With ME to WE’s primary function to support the mission and operating costs incurred by its partner, WE Charity, the two organizations operate separately, as required to follow Canadian Revenue Agency rules, in a structure established by Torys and Miller Thompson. In order to ensure proper governance, financial accountability and overwhelming benefit to WE Charity, ME to WE has been reviewed by relevant government agencies (including the Ontario Public Guardian Trustee) and external experts (auditors, Board of Directors and a former Justice of The Supreme Court of Canada). ME to WE’s socially responsible practices and supply chains have undergone independent reviews by groups such as B Labs, Mission Measurement and the Fairtrade Foundation. Mission Measurement’s 2018 review stated that ME to WE is: “not only operating within established industry guidelines and practices, but based on our market research and analysis of peer social enterprises, it may well be setting the industry standard globally for best practices in the field of social entrepreneurship.”

Today, we have partnerships with thousands of women in Kenya, and more recently in Ecuador, where they have access to entrepreneurship workshops, small business training and mentorship from expert local artisans. Our design team collaborates with the artisans to create a mix of modern and traditional designs at our atelier. Roxanne’s vision has paved the way for these women in building a brighter future, not just for them and their families but for generations to come. In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Roxanne was honored with the Order of Canada in May 2017.