royal Apparel made in USA and sustainable products. 3. Both of our organizations have our heritage in New York. 4. We have been supplying shirts to their environmental education programs on the Hudson, as well as their music festival, and this is a great chance for us to give back.
PM: What do you like about working with Clearwater.org?
GB: During the festival, [Clearwater.org] has on-site shops selling products that help promote its cause. It uses our organic products, which align with its mission. We also outfit [Clearwater.org’s] educational program, as it takes schoolchildren on its “Sloop” boat on the Hudson River, teaching them the impact of keeping the water clear.
PM: Do you have any advice to give to others looking to get involved in charitable works in general?
GB: There is a big movement in social branding, where it is not just about selling a shirt. At the same time, we can do good, help [bring] awareness to great causes, and be able to give back in our communities. We are proud to work with many of them and we feel we are saving the planet one shirt at a time.
PM: How can readers get involved with or contribute to this Clearwater.org?
GB: Please go to their site, www.clearwater.org/about, where you can learn how to donate, become a volunteer and educate yourself about keeping our water clear.
For inquiries and interest in Royal Apparel’s charity work, please contact Glen Brumer at [email protected].
Want to be considered for a future edition of Community Spotlight? Contact Production Editor Ashley Chiaradio at (215) 238-5288 or [email protected] for a list of questions and other details.
