Meet Stephanie Tobor

Stephanie Tobor's move to Evergreen from Houston four years ago was motivated by her daughter's diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, thought to be triggered by contaminants in the soil where their house was built.  She began a cleansing process that involved changes in cleaning supplies and lotions as well as changing to natural and organic foods.

While researching and purchasing natural products she realized that others wishing to be more eco-friendly in their daily consumptions were reluctant to do so for three main reasons: (1) price, (2) not knowing which products to choose, and (3) uncertainty of effectiveness.

When friends began asking her to recommend certain products she was using, she found herself sharing her knowledge readily while finding others eager to know more.  Other parents would ask her to purchase additional school supplies for which they'd later reimburse her.  She realized she'd developed a passion around her new-found knowledge, wanting to encourage others to be more environmentally conscious.

Stephanie began buying in quantity and reselling products online to schools primarily – not so much to make a profit but to make a difference.  Her efforts took on the business name of Green Apple Supply. She's used her platform to encourage schools to incorporate eco-friendly thinking into their leadership programs and has been a speaker on the subject.

She takes the word "sustainability" to new and different reaches, applying it to nonprofit board development and using the sale of products to support nonprofit development, creating a 'store' that taps into her inventory.  "It's a new approach to revitalizing capitalism," she says with an exuberance that catches your attention and makes you want to know more.

Stephanie and her husband, Robert, are into helping with a number of causes.  "We don't like to see people suffer," she explains, "particularly children."  They're partial to helping Juvenile Arthritis for obvious reasons, but they're also involved with Making Waves in Colorado, a symposium highlighting ocean issues.  She serves on the board of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a global initiative for ending dependence on disposable plastic and reducing the overall plastic footprint worldwide.

One of their favorite charitable endeavors is working with Habitat for Humanity.  The Tobors have put together a welcome kit for new homeowners of Habitat homes, starting first in Evergreen and then expanding to the metropolitan area with goals to cover the entire state at some point.  The kit is comprised of sustainable toiletries and cleaning supplies as well as a gift basket of toys and candles.  It's her way of raising the level of awareness of eco-friendly products that are available and helping those whose resources are severely limited.

She runs another nonprofit of her own – the Donation Doubler, an effort she started as a result of disasters around the world.  She works with software that scours the web, looking for consumer matching offers that go unfulfilled.  "I do matchmaking for donors," she explains.

Last year the Tobor family went to Guatemala with Stafish One by One, meeting the two girls whose education they sponsor and visiting their homes, making a meal with them and playing games with the families.  Connecting to people is something she does with ease.

Stephanie Tobor exemplifies the belief that one person can make a difference.