“Material Good was founded out of a desire to honor my grandmother’s life while supporting an important cause. In November 2008 I began training to run a marathon. A few months prior I had moved back to Seattle to spend time with my grandmother who was battling cancer. I joined Team in Training, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's marathon-training program, to run and raise money for cancer research in her honor.
I was interested in raising money in a mutually beneficial fashion. I felt that giving people a tangible gift in return for their donation would make them feel more connected to the cause - and support it on a deeper level. Little Shirleys were born out of this idea and named in honor of my grandmother, Shirley Larson.
In the first few weeks that Little Shirley vases were available to the public, it was clear that there was something more to them than clay and glaze. They seemed to be bringing out other peoples' personal stories, triumphs and losses, and encouraging conversations around difficult topics. New relationships were built, understanding was gained, and the community was benefiting... I knew it couldn’t stop there.
My hope is that Material Good inspires people to take action in their community, creates understanding about topics that affect us all, and simply inspires people to talk to each other. I am truly excited about the future and hope that you will join us on this exciting journey.”
Lauren Burman
Founder
Copyright © 2009-2010 Material Good | Photos by Matthew Felton & Ali Hummels | Site Design 
