Diana Polack is the Founder and Chief Change Officer of ArtWare for Good, the organization she started over 25 years ago to fulfill a need for fundraisers to support art departments in public schools. (If you have children, you may remember the mugs, T-shirts and note cards that proudly carried your child’s artwork and helped fund arts education in the school.  I still cherish my kids’ mugs!!)

ArtWare has grown into a unique assembly of art-based initiatives that tap into the creativity of children and adults alike, building pride and self-esteem, while accomplishing important goals. ArtWare works primarily with corporations to engage employees in corporate team building and philanthropy; and with non-profits to raise funds, create awareness and thank donors.

Diana continues to expand ArtWare’s scope into an organization that supports both domestic and international efforts to improve the lives of women and child through the universal language of art. “ArtWare gathers people together to get creative and do social good,” she says.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME 

Diana started ArtWare around her kitchen table as a father/daughter project for a community organization. “We made personalized T-shirts for the organizations’ members----very novel 25+ years ago.” “I saw the girls’ faces light up when they saw their shirts,” she says. “And I knew then that I was on to something.”  “Every important initiative in my life began with a feeling in my gut,” she shares.  “It was, ‘Oh my god,’ I have to do that.”

As with many start-ups, in order to save money to invest in other business needs, Diana turned her home into a management and production operation, employing over eight people at one time.  “One room was devoted to management and administration,” she says, “and the kitchen was production.” After a while though, the local building department took a dim view of her neighborhood business and put the kybosh on it.  Diana initially rented space locally to stay close to her children and her home. Listen as she shares why this was so important to her as a female entrepreneur

INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS

Diana is a firm believer that in business, “You need to spend money to make money.” Find out why she thinks small business owners need to invest in their businesses, and what those investments must be. 

She faced financial challenges when launching ArtWare and shares what she had to do to overcome them. 

Marketing is one of the most important things a small business needs to do, Diana believes.  “Keep that marketing going all the time,” she says to the small business owner. “It’s all about outflow and inflow,” she teases.  Curious?  Diana explains all in this episode. 

“IT’S NOT HOW MUCH WE GIVE BUT HOW MUCH LOVE WE PUT IN GIVING” 

For Diana, this quote from Mother Teresa sums up ArtWare’s mission and Diana’s personal philosophy around the work she does.  “If you feel passionately about what you are doing, and can combine this with skills and enthusiasm,” she says encouragingly, “your energy will be infectious.” 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WHILE MAKING MONEY -- WORDS OF WISDOM FOR IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS 

Can you make a difference and earn a good living?  For Diana, you can do good and earn well. “It’s OK to make money, to charge for your services,” says Diana. She believes that the more money you make, the more you can create change in the world. “The bigger you get,” she says, “the greater impact you can have – so keep putting it out there.” 

To learn more about ArtWare for Good and Diana:

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