At the start of each year, we like to share Prosperity Candle’s impact. It’s a moment to appreciate everything this community does and what our customers make possible, both locally and for refugee families around the world.
This year, we’re expanding on that tradition. You may have noticed we’ve been a bit more vocal on our blog... thank you for your supportive comments. We recognize that another space tinged with politics is not what anyone needs, and that by expressing our views we risk undermining our mission.
But staying silent doesn’t feel right either, especially when policies we oppose so directly impact Prosperity Candle’s artisans and the reason we exist.
So, here we go…
In 2025, we made 27,208 handcrafted candles and gift sets in our sunlit, energy-efficient studio that has reduced our environmental impact over the past 2 years by 76.6%. This not only supports B Corp certification for sustainability, it’s one of our long-term goals and something we’re super excited about.
To date we’ve paid over $1.3 million in living wages to women artisans relocated to the U.S. from refugee camps after escaping persecution and loss, and donated $116,765 to organizations providing medical support to refugee families around the world. We’ve trained women from Iraq, Haiti, Myanmar, Bhutan and The Congo in candle-making and entrepreneurship skills.
When called upon by the suffering of American families both during the pandemic and this year's shutdown with the callous reduction in food assistance to low-income families, we’ve helped provide over 83,000 meals through food banks across the country.
There’s also the impact we’ve highlighted previously – from loans to female artisans to fair trade purchases and hours volunteered. But now we've added something new. With the Voting Rights Act of 1965 under attack, we donated to Vote.org, a nonpartisan organization focused on removing barriers to the ballot box.
And in October, in response to the appaling actions of ICE and Homeland Security, we donated 10% of sales to the ACLU to help protect everyone’s rights and freedoms, and joined 7 million Americans of all stripes in No Kings protests across the country. If you did as well, you know what an incredibly inspiring day that was.
Which brings us to the year ahead... how are you feeling?
Probably the same as we are, some days are better than others, but cautiously optimistic that voters, courts and elected representatives will finally begin to reign in this administration. Maybe, just maybe, our voices are at last being heard.
If so, then John Stewart’s words, spoken before the November election results that sent a clear message of change, were well founded: "I will always believe that the odds are in our favor. Always."
Here's to brighter 2026 for you, your family and friends, this country and the world. We wish you peace, health and innumerable moments of joy. We are so grateful for your support, and look forward to making beautiful candles for you.
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If you are curious what "a bit more vocal" means, here are a few notable 2025 posts:
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