WORK

Our mission is to accompany families in Haiti out of poverty through good, dignified jobs. We envision a world where poverty doesn’t exist.

At WORK, we:

💪 Celebrate the inherent power in every person
💪 Keep it simple
💪 Give and work with joy
💪 Work without fear
💪 Do whatever it takes
💪 Finish the job. Our goal is simple, to place two heads of households into a good,
dignified job, so that our families and their community can lift themselves out of poverty forever. Currently in our 2022 Run Across May, a permanent additional to our R

un Series, where participants complete 200 miles or 200 reps of any activity in addition to raising $200. Follow us to learn more about the impact of our Run!

08/19/2026

Every October, our Bright Futures Gala brings together a community committed to creating opportunities around the world. But did you know the venue has a story just as inspiring?

Originally built in 1854 as St. Mary's Church in Pittsburgh's historic Deutschtown neighborhood, the building served generations of German, Austrian, and Swiss immigrants before facing demolition in the early 1980s. Thankfully, it was saved, thoughtfully restored, and transformed into what is now The Priory Hotel and Pittsburgh's Grand Hall—one of the city's most treasured historic landmarks.

For WORK, the Priory is more than a beautiful venue—it's part of our story.

Owners John and Suzanne Graf have been members of our board since our very early days of WORK, believing in our mission from the very beginning. Their generosity, leadership, and partnership have helped shape our organization for years, and we're incredibly grateful to continue gathering in a place that reflects resilience, restoration, and community.

As we prepare for another unforgettable Bright Futures Gala, we're honored to celebrate in a space where history has been preserved and new stories continue to be written.

Here's to building brighter futures—together. 💙

08/18/2026

We expanded our work to Brazil to accompany the the informal collectors in the Northeast and the Northern regions, beginning in Greater Recife and in Manaus and the surrounding cities in Amazonas. In Greater Recife, cooperatives of informal collectors with limited capacity are largely responsible for sorting out recyclables. In Amazonas, of the 62 municipalities, 61 still have open dump sites that are hazards for collectors and their communities.

Our approach starts with asking the collectors and other waste workers about the challenges they face and their ideas for improvement. We utilize our Responsible Sourcing Standards for Recycled Materials as our foundation. Together, we co-design interventions that would address improved working conditions and income. Key challenges identified to date includes infrastructure that would increase prices for collectors, health and safety in the work place, and government recognition for their work. We're confident these challenges can be addressed.

Stay tuned for more from our work in Brazil. If you'd like to get involved, send us a DM.

08/14/2026

🇧🇷 Meet the newest members of the WORK team in Brazil!

WORK has expanded to Brazil, and we’re excited to welcome Carlos Anjos and Géssica Ruana to the team as we begin building our work on the ground.

🌱 Géssica, our Brazil Program Manager, is an administrator and master’s student in Sustainable Development Management with more than 10 years of experience, including six years with Recife City Hall. Her work has spanned women’s rights, public safety, climate crisis response, public policy, and integrated community development.

♻️ Carlos, our Brazil Field Manager, is a chemical engineer with experience in environmental operations and sustainability projects. He focuses on circular economy solutions, logistics, and recycling operations, working closely with local partners to help scale impact in communities.

Together, Carlos and Géssica bring valuable technical expertise, local knowledge, and a shared commitment to building sustainable solutions.

Our work in Brazil will focus in the Northeast, beginning in Recife, and the North, beginning in Amazonas. There, we are implementing and lifting Responsible Sourcing Standards of recycled materials, improving working conditions and income for autonomous waste pickers, and investing in Cooperatives to advance business performance —and especially excited to have Géssica and Carlos lead the way.

08/13/2026

🌧️ Storms don't wait — and neither do we.

Last month, weeks of flooding hit our collectors hard. In Ghana, landfills flooded completely, keeping families from work. In Taiwan, back-to-back typhoons left collectors without income for days. In Brazil, flooded collection centers damaged recyclables families depend on to put food on the table.

We're raising $12,000 to respond head-on 👇

💧 $25 = Sanitation Kits (water purification, soap, oral rehydration salts)
🦺 $60 = Safety Collection Kits (gloves, boots, vests, masks & more)
🧱 $150 = Building materials for safer collection sites

Join us and help collectors stay healthy, safe, and on the path to financial independence.

Make a difference: https://loom.ly/POjSItU or go to the link in bio to learn more and give today.

08/12/2026

Tickets are officially on sale for Bright Futures 2026!

Join us on Wednesday, October 7 at The Priory Hotel's Grand Hall for an unforgettable evening celebrating the power of good, dignified jobs to create lasting change for families in Haiti and beyond.

This year's gala will feature inspiring stories, delicious food, exciting silent auction packages, gaming, and the chance to make a lasting impact alongside friends old and new.

We can't wait to celebrate with you.

🎟️ Reserve your seat today through the link in our bio or on our website: https://loom.ly/t6Wvk10

Tag a friend you'd love to bring! 💛

08/11/2026

Since our Haiti emergency response campaign, your generosity has helped families take meaningful steps toward rebuilding.

Because of your support, we’ve been able to provide:

🍽️ 2 months of emergency food kits for 100 households
📚 Educational support for 11 students preparing for national exams
🏠 Shelter for 85 family members during the crisis
🚚 Relocation assistance for 5 family members
💼 Support for 23 businesses that were lost or damaged

While security challenges remain, families are beginning to return to safer living conditions, rebuild their homes, and restart small businesses and livelihood activities.

And behind every number is a person working to rebuild their life.

Nanise received critical health support during the crisis, helping her safely deliver her twins and prevent complications from eclampsia.

Tony, a center owner whose property was heavily damaged by gang violence, has begun rebuilding.

Marie lost her materials in a fire and is now working to restart her recycling activities with support from WORK.

The resilience of this community has been remarkable. Your support has provided more than emergency assistance—it has given families the opportunity to begin again.

Thank you for standing with families in Haiti, not only in moments of crisis, but as they rebuild toward a more stable future. ❤️

Want to continue supporting this work? Visit the link in our bio to learn more about WORK and how you can help families build brighter futures.

08/06/2026

A major milestone for informal waste workers in Ghana.

Last week, WORK joined the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) and partners to celebrate the launch of the Federation of Informal Sector Waste Workers Associations of Ghana (FISWWAG)—a landmark initiative that gives informal waste workers a stronger, collective voice.

FISWWAG is a significant step toward ensuring waste pickers are formally recognized, protected, and included in decisions that shape Ghana's waste management system. The federation expands access to social protection and health benefits, strengthens collective bargaining power, promotes safer working conditions, and creates a clear pathway for integrating informal waste workers into district waste management plans.

Perhaps most importantly, this initiative helps change the narrative—shifting the perception of waste pickers from being overlooked to being recognized as the essential environmental service providers they are.

At WORK, we're proud to stand alongside GAYO and our partners as we advocate for the dignity, inclusion, and economic opportunity that informal waste workers deserve. Together, we're building a more sustainable and equitable future.

07/30/2026

We're down to our final TWO spots.

This is your chance to take on one of the most rewarding endurance challenges in the country while making a global impact.

Join Team WORK at 29029 Everesting Stratton and climb the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest—all while helping families build brighter futures through dignified jobs.

⛰️ 2 spots left
📅 Register by August 20
💙 Make every climb count.

Ready to accept the challenge? DM us or email [email protected] today.

Know someone who loves a challenge? Share this post with a friend who should be on the mountain with us.

#29029

07/28/2026

Across Southeast Asia, our teams are continuing to invest in the health and safety of waste collection communities.

🇻🇳 In Viet nam, 47 participants joined our second Safety in Collection workshop. Local junk shop owners shared their appreciation for the continued support, safety programming, and personal protective equipment (PPE) provided through our partnership. By continuing to show up, we're building trust and creating lasting relationships that strengthen entire communities.

🇹🇭 In Thailand, our team also hosted a first aid workshop, equipping community members with practical skills and knowledge to respond confidently in emergency situations.

Creating safer working conditions goes beyond providing equipment—it's about empowering people with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive.

Together, we're investing in healthier, safer, and more resilient communities.

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Website

http://www.dowork.org/

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