Every basket sold by The Blessing Basket Project tells a story. And according to Theresa Wilson, founder of the project which works to reduce poverty in developing countries by paying “prosperity wages” for artisan products, each basket’s story can be traced back to Washington University in St. Louis.
The Blessing Basket Project’s “World Changer” award was presented to Washington University Sept. 25 and accepted by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. “The award was created in 2007 to honor those who have gone above and beyond the call to help the organization accomplish amazing things,” Wilson says.
“Under the Chancellor’s leadership and promotion of entrepreneurship, we were able to access students and professors from many disciplines to help us turn The Blessing Basket idea into a viable nonprofit,” Wilson says. “Having access to great minds, connections and the experience of people at Washington University was invaluable to the success of our organization.”
In accepting the award on behalf of the university, Wrighton said, “Washington University is thrilled to see the progress of The Blessing Basket Project, and we are proud to have played a small role in the success so ably led by Theresa Wilson that benefits so many around the world.”
In 2003, Olin PMBA student Shelby Gadberry Shire introduced Wilson to Ken Harrington, managing director of the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, and Wilson began working with a team of students to create a business plan.
The Blessing Basket Project entered the Olin Cup competition and won $20,000. Impressed by the project, former WUSTL trustee and benefactor Bob Skandalaris also helped fund the project. The Skandalaris Family Foundation is credited as the founding sponsor of The Blessing Basket Project.
“From our first meeting, Theresa impressed me with her passion for the women she was serving, her skills and determination,” Harrington says. “She inspired us when we were launching curricular and co-curricular initiatives in social entrepreneurship.
“Our partnership has enabled Washington University students to study and make real contributions to the sustainability of the community and environment in Madagascar,” Harrington says.
The Blessing Basket Project’s work in Madagascar is the result of another WUSTL connection with Charles McManis, PhD, the Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law, who was working with the Missouri Botanical Garden on intellectual property issues on a project in the island nation off the eastern coast of Africa.
From the collaboration between the garden, the university and Wilson, a multidiscipline course was launched with the support of the Skandalaris Center, Judi McLean Parks, PhD, the Taylor Professor of Organizational Behavior at Olin, David Deal, JD, lecturer at the law school and Frank Oros, associate professor of art at the Sam Fox school. The course culminates in student designed projects and a trip to Madagascar each year.
Today, The Blessing Basket Project works with three thousand artisans in Ghana, Uganda, Bangladesh and Madagascar. Their products are sold online and in retail stores such as Whole Foods Markets throughout the United States.
By paying higher than fair trade wages for their products, the project encourages artisans to create their own small businesses which in turn result in several independent streams of income creating sustainable financial independence from the project.