Matthew Shepard was the victim of a brutal hate crime two decades ago and on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the violent and deadly assault, Chavez For Charity is partnering with The Matthew Shepard Foundation to create the “Erase Hate” bracelet in his memory. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the charity, started by his parents in an effort to promote understanding, compassion, and acceptance while highlighting the importance of embracing diversity and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
The beautifully designed bracelet displays black matte agate beads with a silver medallion declaring “Erase Hate” at the center. In addition to the bracelet, Chavez For Charity has also created “Erase Hate” T-shirts and totes, which will also benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation. The collection can be found online at chavezforcharity.com/collections/erase-hate or at select retailers near you.
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Matthew Shepard’s story resonated with people worldwide with their hearts broken for the hatred and discrimination shown, but determined to make a change. His passing became a catalyst in the modern movement for equality, encouraging people to spread the message that all people are created equal and to “Erase Hate.” The Matthew Shepard Foundation strives to empower individuals and communities to replace hate within their schools and neighborhoods, with understanding and compassion.
“Our partnership with Chavez for Charity has flourished since they began supporting us in 2013. For them to go above and beyond with creating an entire campaign around our erase hate motto is the perfect tribute to our 20th anniversary year and to Matt,” said Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and founder of The Matthew Shepard Foundation. “We are so thankful and proud of this partnership!”
Photo courtesy of Chavez for Charity
“Supporting the foundation and observing the 20th anniversary of Matthew’s unforgettable story is an opportunity for us to reflect on the shifts that have happened, yet still acknowledge how far there is to go,” added Julie Chavez, founder of Chavez for Charity.
The philanthropic campaign is taking to social media to encourage supporters to post their message of love by using the handle @ChavezForCharity and the hashtag #EraseHate.
About The Matthew Shepard Foundation
The Matthew Shepard Foundation’s longstanding mission is to erase hate by replacing it with understanding, compassion and acceptance. Through local, regional and national outreach, we empower individuals to find their voice to create change and challenge communities to identify and address hate that lives within their schools, neighborhoods and homes.
Our work is an extension of Matt’s passion to foster a more caring and just world. We share his story and embody his vigor for civil rights to change the hearts and minds of others to accept everyone as they are. https://www.matthewshepard.org/
About Chavez For Charity
When Julie Chavez founded Chavez for Charity in 2013, she had an ambitious vision – She wanted to create a line of colorful bracelets that would contribute, in a significant way, to some of the most important humanitarian issues facing our world today.
Leveraging her background as the founder and designer of the small, yet highly coveted, jewelry line – Marie Chavez, whose fans include A-list celebrities like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Rosario Dawson, and Anne Hathaway, Julie carefully crafted a brand that is unique in its mission and has a purpose much greater than profits.
Supporting their trademark phrase ‘Colors for Causes™’, each of the 10 colors in the collection represents a distinct cause. For every product sold, Chavez for Charity donates 25% of the profit to each color’s corresponding cause.
To date, Chavez for Charity has provided over 6,000 people in rural and impoverished communities with clean water; funded over 500 micro-loans for women entrepreneurs worldwide, covered 1,400 hours of critical pediatric cancer research, impacted 724 students in Ghana for a lifetime with Teacher Support Programming – and the list goes on.
With over 3,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada carrying their iconic bracelets, in 2018 Chavez for Charity will proudly celebrate 1.6 million dollars in donations. While this is a major milestone for the company, it is just the beginning of what they aspire to accomplish.