Update, 11/30/2016, 11:20 AM: Sales of the map netted $4,275 for nonprofits in Philly.
If you haven’t noticed by being hit over the head with ads and promos, hello, it’s gift-buying time. There’s really no escape from the commercialism of the holiday season, but what if you could combine Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday into one single purchase that also expressed your love for Philadelphia?
Emma Fried-Cassorla is here to help. You might know her as the founder of Philly Love Notes — if you haven’t read the assorted love letters to the city she elicited from hundreds of Philadelphians, you’ve probably seen her incredible sunset shots on Instagram, or followed the #whyilovephilly hashtag, which she helped make into a thing.
She also makes maps. Really cool maps. Hand-cut from either paper or wood, they turn snippets of Philly’s street grid into unique wall art. You can have one custom made, with a heart to mark your house, for example, or maybe the spot you got engaged. The maps start at $50 and go up from there. There’s also an option to get the map turned into etched glass (those start at $75).
And from now through the end of Tuesday, Nov. 29, she’s donating all profits from all map sales to Philadelphia nonprofits.
“I love this city and I hate what’s going on post-election, so I’m attempting to fight with my wallet,” Fried-Cassorla said.
She’s pulled together a list of seven varied local organizations to receive the donations, which you can read about in more detail on her blog: The Sunday Breakfast Mission, Fairmount Park Conservancy, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, BlackStar Film Festival, People’s Emergency Center and the Asian Arts Initiative. Order a map on Etsy by Tuesday night and you’ll automatically be supporting these great local causes.
This time of year is already good for map sales, Fried-Cassorla notes, so she’s sure she’ll be able to make some kind of donation. But she wants more.
“I want to be able to give a shit-ton of donations on Tuesday night,” she said, “and work my ass off making maps through the holidays.”
