U2 Key
U2 Key
U2 Key
The Giving Keys was founded by Caitlin Crosby, who had the idea to engrave her old hotel
room keys with uplifting words and wear them as a necklace. As compliments about the
necklaces came her way, she began selling them as merchandise at concerts. As the keys
began to sell out, Caitlin encouraged people to not only wear the keys, but also to pay them
forward as a gift of hope and inspiration. Her social media accounts were flooded with
messages about how or why people gave away their keys. Moved by what she read, she
started a website called thegivingkeys.com to publish the stories. Caitlin always wanted
The Giving Keys to give back and one night she found the missing link, when she had a
chance encounter with a homeless couple. She learned that the girl made jewellery, this
was the aha moment - the couple joined The Giving Keys team and began stamping keys.
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The Giving Keys employs individuals transitioning out of homelessness to create beautiful
and inspiring jewellery. Tell us more about The Giving Keys unique social model.
The Giving Keys hopes to inspire the world to pay it forward so we’ve intentionally built
that belief into how we do business. Our Pay It Forward mission is twofold. Each of our
products is stamped with an inspirational word like DREAM, CREATE or INSPIRE. The idea
is for customers to embrace the word on their necklace and then pay it forward by giving it
to a person who needs to hear the message. Paying it forward is the ripple effect that will
change the world.
Furthermore, every product that is purchased supports job creation and to date, The Giving
Keys has provided 70+ job opportunities. Revenue from selling the necklaces supports the
jobs that include stamping keys, assembling jewellery, customer service, packing and
fulfilling orders and working in our shop to produce in-store displays. These staff members
get referred to us by our non-profit partner Chrysalis, which is dedicated to creating a
pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the
support needed to find and retain employment. After working with us for 3-6 months in a
temporary position, those who are demonstrating commitment to their job and personal
growth ‘graduate’ into full-time, permanent Giving Keys team members.
My journey to this company was marked by an exceptional amount of serendipity. I first met
Caitlin, our founder, through mutual friends and we would often run into each other at
social events. Ever since I was 18, I always knew that I was going to do something that
fused fashion and philanthropy. One day, I got a text from Caitlin that she needed to hire a
new production manager, and was asking around for recommendations. I was working as a
buyer for a fashion website at the time but literally the same day Caitlin sent that text, my
employer laid off over half of the staff (I made it through the layoffs but knew it was a
sinking ship). I started at The Giving Keys a week later.
What does a day in the life as the president of The Giving Keys look like?
I oversee our leadership team of eight people who oversee the rest of our team of 70. I
spend most of my day connecting with the leadership team talking about strategic
decisions in all aspects of the business ranging from product development, digital strategy,
wholesale distribution, and marketing campaigns, to staffing and financial analysis. My
work weeks vary depending on the priorities within the organisation. One week may be all
about developing a financial model for a new initiative like launching our own retail and
another week may be focused on interviewing candidates for a new position.
The social impact industry is evolving so quickly! What consumer trends have you noticed
and what do you project going forward?
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It has been wonderful to see the evolution and expansion of the social impact industry
throughout the past few years. I hope that transparency in the supply chain and a
commitment to solving social issues through a for-profit business model becomes the
expectation rather than the exception. Consumers truly drive this change by how they use
their money, and more and more we are seeing consumers passionate about ensuring their
money is having a true impact.
This is what I want to commit my life to – for-profit business models that are impact-driven
because I believe they're the most sustainable. Businesses can impact major issues in
communities worldwide by holding themselves accountable to operate ethically.
aha moment She wanted to have a purpose for her business. She met a
homeless couple. She learned that the girl made jewellery. She
realised she had found the missing link: engage homeless people
and change lives.
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2. How come Brit Gilmore started working at The Giving Keys? (__/4)
(student’s own answer)
● She got to know Caitlin Crosby, the founder of the company through
mutual friends. They ran into each other at social events.
● She wanted to do something that combined fashion and philanthropy.
● Caitlin Crosby needed to hire a new production manager. She texted her
for recommendations.
● Brit’s employer was laying off staff. She left the company to start
working at The Giving Keys.
1. a Who are the people who get a job at The Giving Keys? (__/0,5)
Homeless and low-income individuals who need support to find and retain
employment. They are given the chance to earn money so they can become
self-sufficient.
c Which jobs do they have to do? Tick the appropriate boxes. (__/3)
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● The Giving Keys exists to employ those who are transitioning out of
homelessness.
3. Complete the text, using the correct future tense (Future Simple, Future
Continuous, Future Perfect, or Future Perfect Continuous).
In the not-so-distant future, my friend and I (1) will launch a groundbreaking startup that
(2) will revolutionize the self-care industry. Our mission (3) will be to introduce a line of
scented candles meticulously crafted to improve mental health and well-being. Our
commitment throughout the journey (4) will be to develop unique fragrances scientifically
proven to promote relaxation and emotional balance. This way, these candles (5) will not
only soothe the senses, but they (6) will also serve as powerful tools in promoting
emotional well-being.
As the venture progresses, (7) we will be engaging in extensive research, (8) collaborating
with aromatherapy experts, and continually (9) refining our product line to stay at the
forefront of innovation. I imagine that the journey (10) will involve creating an immersive
experience for customers, where they (11) will be able to make customized scents based on
their mental health needs.
Fast-forward to the fifth anniversary of our startup, we (12) will have established ourselves
as a leader in the market, and we (13) will have gained a dedicated customer base. The
commitment to ongoing research and innovation (14) will have been the driving force
behind the company’s growth, ensuring that our candles (15) will have evolved with the
ever-changing landscape of mental health awareness and needs.
In summary, the future unfolds as a narrative of innovation and impact, where our startup
(16) will not only transform the self-care market but als (17) will have become a catalyst
for positive change in mental health practices, utilizing scented candles as a therapeutic
tool for improved well-being. With this idea in mind, we hope that calming scents (18) will
become an integral part of daily routines, contributing to sustained mental wellness.
All this is just a future dream for now, but this summer we (19) will have been working on
the business plan for more than a year. By September we (20) will have received the green
light and we (21) will drop our first line of autumn scented candles. If all goes to plan, by
next december we (22) will have created our Holiday scents, just in time for Christmas.
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4. Replace the underlined words and phrases by words from the article.
Inspired by a New York hotel key, singer Caitlin Crosby began 1 merchandise
making jewellery with inspirational words stamped on vintage
2 embrace
keys. She started selling them at her table with (1)
commercial goods during her concerts. Her pass-it-on concept 3 founded
where she encouraged people to (2) accept the engraved 4 social enterprise
message with interest and enthusiasm but then give the key
5 ripple effect
to someone else if they needed it more, worked.
6 revenue
Soon she (3) started The Giving Keys, a (4) business that
employs people and tries to solve issues in society. One goal 7 had an ‘aha’-moment
was to create a (5) chain reaction of kindness and 8 thriving
person-to-person interactions. Moreover, Caitlin Crosby
9 hired
wanted (6) the income from business activities to go to charity
and she (7) suddenly found the inspiration when meeting a 10 temporary position
homeless couple. 11 Committed
Since then, The Giving Keys has not only created a (8) very 12 retain
successful line of inspirational products, but has also (9)
13 staff
employed many homeless people. First, these people get a
(10) job for a limited period of time. (11) Responsible and 14 president
loyal workers may (12) keep employment and become 15 oversees
permanent members of the (13) team.
16 wholesale
Brit Gilmore, who is (14) the person in charge of the business,
17 retail
is passionate about job creation for breaking cycles of poverty.
She (15) supervises the leadership team, which discusses
issues around both (16) selling large quantities of goods to
shops and (17) selling goods to the public in shops.