We often think of the nonprofit sector as the main origin of charitable activities, but the for-profit corporate space can also be a significant source of philanthropic and social action.
INK-nitiative, a charitable program of the tattoo removal company Removery, is an example of a for-profit company leveraging its unique skills to drive meaningful social change through an integrated not-for-profit service.
The for-profit corporate space can also be a significant source of philanthropic and social action.
By offering free tattoo removal to individuals marked by painful pasts, such as gang affiliations, hate symbols, or reminders of human trafficking or incarceration, the program empowers participants to reclaim their identity and dignity. This effort restores self-esteem and removes barriers that can block access to employment, housing, or social acceptance.
The ripple effects of programs like INK-nitiative often extend beyond the individual participants. By helping people move forward, they can contribute to stronger families, more inclusive workplaces, and healthier communities.
Through this program, Removery provides a blueprint for other socially conscious companies looking for innovative ways to address systemic challenges while leaning into corporate social responsibility.
“This mission is not just about removing ink.”
A New Approach to Social Impact
Removery is an international tattoo removal company that calls itself “the worldwide laser tattoo removal leader,” and has as its mission “to normalize tattoo removal and empower people to feel confident in their skin.”
Around 2019, the company’s leadership saw an opportunity to engage in charitable work. By adopting and expanding a program originally started by The Finery, another tattoo removal company that Removery acquired, the company was able to make a significant impact on people marked by their past through INK-nitiative. The program offers free tattoo removal services for the formerly incarcerated, former gang members, survivors of human trafficking, and those who want to remove hate symbols or racist tattoos from their bodies.
“It’s about transforming their lives, making the cover of the book match the story that’s now on the inside,” says Carmen VanderHeiden Brodie, Removery’s vice president of clinical operations. “This mission is not just about removing ink; it’s about removing the stigma and barriers that these tattoos represent, allowing individuals to move forward with their lives.”
This program aligns with Removery’s broader commitment to social responsibility. So far, about 500 people have had tattoos removed completely for free through INK-nitiative.
A Clean Slate
After being falsely accused of murder as a teenager, Terrance Lewis spent over two decades of his life in prison. He was exonerated in 2019. While behind bars, Lewis got a tattoo on his wrist. Influenced by the hip-hop culture of the time, the tattoo read M.O.B.—an acronym for Money Over B******. But over time, this mark became a source of deep regret for Lewis.
It was a constant reminder of the trauma he had endured as a falsely accused prisoner, and he came to feel ashamed to have it on his body.
“I got the tattoo to project my misery and pain upon others. But it ended up hurting me for many decades,” Lewis told NPQ.
He first heard about the INK-nitiative program through his attorney after his release, who noticed that Lewis always wore long sleeves, no matter the weather, to hide the tattoo. This symbol of his painful past was an ever-present barrier to his future.
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When arriving at Removery for his first session, Lewis was told it would likely take four sessions before the ink was completely removed. But to his surprise, it only took one. Roughly 10 minutes later, the symbol of years of pain and regret was lifted from his body.
“I carried that tattoo for over two decades, a reminder of a life that wasn’t truly mine,” says Lewis. “To have it completely removed in minutes was a relief I can’t fully put into words.”
Since that cathartic moment, and with a new sense of empowerment and purpose, Lewis has taken on a public role in advocating for criminal justice reform.
The program has brought unexpected benefits.
He founded The Liberation Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Pennsylvania that advocates for people with wrongful conviction claims and those preparing to return home after incarceration.
“INK-nitiative definitely played a pivotal role in building my confidence,” says Lewis. “It allowed me to be accepted in rooms full of judges and others where I once felt subconsciously judged.”
He now serves as the foundation’s executive director.
Beyond Profits
INK-nitiative was conceived as a charitable program, a way for Removery to use its institutional expertise to contribute to society.
But the program has brought unexpected benefits to Removery—beyond the satisfaction of helping people. INK-nitiative has been an important part of creating a company culture that is deeply aligned with the values of social impact and community service, and it’s become an effective recruitment tool for Removery.
“We’ve had people come to work for us because of the INK-nitiative program,” says Brodie. “They want to be part of something bigger, and this program is built into their job every day.”
McKinzie Ranson, a studio operations leader and laser specialist at Removery, says the program has been a meaningful part of her work there. “I have met many grateful men, women, and teens who were chosen to be a part of the INK-nitiative program. I have watched as these clients rebuild their lives and get their confidence back as their tattoos fade and no longer hold them back.”
Brodie and her fellow executives hope to continue expanding the INK-nitiative program and to formalize its charitable status as an associated nonprofit entity.
Brodie would like to bring the program into the prison system and offer tattoo removal services to inmates in their last year of incarceration—a prospect that could blossom into partnerships with other nonprofits, like The Liberation Foundation.
“There’s a whole community of individuals that would love to have certain tattoos, if not all, removed from their body,” says Lewis, “to get a second chance, with their new skin.”
