In 2012, a chance encounter with a homeless man sparked an idea for Monika Wiela, already a successful shoe industry entrepreneur. The man held a sign saying he needed shoes. Wiela returned the next day with footwear for the man, but he was nowhere to be found. Compelled to do more, Give Back Box was born. The platform allows consumers to re-use the cardboard boxes from their e-commerce purchases to forward used clothing, accessories, and household goods to the nearest Goodwill location. Give Back Box also encourages environmentally friendly practices. Everybody has the potential to do good and give back to the poor and the environment; thus, Wiela created this program to help people realize this potential by making donating easy.
Los Angeles Business Journal Women’s Summit: FINALISTS – MONIKA WIELA, Give Back Box
