At (DE-FI), giving back to our community isn’t a campaign or an attention grab; it’s a cornerstone. From the moment we opened our doors, we’ve stood on one unwavering belief: fashion is more than an art form or industry. It’s a powerful platform for human connection, restoration, and real impact. That belief lives at the heart of (DE-FI) Gives Back, our community engagement initiative dedicated to building lives, strengthening families, and serving those too often left behind.
As a volunteer-based organization, we’ve never required payment to access our programs. Instead, we ask our models, designers, and creatives to join us in service volunteering a minimum of 40 hours each year within their own communities. This shared commitment turns fashion into a force for good, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the runway.
Through our broader outreach arm, (DE-FI) Gives Back with the support of Our Village has:
- Built homes for families in need through Habitat for Humanity.
- Led bone marrow drives with Be the Match, offering hope to patients in need of lifesaving transplants.
- Supported re-entry and recovery programs, helping individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and access to workforce development.
- Partnered with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department to create and maintain a community garden offering fresh food, therapeutic space, and connection.
- Organized supply drives after the Dayton tornadoes, delivering critical relief and comfort in times of crisis.
- Uplifted grassroots organizations and community-led initiatives, helping them connect, collaborate, and grow.
- Led food, holiday, and school supply drives across the Miami Valley, ensuring families are supported all year long.
- Strengthened trust between underserved communities and law enforcement by supporting events centered on mutual respect and understanding.
- And so much more.
But our work doesn’t end there.
Through mentorship, community dialogue, and hands-on outreach, we’ve helped instill self-worth, purpose, and resilience in youth. We’ve fed and clothed thousands, raised funds for families battling illness, and extended hope without ever seeking the spotlight.
Our outreach is not performative. It’s personal. We don’t give for applause. We give because it’s what love does.
As we look toward the future, (DE-FI) Gives Back will remain a driving force behind everything we do, a living, breathing promise that wherever fashion lives, so does community.
Because at (DE-FI), we’re not just building careers. We’re building something far more powerful: a village rooted in compassion, purpose, and collective strength. We are (DE-FI) Global INC, we are the village, and we will always give back.
