‘Love Delivered’

Artist Fernando Togni creates Proudly Unstoppable image celebrating Pride Month
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Like all creators, illustrator and graphic design artist Fernando Togni had a vision when he sat down in his studio and turned on some music. The process of creating an image to capture the essence of what Pride Month means was important.

“When you create something for Pride you always want to be vibrant. I wanted to create this rainbow connecting everything,” Fernando said. “In the end, the main aspect of it was to try and focus on camaraderie, joy and love … a theme that connects everything.”

The final product, titled Love Delivered, was completed in just three days. The progression says as much about Fernando’s talent as it does his inspiration.

The detailed artwork is featured on UPS packaging in June, as part of the company’s Proudly Unstoppable program, an initiative spotlighting minority-owned small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), many of which have been hard hit by the pandemic.

Fernando, who is openly gay, was excited about working with a brand like UPS. “I think it’s great when a brand people respect and has so much history cares about something so connected to you,” he said.

As part of the program, UPS has partnered with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) to provide direct financial support to LGBTQ-owned businesses in the U.S., with plans to expand to the U.K. and Germany later this summer. An initial donation of $100,000 provides grants to struggling small businesses. UPS also hosted a webinar with the NGLCC on the importance of certification as an LGBTQ-owned business.

An extension of the Be Unstoppable campaign, Proudly Unstoppable launched in February featuring Black-owned SMBs as part of Black History Month and later this year will feature Latin-owned SMBs.

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