TULSA, Okla. (CNN) – An Oklahoma t-shirt maker is tackling the problem of bullying and changing lives one shirt at a time.
“I saw first-hand at a donation how a simple shirt gave a child great self-esteem,” Tyson Baker, owner of Reach Clothing says.
Baker’s company gives away a shirt for every shirt it sells. This allows Baker to give away t-shirts at local schools. He says it’s his way of trying to stop kids from bullying one another.
“It started after I heard about a child who was being bullied for wearing the same shirt to school every day. And I admired the simple business model; buy one, give one,” Baker says.
The company’s name is Reach, short for Reach and be Reached.
He recently gave away 500 shirts to kids at Mark Twain Elementary School in Tulsa, along with the message to stop bullying. Many of the children took the message to heart.
“Every time those kids wear those shirts, it’s a tangible reminder of bullies and what not to do,” Mindy Tiner, of Neighbors Along the Line, says.
Baker has the support of many in the community because they see how he is impacting the lives of kids in the area.
“He makes a huge difference in the lives of everyone he helps with these shirts,” Tiner says.
Baker too suffered from bullying while growing up.
He says it was minor in comparison to what some kids go through, but he says it’s time for that to stop.
His goal is to take his company and message worldwide.
“One day, I want to help out one million children. That is my goal,” Baker says.
