About Us

Two smiling men taking a selfie in front of a colorful textured wall with vertical stripes of yellow, blue, and pink. The man on the left has short dark hair, is wearing sunglasses and a blue T-shirt, and the man on the right has short dark hair with glasses and a blue ringer T-shirt.

Who We Are

We’re Matt and Tommy—husbands, creative partners, and lifelong lovers of good design and good vibes.

Before we launched Have Fun Spread Joy, we spent our days behind the scenes and behind the curtain—Matt as an Equity stage manager with a knack for keeping the chaos running smoothly (and glamorously), and Tommy as a marketing and audience development specialist. While we no longer call New York home, we brought the showbiz spirit with us to Michigan, where we’ve continued working in creative, purpose-driven careers.

And in 2024, when the world felt like it needed a serious injection of light, we channeled our theater roots, activist hearts, and love of pop culture into something wearable, shareable, and a little bit rebellious.

Why We Do This

Our very first design, Pearls & Chucks, celebrated Kamala Harris and her barrier-breaking campaign. It was joy as resistance. It was a little wink, a little sparkle, and a whole lot of pride.

Since then, Have Fun Spread Joy has grown into a home for bold statements, fierce nostalgia, and lovingly illustrated tributes to the characters and causes we care about—from Golden Girls to Madonna to Broadway deep cuts.

All artwork is created by us—either drawn by hand or digitally—with one goal: to make you smile, feel seen, and be heard.

Our Roots in Advocacy

This shop didn’t grow out of thin air—it grew out of a lifetime of caring.

Together, we’ve proudly supported:

  • The Ali Forney Center
  • Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
  • Lustgarten Foundation
  • Autism Theatre Initiative through TDF
  • Project Purple
  • Appalachia Service Project
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Local Humane Societies
  • Pride festivals and parades around the country

What We Believe

We believe:

  • Joy is powerful.
  • Humor is healing.
  • Design can be a love letter, a protest sign, or a really good conversation starter.
  • Every mug, tee, or sticker can help you show the world who you are—and make someone’s day a little brighter in the process.

Joy is a mission. And we believe in wearing it out loud.

Thank You

Thank you for showing up. For having fun. For spreading joy. 🥰

Now go browse the shop, pick your favorites, and bring a little more color into the world. 🌈