BIO

Teresa Gilli, Founder

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

I've believed that since I was a kid. I've also believed this: if you say you give back, you should be able to prove it.

I'm Teresa Gilli, founder of Wear What You Stand For. I've worked in the nonprofit world for over 20 years. I've also lived it.

These Aren't Just Causes to Me

I've battled depression and anxiety
I've lost family to addiction and suicide.
I've held friends through cancer and domestic violence.
I've sat in grief support groups wondering if anyone else understood.
I've watched a child with autism get bullied and felt helpless.
I know pets are family — and sometimes the only support someone has.

So many struggles are carried quietly. I built this to make them visible.

Why I Started This

I was tired of buying "awareness" shirts where no one could tell me where the money went.

"Portion of proceeds" to mental health? Which org? How much? When?

If you can't name the nonprofit, show the EIN, and post the receipt, it's not giving. It's marketing.

So I made the rule simple: $3 from every shirt goes directly to a vetted 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner. We donate quarterly. We post receipts. No overhead. No "awareness campaigns." Just resources.

What We Fund

May 2026 Featured Partner: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) EIN 43-1201653

We support 12 causes total. Every collection funds one of these partners:

Cause

Partner

Mental Health

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Addiction

Shatterproof

Suicide Prevention

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Cancer

American Cancer Society

Autism

Autism Society of America

Veterans

Wounded Warrior Project

Domestic Violence

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

And more

Vetted 501(c)(3) partners

Your $3 funds real help: Support groups. Crisis text lines. Wigs for alopecia patients. Gas cards for chemo appointments. Not "awareness." Help.

This Isn't Just a Store

What started as an idea became a mission: Use apparel to start conversations that save lives.

If my Dad had seen one person wearing "It's OK to ask for help" on his worst day, maybe he'd still be here.

That's why we exist. So someone sees your shirt at the grocery store, in the school pickup line, at the doctor's office — and knows they're not alone for 10 seconds.

And if your $3 helps fund the resource they need next, that's worth everything.

Where We're Going

I hope to grow this platform so we can:

  • Fund more partners — 12 today, more as we grow
  • Reach more people — Because everyone knows someone fighting quietly
  • Give back with receipts — So you never wonder where the money went

This is a community built on compassion, action, and the belief that $3 + one conversation can change a life.

Have a cause you want to see? Have an idea for a design?
Email me: info@wearwhatyoustandforproducts.com

I read every email. Your story might be the next shirt that helps someone.

Teresa Gilli

© 2026 Wear What You Stand For Products LLC