Mo Bridges
Making Cool Bow Ties Make cool
Profits for preteen businessman
Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY. RI.8.1; RI.8.2; RI.8.3; and RI.8.4
Here’s Mo’s Story!
When nine-year-old Mo Bridges could not find any cool and fun bow
ties at the market, his grandmother started teaching him how to sew.
Mo, short for Moziah, gathered up some scrap cloth and started
making some bow ties. These creations became now what is known as
Mo’s Bows, Moziah’s very own bow tie company.
Mo’s Bows originated in 2011. His mother fully supported his
initiative, emphasizing that age should not stand in the way of
following a dream. With her support, Mo began to figure out how to
make his own bow ties out of scrap material. Mo realized that he
could put into practice the knowledge passed on by his grandmother
and create his own bow tie company.
To date, Mo has managed⑴ to earn over $30,000. He started
selling his bow ties from a website that he created. The prices per tie
range from $25.00 to $50.00. His products are also available in shops
across Tennessee, which happens to be his home state. Mo’s Bows are
also sold in Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.
Moziah Bridge’s motto is, “Bow ties make you look good and
feel good.” He chooses the fabrics for the bow ties himself. He has
created a diverse range of styles to suit all preferences.
Moziah is also involved in helping his community; he considers
this to be an important responsibility. He created an organization
called Mo’s Summer Camp Bow Ties.⑵ The profits from these ties are
used to fund the Go Mo Summer Camp Scholarship. The money raised
from this organization provides a number of children from his
Memphis neighborhood the opportunity to attend summer camp.
Vocabulary
initiative –to begin or follow
through with a plan or task
emphasize-to stress, to
cause to appear important
or deserving of attention
motto-a brief statement
used to express a principle,
goal, or ideal
diverse-made up of distinct
characteristics, qualities, or
elements
preference-selecting
something over the others
scholarship-a grant of
financial aid awarded to a
student
significant-important
This program began in the summer of 2012, when Mo’s Bows
awarded two children scholarships to attend the camp. Mo’s initiative
has attracted significant media attention. He was interviewed by The
Steve Harvey Show, Fox News, and was also featured in Oprah’s O
Magazine, Forbes, Elle, and Esquire. (cont. next page)
References
⑴ https://www.etsy.com/people/MosBowsMemphis
⑵ http://mosbowsmemphis.com/
⑶ http://tinyurl.com/lo4xsha
Originally published January 1, 2014 by Raluca Besliu on TakingOnTheGiant.com
Mo’s Story (cont.)
⑶
Quiz
Question 1.
Vocabulary
Quiz (cont.)
CCSS.ELA.LITERACY.RI.8.3 Anaylze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals,
ideas, or events (e.g. through comparisons, analogies, or categories.) (i.e. where does the text
contrast/compare concepts)
Question 2 . Analyze which people influenced Moziah to follow his dream, and explain what
efforts by him led to other events.
a.
b.
c.
d.
After a period of time, Moziah began to earn money from selling his bow ties. He decided to help
children in Memphis who could not afford summer camps, field trips, or play athletic sports. His
charity drew media attention.
The Glenview-Edgewood Manor Neighborhood children wanted to look cool. Moziah thinks that one
day he may make accessories, blazers, and pants for kids. He would also like to create pocket squares
and regular neckties.
Selling bow ties from his website, with prices ranging from $25.00 to $50.00 made Moziah realize his
responsibility to his community. Currently, all of the proceeds from Mo’s summer camp are used to
pay for those kids, who are less fortunate, to attend summer activities.
Famous fashion designer, Ralph Lauren, influenced Moziah to dream of making cool-looking bow ties.
Moziah used scraps of material, and the help from his grandma, to help him create his bow ties. His
mother fully supported him, too. Moziah created a website which helped to sell his products and
create scholarships. The media attention brought greater success to Moziah. He now dreams of a
fashion career in the future.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.2. Determine the central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of
the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. (what
answer choice provides the best summary to the important idea contained within the story.)
Question 3. What evidence in the text discusses Mo’s dream and what information supports the
idea that his dream may come true?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Mo considers Ralph Lauren to be a role model. Ralph Lauren began selling bow ties when he was ten
years old. Mo would like to become a fashion designer just like him. When he was nine years old,
“his mother fully supported his initiative”, and “his grandmother began teaching him how to sew.”
“To date, Mo has managed to earn over $30,000.” His products are also available in shops across
Tennessee, which happens to be his home state. Mo’s Bows are also sold in Alabama, Texas, Louisiana
and Arkansas. Mo’s initiative has attracted significant media attention.
Moziah Bridge’s future plans include expanding his line by adding neckties, pocket squares, and other
accessories for men. In the future, Moziah hopes to start his own kid’s clothing company. He would
like to create blazers and pants for kids who want to look cool.
Moziah is also involved in helping his community; he considers this to be an important responsibility.
He started selling his bowties from a website that he created. The prices per tie range from $25.00 to
$50.00. Mo realized that he could put into practice the knowledge passed on by his grandmother and
create his own bow tie company.
Question 4.
.