“ We grew up in the tradition of community service with the Jesuits. I don’t need to get over the hurdle


of why to do it. It’s more about how to be effective.” —DEREK VARONA (BA ‘07, MSA ‘08)


So far, BowTie Cause has 62 partners and


has produced 46 bow ties, for causes from leukemia and lymphoma to Cincinnati Public Radio to Immaculate Conception School in Chicago. In 2011, they sold about 7,000 bow ties. In January of 2012 alone, they sold 2,300. “It’s unbelievable to look at the traction


we’re starting to get,” says Morris. “Not only from partners who want to design a bow tie, but I get easily five or six e-mails per day from individuals who want to buy a bow tie because they have a personal connection to a cause. It’s neat to see it blooming like that.” The four are careful to point out that


wearing the bow tie is not an empty gesture, and not just a way to express vague support for a cause. The ties are designed with fairly abstract patterns, and pointedly don’t include logos or names of organizations. “We want people to ask questions,” says


FROM PAGE 15


I thought, ‘Who are these guys that care this much about their cause?’ And it turns out it was the same guys that had just e-mailed me.” Williamson asked the guys to put together a


proposal about what they could offer. “We said, ‘We want to bring your organization


to Chicago, using skills we’ve learned at Deloitte and leveraging networks with Loyola,’” says Varona. Williamson was impressed. Although the foursome started by attending


galas, Tweeting photos, and helping to build the image of the organization, they have come to play a larger role in the BowTie Cause. Whereas Williamson’s background is in social work, the business acumen of Morris, Varona, Ledesma, and Sullivan has helped the organization to expand. They manage partnerships with other organizations that are interested in a bow tie, from pricing models to design, timing, shipping, and packaging.


Sullivan. “That’s the real value—not as a fund- raising tool, but as a reason to tell the story.” “We don’t put bow ties on and then not talk


about it,” says Morris. As rewarding as the four find their involve-


ment in BowTie Cause, they admit that it’s time-consuming. “We’re accountants at Deloitte and a law


student,” says Ledesma. “We put in time before work, after work, or during lunch. Our Saturday might be spent at an event or planning.” “Although it can be done,” says Morris. “Na-


than [who is training for a marathon] has been known to bust a move Saturday night and then get up Sunday morning and run 18 miles.” “I run Saturday or Sunday, and sometimes I


don’t know if I’m sore from dancing all night or training,” Ledesma agrees. Every Tuesday morning, they have a 7 a.m.


conference call, each of them plugging in from wherever they are in the country to hash out what’s going on the rest of the week. Varona recently transferred to a Deloitte office in Miami, so he is helping to get BowTie Cause off


the ground there. “It’s about being organized, and then being


more organized,” says Sullivan. It’s also about constant communication. “We share docs back and forth so we can


edit while we’re talking, from wherever we are,” says Morris. “Plus, we know each other really well, so I’m comfortable calling Derek, saying ‘Find out this answer,’ and then hang- ing up. We don’t need to talk any more than that, and he’ll send me an e-mail. It’s helpful to be able to communicate that efficiently.” From its casual origins, the cause has grown


to become an integrated part of the four- some’s professional and personal lives. “We had lunch over the summer and said, if


we’re going to get serious, we need to be able to push each other and not be afraid to call each other out if something’s done incorrect- ly,” says Ledesma. “We had to figure out how to say so without hurting anyone’s feelings. We’re friends first, and business associates after that. That’s sometimes a tough line to cross. At the end of the day, we want to look out for each other, but we all understand what this means to us.” In other words, it’s not worth doing if they


don’t do it right. “If we’re not organized, detailed and able to


communicate, then we are not effective, and our partner’s stories never get told. And if our partner’s stories aren’t getting told, there’s no reason for doing this,” says Morris. They four do see themselves benefitting


on a personal level as well. They’re gaining valuable organizational experience as well as expanding their networks and their resumes. They all express genuine delight at being able to help their wide variety of partners bring visibility to their causes. And they get to do it in style.


Visit BowTieCause.org.


SPRING 2012


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