Each product is one-of-a-kind and handmade with sustainably-sourced materials

Artist, Graphics Team Lead

Favorite Animal: White Tiger

Shalini (Shah-lih-nee) is the designated VIPs Gym Bro studying the intersections of economics and sustainability at the University of Michigan. Growing up in the Bay Area, California, water conservation has always been a personal topic for her. On her free time, you can find her talking about fonts, sipping on some chai, or cuddled up with a book. :)

Artist, Sustainability and Marketing Committee Member 

Favorite Animal: Beluga Whale

 Keira is an environmental science major and a law, justice, and social change minor at the University of Michigan. She loves VIPs and has been a member since the beginning of this year! She loves all things animals and crocheting. Hope you enjoy her designs. 

Treasurer

Favorite Animal: Baby Orangutan

Greta is a current sophmore studying business administration and art history. Her favorite food is raw cookie dough and her favorite activity is watching Sophia Coppola movies. Her special talent is getting that bag so being club treasurer was a natural fit. You can find her in the medieval art exhibit at the UMMA or rotting in her bed. 

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Artist, Volunteer Coordinator, UMich Club Secretary

Favorite Animal: Cats

Sasha is the Volunteer Coordinator for VIPs, so if you wanna become a volunteer be sure to reach out :) She loves all things crochet, crafts, and sustainability. She's most likely to be found scrolling Pinterest for a new craft when she has 20 WIPs sitting in the corner...

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Artist, Secretary, Director

Favorite Animal: Lop Bunny

Sophia Kamien is a vegan for a living from the great city of Philadelphia. She spends her time watching Nardwuar interviews and skydiving without parachutes. Sometimes at the same time. Her favorite cake is carrot and her favorite ice cream is mint chip. 

Artist, UMich Club President

Favorite Animal: Dairy Cow

Hi! My name is Bea and I’m VIPs Club incoming president. I’m a sophomore at Michigan studying environmental policy and geological sciences! I hail from the great state of Iowa (which if you’ve ever had a conversation with me, you probably already know) and, as a descendent of a long history of farmers and teachers, am super passionate about climate action and environmental education. I chronically cannot crochet (🙀😟🫣), but I love to spend time knitting, sewing, & starting (only maybe finishing) projects! Outside of VIPs meetings, you can catch me in a carrot costume on the Diag for my Planet Blue job, fake studying in the law quad, or hitting up the state movie theater. 

Vice President, Director

Favorite Animal: Mow (Cat)

Charlotte Matik is a current senior at the University of Michigan studying Economics and Psychology. Passionate about improving the world in any way she can and ever the animal lover, she is incredibly excited to be a part of a project making a significant impact on a global scale. In addition to her work at VIPs Fund, she is the President and Co-Founder of Model Federal Open Market Committee (MFED) at the University of Michigan. Known for her leadership, Charlotte also works as an advisor for various student organizations to aid in development, directorship, and general club functioning. She is an advocate for veganism, animal rights, sisu ideals, yoga and cats. Contact Charlotte at char@vipsfund.org

Artist, President, Founder, Director

Favorite Animal: Sifaka (zooboomafoo)

Daphne is a life-long animal lover studying the anthropological aspects of wildlife conservation at the University of Michigan. Her roots lie on the coast and islands of the Salish Sea and she grew up visiting, volunteering, and working at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. She has also spent time working as a seahorse farmer in Kona, Hawaii. Daphne created VIPs Fund with the hopes of merging socially conscious wildlife conservation with market-based strategies that inherently serve the conservation mission by combatting fast fashion. In her free time she enjoys cabbage, camping, and crafting. In that order. You can reach out to her, preferably with a cute monkey picture, at daphne@vipsfund.org

Director

Favorite Animal: Rat

Tim Raxworthy is currently a graduate student at the University of Michigan and he is completing the second year of his masters degree in survey methodology. His passion for improving wildlife conservation in Madagascar is what inspires his current work at VIPs Fund! Some of his past work includes designing and evaluating inequity relief programs for Malagasy farmers in Ifanadiana District. If you would like to reach out to him please send an email to tim@vipsfund.org.

Artist, Sustainability Committee Chair

Favorite Animal: Orca

Anya learned to crochet as a kid from their grandmother and loves making silly projects for themself and friends! Anya spends most of their time crocheting and showing people pictures of their cat. They love the ocean, sustainability, and being a VIP!

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