Members of UTC’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter raise funds for Noah Phillips during their Philanthropy Week.In founding new local startup apparel company the Moccasin Bend Company, North Chattanooga resident Joshua Carlile wants to build on the unique brand the city has created for itself, as well as to continue to improve the city by supporting local nonprofits through the business.
Each month, he plans to donate 10 percent of the business’s earnings to a local organization that helps make Chattanooga a better place, he said.
“I just love to give back in everything I do,” said Carlile. “I didn’t know what my first shirt was going to look like before I knew I was going to give back.”
The first cause sponsored by the business is raising funds for local 5-year-old Noah Phillips, who received an early diagnosis of autism, to help him get a service dog. Noah’s father, Skylar Phillips, serves the community as a lieutenant in the Chattanooga Fire Department.
In partnership with the Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter – for which Carlile serves as the public relations chairman, and which chose to support Noah through its annual weeklong philanthropic event held April 2-9 – Moccasin Bend has helped raised more than $14,000 for Noah. The goal is $28,000.
On April 9, members of Pi Kappa Alpha and the Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association and representatives from Moccasin Bend Company held an event at the UTC intramural fields to help support the cause. It was the first weekend of sales for Moccasin Bend Company, which has agreed to donate 50 percent of all profits through the end of April to help meet the goal for Noah, said Carlile.
“It’s incredible to see the amount of impact we’ve been able to have after just a week,” he said.
Moccasin Bend is looking for more causes to support. The business is currently accepting nominations of area nonprofits that improve life in the city to sponsor in the coming months. Nominations can be submitted online at moccasinbendcompany.com.
Another aspect of Carlile’s business philosophy is to buy materials locally, from within a 15-mile radius of the city center, he said.
“I want to create a Chattanooga brand for the Chattanooga lifestyle,” said Carlile, whose unisex apparel line currently includes four T-shirts and two tank tops. “Our local community loves local innovation, and we want to do everything we can to represent that brand that we have here.”
He said his plan is to eventually expand his offerings beyond just clothing. He is unsure exactly where it will go, but one thing he’s certain of is that he’ll continue to contribute a portion of his profits to benefit his community.
For more information on Moccasin Bend Company or to shop the collection, visit moccasinbendcompany.com. To find out more about Noah’s cause or to make a contribution, visit utcpikes.com/philanthropy.html.