The Chicago Journal

CaDori Is Walking in Her Philanthropic Purpose and Changing Lives

danielruiz danielruiz on December 4, 2020

Every success story has a beginning worth telling and learning from, and the CaDori Brand is no exception when it comes to its history and founder. CaDori is more than just a brand; it is concrete proof that a person who works hard and lives by faith to achieve a better life will eventually reach success. Such is the inspiring and humble story of the resilience of successful entrepreneur and respectable book author Cathy “CaDori” Marshall.

CaDori, both as a person and brand, is characterized by compassion, positivity, and hope. Prior to becoming a Registered Nurse, CaDori was once homeless when her children were small and lived in a shelter in Atlanta for a month. All throughout her challenging experiences in life, she held onto her faith in God. She was blessed to have met generous and kind-hearted people. 

Knowing firsthand how difficult and discouraging it can be to live without direction, she started giving back to the community as her way of expressing her deep gratitude and compassion for people who have less in life. Ultimately, CaDori established CaDori Helping Hands Inc. in 2017, a charitable organization focused on helping others in need. After Hurricane Harvey, the organization donated baby supplies to young mothers and gave out cleaning and personal care items to several families who lost everything during the hurricane. Additionally, CaDori Helping Hands Inc. gave school supplies to children who were living in a local shelter and fed more than 100 hurricane victims displaced by the tragedy. 

The succeeding year, CaDori Helping Hands Inc. gave turkeys and hams for Thanksgiving to families in need. In preparation for winter, her organization gave out new winter coats to anyone needing a coat. CaDori did not stop at CaDori Helping Hands as she previously established another charitable organization called Dougie’s Kids, Inc., dedicated to helping protect and uphold the well-being of children all over the country. Dougie’s Kids is a tribute to the life of CaDori’s son, Bobby Denerio Marshall-Brown, who passed away due to a motorcycle accident in 2010. Fondly called Dougie by his family, he was especially fond of children, making time to advise, mentor, take them to fun places, and support them in their games by simply showing up. CaDori’s efforts have enabled Dougie’s Kids to donate funds to schools, shelters, and award scholarships to worthy recipients. 

Aside from Cadori’s two charitable institutions, she is also the well-known author of the new book Ladies Love Yourselves First, That’s Happiness, an inspirational and powerful read revealing how she survived two abusive marriages and her pursuit of genuine self-love. Her first book titled Women Put Yourselves First and Be Happier was also a phenomenal success among women of all ages seeking a new beginning and identifying their purpose in life. She also launched the (I LOVE ME) apparel, a clothing line with a powerful message promoting self-love. CaDori Helping Hands Inc. was able to raise $1,200 from the sales of the I Love Me hoodies in October of this year, which will be donated to support The Rose, a breast cancer organization.  

One of CaDori’s recent initiatives was the distribution of 100 laptops to underprivileged children to encourage them to focus on their education amidst the pandemic. She also actively supported the programs attached to the National Suicide Prevention Week by educating people on how to prevent it. In the next few months, CaDori is organizing a charity walk to raise $10,000 to help victims of domestic violence.

CaDori brand intends to continue to support impactful initiatives that protect children, empower women, and motivate everyone to keep growing and do better. By extending valuable support to worthy advocacies, CaDori hopes to leave a lasting legacy that will inspire people to love themselves and live their purpose in life and extend compassion to those who need it most. 

Visit their website and follow CaDori Brand on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed about their latest updates.

Aaron Von Ossko and Esoteric Collection’s Crusade to Support the Next Generation of Artists

danielruiz danielruiz on November 17, 2020

It’s not uncommon for people who wish to pursue a career in the arts to receive discouragement. Often, people who do so get bombarded with indications that such a career would only lead to becoming penniless. However, Aaron Von Ossko is one of those people whose love for the arts has pushed him to support artists by creating a collective with Esoteric Collection.

Aaron Von Ossko grew up spending endless hours sketching. Like many people, it was the best source of escapism to get away from the abusive environment his father created. Aaron’s father was the kind of man who believed in tough love and often resorted to physical, verbal, and mental abuse. Growing up, Aaron’s father would sweep away his sketch and try to push him towards a car franchise chain. 

As Aaron grew older, he would make his life’s greatest choice and walk away from his father’s ideals to finally pursue the arts. Motivated by his past, Aaron would make many financial art investments and support artists from different walks of life. 

The art enthusiast would gain widespread recognition in the art world for his support. He is closely associated with Baltimore painter Purnell Gray. They were able to connect through Instagram when Aaron felt the sincerity in Gray’s approach. Although he supports artists, Aaron chooses each artist based on their drive. When Gray sent him a message, Aaron knew that he was more in tune with the art game than others.

Aaron cites that despite their differences, they are both diamonds formed under pressure. The painter and art collector shared the same belief of the importance of giving back to artists and what they deserve for the work. Aaron Von Ossko and Purnell Gray believe that the upper echelon galleries and art fairs could be doing more when it comes to paying forward. Aaron would later build his brand and name it Esoteric Collection. 

Initially, the brand was meant to represent an anti-gallery movement, as many galleries tended to choose household names over the rising artists. But Aaron was able to get a perfect balance and merge the business and creativity into a cohesive crusade. Esoteric Collection became an artist resource collective with a mission to assist artists and support their creative efforts by providing media outreach and career development services to connect them with a wider audience. 

If there was one good thing that Aaron’s father left him, it was the marketing experience he would later use with Esoteric Collection. With social media platforms becoming more and more popular, Aaron has used it to his advantage, specifically Instagram. While others view the social media space as a rival in the art world, Aaron uses it as a bridge between emerging artists and galleries.

Aaron Von Ossko understands the importance of supporting the next wave of artists and hopes to partner with more corporate brands to assist artists in their career development and sales.

To learn more about Aaron Von Ossko and the Esoteric Collection, you may visit their website or follow them on Instagram.

Esoteric Collection Proves “There’s More to Art Than Galleries and Museums”

danielruiz danielruiz on November 17, 2020

The art industry is a tenacious field. Most of the time, the audiences see the value and hard work behind artists’ success at the surface level. What many don’t witness is the struggles one has to endure to take his place in the industry. Esoteric Collection aims to bridge the gap between artists and audiences by providing innovative opportunities created for modern creatives.

Founded by artist, collector, and art enthusiast Aaron Von Ossko, Esoteric Collection is truly helping artists build their careers amid the industry’s heavily-saturated community. Dubbed as the “art crusader” by Kulture Hub, Aaron has played a pivotal role in turning artists’ visions into realities. Through its founder’s “anti-gallery” model, artists get straight exposure for their artworks, skipping the traditional gallery shows and maximizing modern platforms. 

The Esoteric Collection has worked with promising artists across the east and west coasts such as Britney Palmer, hosting her art show in Miami. The collection professionally executes a vision, a collaboration between the artist and the founder himself. Today, Aaron is working with over 20 creative visionaries, providing them with practical steps to take in their careers.

Esoteric Collection currently houses over 100 works of art, an eclectic collection of masterpieces from artists across the country. Additionally, the collection has been featured by the Art Basel and the L.A. Art Show, giving both artists and their works national exposure and recognition. “Our mission is to assist artists in supporting their creative efforts by providing media outreach and career development services to connect artists with larger audiences,” shared the founder. 

Besides Britney Palmer, the Esoteric collection has also worked with renowned artists such as Retna, Gregory Siff, King Saladeen, and many more. The collection has created events in some of the country’s largest cities, such as Los Angeles and Miami. Indeed, the collection is home to the new generation of creatives under the strong and forward-thinking leadership of its founder. 

Aaron shared that his troubled past motivated him to take action for today’s artists who need the opportunity. The founder experienced a challenging childhood with his father, who, in his words, was mentally, emotionally, and physically abusive. Amid all his frustrations, he would sketch for hours and use whatever medium was available to let out his emotions. Art became his primary refuge against all the pain in his world.

Today, the founder assists artists in developing their careers by merging his expertise in business with his eye to spot talent. Esoteric Collection shapes careers at the grassroots level, believing that talent and passion can come from people of any background.

“I’m giving other artists a voice, I’m giving them exposure,” said the founder. Esoteric Collection is aiding the cycle of creativity, love, exposure, and happiness among artists. The collection inspires them to focus on what they do best—creating. Aaron saw there was a need for someone like him to take action and do the groundwork. “I know that little things that I’m doing are actually making a difference in other people’s lives and that’s that bottom line,” Aaron remarked. 

To learn more about the Esoteric Collection, visit this site.

Celebrity Stylist Martino Cartier Moves Beyond Past Hurts to Become a Successful Philanthropist and Entrepreneur

Nicholas Alexander Nicholas Alexander on August 10, 2020

Many people go through pain and hurt early on in life that paralyzes their confidence and drive to succeed. But some move beyond past wounds and find a way to overcome trials and succeed despite the circumstances they face. One such individual is Martino Cartier, whose success story has inspired many to conquer despite their challenges. 

Martino is at the helm of one of the most prestigious styling brands in the country. Since his rise to prominence, he and his companies have become a beacon of quality and excellence. The styling expert is the brain and vision behind the Martino Cartier Salon, a 50-station facility that has become one of New Jersey’s most prestigious styling centers. He also founded Martino by Martino Cartier, an award-winning line of hair tools and products that have appeared on various news channels and publications. In fact, his brand is the number one hair tool brand on HSN.

Martino’s rise to become a celebrity-status stylist was not easy. Early on in life, he struggled with many trials. From birth, Martino went into foster care, and although he arrived in a loving home, he always felt drawn to his roots. Throughout his teenage years, he struggled to find his biological parents. Martino also dealt with constant bullying, which drove Martino to depression. But his resilience paid off when he found his biological mother in a Cinderella story marked by redemption and healing.

The entrepreneur owes much of his inner strength to the faith instilled in him growing up. One of the stories that greatly encouraged him at his lowest point was the story of Moses. He felt the similarities between him and the Bible character since another family also adopted Moses. He remembers scripture that affirms this by saying, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Martino looks back and agrees that his greatest triumphs came when he remained patient and still during his most significant trials.

These days, Martino has no trace of his broken past as he has completely overcome and turned the tide. He started his career in styling and rose through the ranks. For six years, Martino worked as the International Artistic Director for Keratin Complex. He later moved to Hothead, where he served as the Global Artistic Director for the company for two years. When he built the experience and confidence to venture out on his own, he started to build the Martino by Martino Cartier brand. 

Martino Cartier Salon remains to be the crown jewel of the enterprise. The business has appeared on Bravo TV, Modern Salon Magazine, Vogue, Launchpad, Behind the Chair, Salon Today, and The Golden Globes. During lockdowns, Martino took the time to reinvent the storefront and level up the whole customer experience. Upon re-opening, the salon saw its most successful week in twenty-two years, with clients flocking in even with social distancing and health safety guidelines in place. Martino looks to expand by hiring even more staff and salon professionals.

On top of his entrepreneurial work, he is also a philanthropist. Martino founded Wigs and Wishes, a non-profit organization that provides free wigs for women battling cancer. Through the program, Martino hopes to bring joy and confidence back to women who are going through one of the biggest challenges they face in life. He remembers what it’s like to struggle and looks to be a beacon of hope to those who need support. The non-profit provides over 25,000 wigs annually.

To learn more about Martino Cartier and his highly-successful businesses, visit the company’s website. You can also visit Wigs and Wishes’ official website to check out their charity work.