- November 23, 2024
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Pandora’s Paradise Club is a credit card-like rewards system that benefits local charities.
When the economy collapsed, Denise Baraka Lawrence began selling inspirational teas. On each label, she would print a positive attribute about women, to enforce the idea that “women are powerful and empowered — even in tough times.”
Along with developing organic skin-care products and showcasing local artists, Lawrence had big plans. Of all of her sales through her new company, Pandora’s Pantry.com, she would donate 10% to charity. And she envisioned this going worldwide: a homegrown business with a positive message and a real community presence.
But her product was not global.
After hooking up with the company Help Worldwide, however, Lawrence saw an opportunity to realize her vision. Instead of focusing on one or two products, she joined a network of retailers who would contribute referral dollars on their sales.
With that, Pandora’s Paradise Club, a virtual network that “rides the global financial rails” — meaning it works like a credit card and can be swiped at any terminal worldwide — launched April 4. The platform is host to 82,000 merchants and counting. Lawrence is also working with the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates to sign on local shops and charities.
By Dec. 12, she aims to have donated $1 billion through the program.
“I’m really in the love business,” Lawrence said. “But I’m also a businesswoman. So you have to develop both.”
Through Pandora’s Paradise Club, shoppers earn cash-back rewards up to 25% on all of their purchases at participating retailers. Rewards are then split: 50% is donated to a charity of the shopper’s choice, and the other 50% can then be kept or donated, as well, to up to three different charities.
To join, members pay an annual fee of $25. Merchants are promoted through the network. And nonprofits participate free.
“It seems like it defies gravity but it doesn’t,” Lawrence said of the system. “It’s a local community fundraising tool. Supporters shop. Charities win. Money stays in the community. Merchants earn customer loyalty. That’s what makes it so special.”
Headquartered in Palm Coast, Pandora’s Paradise Club offers participants the opportunity to suggest any charity to which to donate. They also receive shopping discounts (pharmacies offer discounts up to 80%) and a choice of free gift.
“If someone has this membership card, they can be on food stamps and still be a philanthropist,” she added.
To some, raising $1 billion in less than a year may seem unrealistic. But to Lawrence, it’s attainable, because it will be accomplished through global participation.
“That’s what the power of participation really does,” she said. “It’s not really hard to make that happen when we put our powers of participation together.”
Visit www.pandoraspantry.com.
