Our Story
Levée was founded in 9th grade by a Scholastic Gold Key-winning metalsmith and realist painter whose commitment to art and giving began at age nine.
The Founder
At nine years old, he launched Lev.co — a small business selling handmade beaded bracelets and candles. From the very beginning, he donated 25% of every single sale to Mercy Ships, one of the world's most respected humanitarian organizations. A passionate donor committed to their mission, he has supported Mercy Ships ever since.
Now a Scholastic Gold Key-winning metalsmith and realist painter, he built Levée so that every teen artist can experience what he learned at nine: that young people don't just make things — they change things. Levée is the next chapter of that story, scaled so that every teen with a brush, a tool, or a camera can give back through what they love.
"At nine years old, I started donating 25% of every sale from my small business to Mercy Ships. That taught me something I've never forgotten: young people don't just make things — we change things."
The Founder of Levée · Scholastic Gold Key · Grade 9
Whether you're a school art program looking to partner, a journalist covering teen entrepreneurship, or a teen artist who wants to be part of Levée — we want to hear from you.
"Rise up. Give back. Create change."
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