Logo story, the summer of 2007

One day, Jeanine Lobell—the visionary behind Stila Cosmetics and a true fashion icon—remarked that our old logo looked like an American football. When someone with her creative eye speaks, you listen. She graciously offered, “I have a designer doing some work for me; I’ll donate the design costs.”

That’s how I met Suzie Mendive (SUM), over a casual coffee. As we spoke, I shared the story of how I once ran—one shoe on, one foot barefoot—along the African shoreline on December 29, 1999, in a desperate bid to save my life. I told Suzie, only half-joking, “Design anything you like—just not the African continent or the toes of a foot!”

A week later, Suzie returned to present her concept. Around the table were Jeanine, a few of her well-known friends, her husband, and my longtime friend, actor Anthony Edwards (“Goose”). Suzie opened her MacBook and said, “I know you told me not to… but it just looked too good not to try.” So, as of 2007, we have used this as our logo.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery—and it seems we’ve been flattered! After a conversation with another U.S. charity working nearby in Kenya, we noticed that elements of our work have been closely mirrored. We’re taking it as a compliment—proof that what we’re doing is making an impact and inspiring other charities. (solehope.org)

A nice variation, by the highly talented Tom Daly of District Vision, places the logo inside the wording.  See the listing at our Manhattan 5K

Below is the original 2000 to 2006 logo.