Like most Americans, the Hajduk family is grateful for the safety and service military personnel provide.
“Veterans causes and military support is something that’s very near and dear to me and [my wife] Cindy personally,” said Andrew Hajduk, owner of Vox-pop-uli, a Peachtree Corners marketing production company. “As parents, and business owners, my family is [tied to the] military.”
Both Hajduk’s father and his older son Daniel, who is also the company’s client development manager, are veterans. Daniel Hajduk served in the Navy. His younger son, Steven is currently serving in the Navy on board the USS Carl Vinson.
“I think that we’ve gotten away from pride in military service and things like that,” said Hajduk. “But now I think it’s coming back.”
With the remnants of the COVID pandemic finally disappearing, he said he’s noticing more companies bringing people back to work.
“Companies are working on their brand and finding their identity, and we really wanted to help them support their causes,” he said. “We live in a great country, and we don’t do nearly enough to recognize these men and women [in the military]. We just wanted to raise awareness for those kids that are out there serving.”
Red Shirt Friday
While Vox-pop-uli was doing business with Aaron’s, it realized the rent-to-own retailer was participating in a national program called “Red Shirt Friday.” It’s a day of recognition for the brave individuals who serve in the military, according to RedShirtFriday.com.
The acronym R.E.D., which stands for Remembering Everyone Deployed (or Remember Everyone Deployed), was created to remind people of the heroes overseas and show that those back home are thinking of them.
“Now we do Red Shirt Friday, and there are lots of other companies out there that do it,” said Hajduk. “We’ve had people ask us over the years why we’re all wearing red — so we’ve explained it.”
Since the company adds custom designs to just about every type of product, some clients started asking for an American flag to be added to the backs, and sometimes the sleeves, of their custom apparel. That sparked an idea for Vox-pop-uli.
Initiative for local, national veteran support
With clients seeking ways to be a part of the movement, Vox-pop-uli launched a new program in November.
“We’re on a mission to raise $1 million in ten years for veteran support groups,” said Hajduk. “And we found in talking to people that there are a lot of local military support groups out there.”
Called The RED Collection, for every item purchased — from their selection of shirts, jackets, mugs and hats — Vox-pop-uli will donate $5 directly to support veterans. An American flag can also be added to the left sleeve of the garments.
Many smaller veterans groups in communities like Peachtree Corners don’t always have the resources or level of awareness that groups like Wounded Warriors, Tunnel to Towers, the Gary Sinise Foundation and other well-known national charities have.
“They’re all great causes, but we’ve got so many guys in our community that those groups don’t always reach,” said Hajduk.
Helping companies, helping causes
He mentioned a group in South Georgia that’s part of the Wake for Warriors organization. On weekends, volunteers throughout the country take disabled veterans that were wounded in service out onto local lakes for a day of fun and healing.
“They’ve got all the wakeboards and stuff like that equipped for these guys that have lost limbs and things … ,” he said. “We’re trying to help other causes like that.”
Companies are donating a portion of the sales for the “red shirt” products to the charities of their choice. And Vox-pop-uli is donating its profits from those items to military-based nonprofits as well.
“As we’ve done this, we have found there’s a huge calling or need that companies want to find their purpose,” he said.
Once the decision is made to get involved, Vox-pop-uli is there to help companies get started in the process.
Every good cause needs funding
The idea is so easy for the company to execute that Vox isn’t limiting the help to just giving to military-based services.
“We’re working with people to get involved with their pet projects. No pun intended, but maybe it’s a local animal shelter,” said Hajduk.
He mentioned a company that has a foundation where half of the money goes to scholarships and half of the money goes to disaster relief.
“They’re a nationwide retailer with 330 stores. They have a ton of employees in Florida that last year got rocked with hurricanes,” he said. “They were able to give back to the associates in their member companies to get them back on their feet.”
In that case, the company is branding on the sleeve of the shirt so that it still has the company name on there.
“It’s still great workwear and stuff, but they’re also taking a portion of the sales, and we’re giving on it as well,” said Hajduk. “We had one client present a check to its board of directors of the foundation for $4,800.”
With that one client alone, Vox-pop-uli will probably exceed the goal of raising $1 million in ten years. Hajduk said he’d be happy to modify it.