Chris Haughey and Will Haughey were born on the other side of the world in the island country of New Zealand. When they were both still very young, their family moved to the Saint Louis, Missouri. Growing up in the United States, the Haughey parents put great emphasis on international mission trips to impoverished nations. Many of these trips included every member of the family together. It is likely at this time that the brothers began to develop a heart for the impoverished peoples of the third world. Upon receiving a degree from Stanford University, Chris Haughey joined the Boston Consulting Group which allowed him to travel extensively through Central and South America. On a business trip to Honduras, Chris was able to reconnect with missionaries he knew from previous trips. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Central America with one of the highest murder rates in the region. According to World Fact Book, over half of the population lives in poverty, creating a serious problem. Through his interactions with them and his immersion in the Honduran culture and people, Chris decided that he needed to be a part of solution in Honduras.

After a year of extensive market research, Chris left his position at the Boston Consulting Group to found Tegu, a magnetic block company made of Honduran wood, in 2007. Tegu gets its name from the capitol of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, which is also the city in which the toys are made. The company employs two hundred Hondurans, and provides for over three hundred more that rely on their income. Chris’ brother, Will, after a brief but successful career in investment banking, came on full time with Tegu. Together, the two brothers now run the company and every day strive to have a tangible impact in one of the poorest corners of the world.

Are there cheaper ways to make toys? Yes there are. Could these brothers be making more money elsewhere? Absolutely. But is Tegu making a tangible difference? Yes it is. And that’s enough for the Haugheys. To see them utilize their God-given business capability and know how, not to line their own pockets, but to instead develop the economy of one of the poorest nations in the world is an inspiring story indeed. Their story is a testament to the fact that there’s more to business than money. To the Haugheys? Ultimately its about people.