KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF Drew Shaw finds a common thread between footwear and philanthropy “Going on an entrepreneurial journey makes you realize things about yourself that you didn’t realize before.” Drew Shaw is a former teacher turned entrepreneur turned sock designer. Shaw created a socially conscious lifestyle brand called Voyce Threads that is bringing awareness to important causes through mismatched socks. “I wanted to see how these socks could affect the community and have a greater social impact,” Shaw told me when I interviewed him on my podcast, Carey Peña Reports . The idea came about a few years ago when Shaw released a children’s book called “Rosewood Circle: The First Day.” The main character in the book wears … mismatched socks. Shaw began to think about how to create a line of socks that could both make a fashion statement and have impact on the community. By creating two different socks, he felt he could tell a powerful story and highlight organizations that are doing good. I AM MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN I THOUGHT I WAS Formerly an elementary school teacher and employee at ASU, Shaw ventured into a whole new universe: fashion and social activism. When asked if he has always been a disruptor, Shaw laughed. “I learned over time that I have much more in me than I ever knew. I learned that I have layers and dimensions in myself,” he said. Voyce Threads launched in November 2018 with a compelling brand campaign featuring the first five organizations they teamed with to create stylish and socially conscious socks: Arizona Humane Society, Teach For America Phoenix, Million Dollar Teacher Project, Arizona Apparel Project, and Social Spin. The team at Voyce Threads creates a unique design specific to each organization. The organization is then featured on Voyce’s website, voycethreads.com . On the homepage, people can learn more about the organizations and click to donate to them directly Carey Peña | Contributing Writer CAREY’S CORNER {carey peña reports} 16 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MARCH 2019

Drew Shaw ( above ) created Voyce Threads to be a lifestyle brand that empowers wearers to dress differently to promote causes they care about. MARCH 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 17