Designs with Purpose: How a Teen Entrepreneur Raised $10,000 for Maui Wildfire Relief

BY LEAH LI

It was never just about making money. It was about expressing creativity while making a positive impact. What started as a simple hobby grew into a small business that connected customers worldwide with causes they cared about through designs they loved to wear. This is Elaine Chu’s story.

It started when she was young. Chu always had a passion for business and design. By watching YouTube tutorials and doing online research on e-commerce, she was able to start her shop in highschool: an online clothing business on Etsy where she designs and sells t-shirts and sweatshirts for various niches while supporting meaningful causes. One of these causes was the Maui wildfires. Initially, the goal was to achieve $3,000 in profits to donate to wildfire relief and help those in need. The fundraiser reached $10,000, and Chu was able donate to 5 different Hawaii charities aiding fire relief, going above and beyond what she expected. By playing a role in helping countless families with fresh meals, financial aid, shelter, grief support, Chu reflects that it really helped her understand “what's possible when you combine entrepreneurship with purpose.” This was her first milestone, one that she would remember and take pride in to this day.

However, no journey is without struggle. In first couple of years, progress was slow. She would only get a few sales here and there, and it was not steady at all. During the Maui fundraiser, Chu, who never experienced handling orders at such a large scale before, suddenly had to handle orders flooding in day and night. As a highschool student, she was also busy with school and college applications. Learning to manage her business at this new level, especially customer service and order fulfillment, was a totally new and challenging experience. The pressure forced her to develop better systems and better manage situations that required tough decisions and sacrifices about where to focus energy. 

Maui wildfires, CNN

“Being an entrepreneur,” Chu explains, “takes lots of courage and grit to carve your own path, chase your passion, and keep working especially when you don't see immediate results.” From this experience, her biggest takeaway was that “your goal shouldn't be primarily about making money. It should be about how you can make a positive impact on people's lives.” To her, “gaining experience—whether through success or failure—is way more valuable than trying to get everything right the first time around.” This approach gives both the motivation to push through challenges because your work matters beyond just profit. It creates something with deeper meaning and sustainability, carrying you through the tougher parts of running a business. With this level of mindset and determination, Chu says, “success becomes almost inevitable.” 

Looking back, she wishes she had focused earlier on automating tasks and setting up systems like SOPs for order fulfillment and customer service. Using tools like AI can save time, reduce stress, and allow entrepreneurs to focus on what they love. While setting up these systems may seem unnecessary early on, they’re a valuable long-term investment for growth and avoiding burnout.

To future young female entrepreneurs, Chu advises: “Just go for it. We're young! It's the perfect time for failing, making mistakes, and gaining experience.” 

“The experience itself,” Chu stresses, “is what's so valuable - it's an irreplaceable asset that only you can develop by going through trial and error and specific challenges. The confidence and capabilities you develop through building something of your own will benefit you regardless of where your path leads.”