As we are fast approaching Pinnovate’s first birthday we are doing a bit of personal inventory and reflection about how we made it to this milestone. It is a huge undertaking to open a business but more importantly, it takes A LOT of people to do so and be successful. One of the things we pride ourselves on is our commitment to our community and surrounding areas, our ability to give back in small ways to charities, and partnering with other local businesses to support one another.
If you didn’t know, Pinnovate is located in Mahogany in Calgary’s deep S.E. surrounded by other great neighbourhoods like Auburn Bay, Cranston, Mckenzie Towne/Lake…the list goes on. Situating ourselves in the heart of such strong communities allows us to connect with so many different people, families and friends. When there is tragedy in Auburn Bay, families band together to support and raise up our neighbours, we contribute to fundraising efforts to support school playground construction. Pinnovate even teamed up with Local Laundry, a Calgary based clothing company, to design and create a shirt specific for Auburn Bay as a way of recognizing our surroundings. Local Laundry has been inspirational partner to our team, donating 10% of all of their profits to Calgary charities.
On May 6 we have been invited to participate in Mahogany’s Community Spring Celebration Event. We are so honoured to be a part of creating a long lasting art piece for the Mahogany Beach Club! Being in the suburbs offers us many opportunities to build relationships with our neighbours and families. We know that parents find trust in us, and their community, which is empowering to our children as they grow up in a strong, supported environment. It almost takes you back to a time where you could ride your bikes to the local corner store or to your friends house! Our Littles’ Art University classes attract so many local children from Mahogany and neighbouring communities and it really warms our heart to see them independently come to class.
We have also hosted different events in our studio such as the ladies of Mahogany and Auburn Bay, where proceeds from their events were donated to local organizations like Inn from the Cold, Children’s Cottage and The Drop-in Centre. It is definitely our mission to be able to give back to those less fortunate in any way we can.
We are so proud to be a part of S.E. Calgary and these wonderful communities! At Pinnovate we want to be a safe and engaging place to come where you can not only learn, but relax and play. We would love to be able to expand to other quadrants of the city where we can make an impact and garner the love and support and hopefully make a difference. We hope to see you soon!