Giving Tuesday is finally here! You may have noticed we’re not big on Black Friday, but we’re always on board for any opportunity to support women, which is why we’re taking our giveback initiative a little bit further this year. In the Thinx Inc. office, this week is just one *very extended* Giving Tuesday. Through Sunday, December 3rd, we’re donating $5 from every pair of undies sold to our partners at Fistula Foundation,* who fund life-changing surgeries for women all around the world.

In the U.S., most people have no idea what obstetric fistula is (myself included until just a few months ago), or how having fistula can dramatically impact women’s lives. Put simply, an obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that causes incontinence, and it’s usually the result of prolonged or difficult childbirth. For something so unfamiliar to so many of us, it’s shockingly common: an estimated one million women suffer from fistula worldwide. So why haven’t you heard of it before?

Who is affected by fistula

Fistula *does* happen in the U.S., but it’s most common in under-resourced countries, where women don’t have easy access (or, in some cases, any access) to medical care. The fix for fistula isn’t difficult, but the childbirth complications that cause it can be life threatening, and the harsh reality is that many women with fistula are banished from their villages or disowned by family. Without treatment, their lives can quickly become isolated, but through the support of organizations like Fistula Foundation, women can fully recover with a simple surgery.

How your donations help

Last year alone, you funded 157 surgeries. This year, your purchases will fund 170 surgeries in regions where they’re needed most. Fistula Foundation supports the efforts of people like Dr. Denis Mukwege, who recently won the Nobel Peace Prize (yes, that Nobel prize) for his work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where his practice is devoted to restoring women to health after childbirth, sexual violence, and other causes of fistula.

Through our partnership (going three years strong!), we’re able to directly support women suffering from fistula and connect them with the medical care they need and deserve. Our Giveback Manager, Laura Blackburn, says it best: “We've seen how a simple surgery can help restore a sense of normalcy for women who have lived with obstetric fistula — and beyond that, open up new opportunities for them to thrive within their communities. We're honored to pay it forward to Fistula Foundation to make an impact that matters."

Every pair of underwear sold stacks up to a huge difference in the lives of so many. We’re excited to share our annual giveback report with you in January, so you can see exactly what your support has made possible.

On behalf of the entire team, thank you for helping us support women around the world. We couldn’t do it without you!

*total donation of up to $40,000

Posted: July 31, 2019