Every effort to create a better world takes substantial energy as well as resources. Lisa Riggs has come up with a creative solution to fundraising that is helping CHANGEMAKERS reach their goals in a fun and engaging manner by selling something everyone needs at one time or another – SOCKS!
Her socks are designed in collaboration with the organizations she serves to project the message and align with their goals. While her socks can represent anything from sports teams to businesses, I became especially interested in her work when I read about how a thirteen year old boy who partnered with Lisa's company to sell socks to address food insecurity in his community.
Lisa Riggs is the founder of Spirit Sox USA. As the self-proclaimed “Sock Queen” and a fundraising Changemaker, Lisa's unique offerings have helped a variety of individuals and groups achieve their goals. Her LinkedIn profile offers an array of insightful videos that provide inspiration for fundraising projects and helpful tips for socially-minded entrepreneurs and community members alike.
Watch the video of our conversation, listen to the podcast and read the summary below to learn about Lisa's work as an entrepreneur using her creative energy and business acumen to help Changemakers reach their goals for a better world.
Homegrown Lisa
Born and raised in San Jose, California, Lisa Riggs believes that it was the entrepreneurial spirit of her immigrant ancestors that shaped who she is today. Her grandfather moved to the US from Italy and started his own jam factory in his garage that soon grew to employ hundreds of people.
I think I was born into this family of entrepreneurs and it's really what led me to start this company.
Her entrepreneurial family instilled in her an understanding of how a family business can strengthen an entire community.
My grandfather and my dad have employed (people) from all backgrounds, all ethnicities and genders…trying to help contribute to their families and build a community out of a workplace.
Solution Focused Lisa
Lisa’s idea to sell socks as a form of fundraising started when she was running a donation-based after-school sports program in a middle school. As the school year progressed and parent donations decreased, Lisa knew that she needed to get creative in order to maintain their programs. That's when she came up with the idea of selling custom-made socks.. The idea was a hit and she knew she was on to something.
I had been so involved with the schools in the community for so long, I saw donations for people I had never seen before. We sold 200 pairs of socks in five weeks and had people clamoring for more.
The community building that came out of this was amazing.
That initial project helped the school create sponsorships for kids in need and even scholarships. After that success, Lisa began to consider starting her own company which would allow her to help more organizations with their fundraising needs. Although starting a company can be a daunting process, Lisa knew that it would set a good example for her own children.
This is a good example to set for my children. I have an idea and I'm going to work hard and I'm going to go after it. Then we will succeed or fail. At least I will show them that I tried and I put in an effort.
I felt like it was important to show them how to go after an idea, try to make the world a better place, try to help people while not being in it only for the profit.
Lisa’s custom-made sock business Spirit Sox USA now offers a fundraising solution to a variety of organizations including non-profits, schools, sports teams and events. Since many of the schools Lisa works with are Title 1 and in lower economic circumstances, the socks are very popular because they fill a practical need. As she's expanded into producing custom masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, this additional practical need is obvious while a sense of fun raises everyone's spirits.
Lisa's Patchwork
Lisa’s main purpose remains to help organizations make money so that they can achieve their own goals. She's committed to working with as diverse a clientele as possible.
It's my favorite part of this company. The organizations that I'm able to work with across the country and help them raise money for new books for newborns, or to prevent teen suicide or for a school that doesn't have sports equipment.
The inclusivity that Lisa saw in her grandfather’s business has helped shape the way that she runs Spirit Sox USA with equality as an integral part of her business.
I am smart. I am strong and I can be a leader. I always strove for equality for all…I work with all cultures, all economic levels to try to really help.
Lisa finds it extremely important to listen to her customers and find a solution that fits their unique needs.
I try to listen because everybody's community is very different… I would not pretend to know what's going to be successful or how to help them meet their goals without them telling me.
Her work has connected her with a variety of inspiring people that are working together to build a better future and she is proud to be part of it.
It connected me to these amazing nonprofits and it helps us make a difference in nonprofits in communities all over the country.
One of Lisa’s customers is the teenage boy named Matthew whose story came to my attention and caused me to reach out to her last spring. Mathew has been running his own non-profit to help ensure that his classmates have enough food for the weekend. Nick reached out to Lisa about selling socks to raise money to feed more families.
He's making an impact. He's changing the world. And I'm so lucky that he likes socks!
Lisa also works with multiple down-syndrome organizations across the country. One group in Texas even had their members draw their own designs which were later digitized and turned into socks.
The difference that can make in someone's life! It's a sock. It's a small thing, but for that person with down syndrome to design their sock and wear it, it's a gift.
Changemaker Lisa
Communication has been an important part of Lisa’s business. By listening to the needs of the communities and organizations she serves, Lisa believes we can grow together.
I'm trying to change the world one sock at a time!
It's just been a gift and an honor to be able to work with people all over the country to help make a difference, whether it's small or large. We're working on the large one, but the baby steps get us those small victories.
Lisa encourages others to go after their goals both through the organizations that she works with and the example that she tries to set for others. She views mistakes and failures as being an important part of achieving our goals and an opportunity to learn valuable lessons.
I'm thinking as a female entrepreneur. Don't be afraid to go after your dreams. Don't be afraid to take chances!
Who would have thought that a sock company could change the world? It wasn't really something that occurred to me until I met Lisa online and heard the stories of how her socks were helping Changemakers turn their dreams into a reality. Can you see how socially-minded entrepreneurs like Lisa using United Nations Global Goal # 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure have the potential to impact all of the other goals? By creating opportunities for those working to overcome poverty, hunger, inequities to earn the funds they need to move their initiatives forward, Lisa and people like her are creating the kind of direct and indirect support it will take to bring all the goals to fruition by 2030.
Get in touch to let us know about your own work to realize the Global Goals. At Blue Roads we, too, are working to support these goals by cultivating Changemakers with the skills needed to reach them by the year 2030. Our CHANGEMAKER YOU course is one way we are working to do that. Learn more about CHANGEMAKER YOU here.
About the Author
Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
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Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
