You probably have heard of Tianello’s Soul of Africa collection, a special line of clothing intended to raise money for women and orphans affected by the AIDS virus. Since joining this program, Tianello has already contributed a great deal of resources, and since its creation the program as a whole has contributed more than $2 million this year to be distributed to facilities like child care centers and housing. The project currently employs 80 previously unskilled African women and has grown enough to earn double the money raised last year. Steve Barraza, Tianello CEO knows how much Tianello and its customers can contribute to this already successful and well organized program. “With the marriage of Tianello and Soul of Africa, I see the potential for this program to be huge,” he said in a recent interview, “We hope that you appreciate our efforts, share our vision and help us in any way that you can.” While many charity programs unfortunately fail due to lack of organization and planning, Soul of Africa is not one of these organizations. The Khulani Children’s Home, the Shepard’s Keep adoption agency, and many Child Development Care Centers (CDCC) have received funding from SoA, and more facilities are being built or enhanced with SoA funds. According to UNAIDS statistics, the death rate of adults has quadrupled since 1985, and an estimated 947 people die in South America alone, with 1443 new HIV infections every day. The SoA estimates about 1000 new orphans being created everyday, each one in dire need of help from organizations like this.

With more and more pieces of Soul of Africa clothing becoming available, it is hard not to help out. Tianello is designing some of its best articles of clothing specifically for the Soul of Africa line, and 8% of each purchase you make, be it online or in a store, goes to this program. With Tianello’s clothing, and the shoe collection already available, the potential is indeed huge. Tianello needs you to show the support this program so well deserves.  Steve Barraza, along with the other major driving forces behind this program will be speaking at the upcoming 2008 International Rotary Convention in an effort to drum up even more support, and to announce Tianello’s role in the project.