The success of a business isn’t only measured by its bottom line. In part, it’s measured by its goodwill. Charles River Apparel is a family-owned company, known for creating a tradition of giving back. It started with the Be Pink Proud campaign, honoring the memory of beloved family members, and it has expanded throughout the years.

“Our mission is to create a community and environment that’s passionate about giving back,” says Barry Lipsett, CEO and owner of Charles River Apparel. “For a family-owned company like Charles River Apparel, having the opportunity to give back allows us to go beyond what we sell.”

On February 1, 2017, the com
pany launched “Colors for a Cause,”
a Charles River CaresTM initiative.
“Colors for a Cause” leverages the brand’s best-selling style, The New Englander® Rain Jacket, to help create awareness and raise funds for national and local charities. Throughout the year, there will be a series of two-month-long campaigns revolving around the sales of particular colors of the rain jacket, with the proceeds of each matched with a cause.

The first campaign, launched on February 1, is focused on helping families in need, and will run through March 31. For every Women’s New Englander Red sold over the course of the campaign, Charles River Apparel will donate 10% to the following causes: Circle of Hope, Habitat for Humanity Boston and Family Promise.
It will be followed up with New Englander Wave (blue) to protect rivers and oceans (April 1 through May 31), New Englander Pink to team up against cancer (September 1 through October 31) and New Englander Kids in all colors (November 1 through December 31) to support children in need.

In addition to giving back to charities, Charles River is giving back to its customers. For every New Englander in the color sold during the campaign, the company will give 5% back to its valued distributors. “It’s our way of saying thank you
for supporting our brand and mission,” Lipsett says. Giving back to
the customer has inspired many to join the cause by passing the 5% on to their charity of choice. Distributors have requested “Colors for a Cause” artwork for client presentations, and several have inquired about partnering to help expand the cause.

“We’re thrilled by the response we received at recent industry trade shows,” says Deb Lipsett, director of Charles River Cares, “and look forward to growing the program with our distributors.”

The program is another example
of Charles River Apparel’s tradition of giving back. “It’s exciting to expand on a long history of giving, which now reaches new causes both locally and nationally,” says Tracy Lehnen, vice president of marketing. Other related causes the company continues to support include Family Promise, Habitat for Humanity Boston, Circle of Hope, Charles River Watershed Association, Facing Cancer Together, Christmas In the City, Wellness Warriors, Catie’s Closet and Camps for All Kids.

Due to the positive response of the “Colors for a Cause” pro- gram, and in the spirit of giving, Charles River has already started giving back to causes in advance of their respective campaigns, making contributions to each of the following events:

• Earth Day (New Englander WAVE)

• Run of the Charles (New Englander WAVE)

• Walk Away Homelessness (New Englander Red)

• Facing Cancer Together 10K (New Englander Pink)

• Catie’s Closet Gala (New Englander Kid)


“We have created a tradition of giving back and we’re excited to extend it to our customers.”

--Barry Lipsett, Charles River Apparel

Visit www.charlesriverapparel.com to learn more about how the cause will benefit a deserving group of charities and how you can help expand the program’s reach.