Sixteen-year-old Syed Ashraf is no ordinary teen. Syed founded and runs the online business Livwell Trendz.
After a year of being indoors playing video games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Syed was tired of the routine. Early in 2021, he approached his parents with a request. He wanted to make money for his college education and to help families in need.
Syed’s parents were impressed and proud of their son’s desire to work and help others. They brainstormed several ideas and finally settled on one that Syed liked. Syed established an online business buying a few items from a clothing manufacturer and selling on eBay. To their surprise, Syed made a $300 profit in the first month. They witnessed the commitment of their son. He was talking to manufacturers, posting items to sell, packaging, and mailing.
Instead of spending his profits, Syed wanted his online business to grow so he reinvested those profits into the business.
Today, Syed is one of the top-rated sellers on eBay and has customers across the US.
“That first sale was so crazy to me, and still is”, said Syed.
Once he enrolls in college, he plans to pass his online business to his younger brother Ammar.
What about Syed’s desire to help families in need?
Now that Syed has fulfilled his dream of running his own business, he decided to donate a portion of his profits to charity.
Having lived in Irving and personally witnessed families struggling financially due to the pandemic and other social issues, he selected Irving Cares.
In a facebook post celebrating Syed's giving spirit, Kyle Taylor of Irving Cares wrote, "One of the best things about my job is getting to meet great young people from our Community. This young man has started his own on line business. He has decide that he will donate a portion of his proceeds from his business to local charities. He selected Irving Cares as one. We are so appreciative of him think [sic] of Irving Cares."
Syed is determined to follow his root mission to help others. He believes in the quote by Anne Frank, “No one has ever become poor by giving”.
About Irving Cares
Irving Cares is a well-known community resource and has consistently been recognized for its excellent leadership and performance. In 2020, Irving Cares was voted the Best Local Nonprofit in Irving by the Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce.
Since 2001, Irving Cares has achieved United Way’s #1 top stewardship rating for fiduciary management and board oversight. In 2005, Irving Cares received the City of Irving’s Housing and Human Services Department’s Award for Outstanding Community Partner. Irving Cares is an original community partner of TXU Energy Aid.
Irving Cares received a Top Rated Nonprofit Award from GreatNonprofits.org again in 2020. In 2019, Irving Cares received its 10th four-star rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator, indicating that Irving Cares outperforms most other charities in America.
Irving Cares exceeds industry standards with more than 80 cents of every dollar raised being reinvested in the community as a program expense. Irving Cares is considered a model agency by the North Texas Food Bank and annually passes their very thorough inspection of our facilities, products, and volunteer training.
