Founder Reflection
Zane Wilemon
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ubuntu Life
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.
- GoetheThis quote from Goethe has been sitting with me over the holiday break and continues to work it’s way into me as we start to pivot into the new year. As we look back on another year and reflect on what it means to #liveubuntu, I am amazed at what our team has accomplished. Over 127% growth was achieved by the Ubuntu team in 2018…staggering. I’m not going to lie, when we started 2018 with the idea to launch a shoe, the dream was there, but a gigantic fear lived within me and our entire Ubuntu team. “Can we pull this off?” “Are we sure we can go from making a coffee sleeve to making a SHOE??” “Dream you can, begin it.”
We dreamed it. We did it!
We never could have pulled this dream off if it were not for all of you who either backed the Kickstarter campaign or were one of those special few who really leaned into our Ubuntu team with capital, blood, sweat and tears to make that dream a reality.
As a result we are now positioned to have our greatest year of sales, growth and impact to date.
As many of you know Ubuntu’s 127% growth means that for every dollar we raise, Ubuntu is out hustling hard matching that raised dollar with an earned dollar in revenue. However, as you go through our 2018 report you will notice how vital those donations are to the day to day running of our organization and our teams ability to empower our special needs kiddos. As you review this report, please go through it with the words from Goethe in your mind, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.”
We are who we are and we are able to accomplish all that we are able to accomplish because you have done it with us. I hope the results of this report inspire and encourage you to do it with us again and again.
“Begin it now!”
Big love,
Zane
Big Wins of 2018
Ubuntu celebrated big wins across the board in 2018, many of which have set us up for a year of unprecedented impact and success in the years to come.