A letter from
Zane Wilemon Co-Founder and CEO, Ubuntu Life PBC
Dear Customers & Friends, 2020...what a year?!
We made it! Thank you on behalf of our entire Ubuntu Life team for walking alongside us in such a difficult year...arguably the most difficult year that any of us have ever experienced. After running Ubuntu Life as a 501c3 non-profit for the past 20 years, we managed to successfully transition the social business arm of UL into a public benefit for-profit corporation. We had no idea that we would be doing this during a pandemic, but we did, and thanks to you, we managed to make it a record-breaking year of growth!
As a result of going for-profit, this did two significant things for the wider Ubuntu Life community: 1) it allowed our donor dollars to go directly and solely to the life saving important work of serving and empowering our special needs programs & 2) it opened the door to investors allowing them to put their hard-earned dollars to the impactful work of creating meaningful jobs and getting high-quality goods to you...our Ubuntu Life customers.
As 2020 progressed, so did the Ubuntu Life brand’s magnification catching Oprah and Nordstrom’s attention. These massive growth opportunities resulted in a year of almost 1,000% sales growth, which of course translates into more lives being impacted and changed for the good...thanks to YOU!
A few of those concrete, tangible results that you can read further about in our annual impact report are providing food & clean drinking water to families struggling during Covid, allowing our sister Foundation to continue serving all of our special needs kiddos and their families with life-saving physical and occupational therapy and tripling our employment numbers from 200 people to over 800 team members who now, not only have a sustainable job but also have access to healthcare for themselves and for their families.
As we turn into the new year, we are excited to keep the momentum going and to keep growing. We know that Covid still lingers, and we continue to remain vigilant, taking care of our team and ensuring that all are safe. We pray that this will be a year of healing for all of us. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We look forward to continuing to make top quality handmade goods for you and sharing stories of change together. Here's to a bright 2021! Big love, Zane
Our impact does not end with our handmade product! Hear from our Kenyan Director & Co-Founder, Jeremiah Kuria regarding the best year yet for the Ubuntu Life Foundation!
Read the full report - Here