Satire: Trent Dolphus, Andover junior, was excited when he purchased his first LiveStrong bracelet. Then, after he bought his second LiveStrong bracelet, Dolphus realized a truth far more profound: A fad is just a fad — unless it changes the world.

“I mean, I always liked wrist wear,” says Dolphus, a member of KU’s coed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. “But then I was like, ‘Hey, these little plastic guys kick the crap out of any friendship bracelet anyone ever made me at summer camp.’” Dolphus quickly resolved to enter the bracelet business.

When it came time to launch his own imprint, Dolphus chose “I Love Bracelets.”

“There are so many causes these days,” Dolphus said. “We’ve all got at least one ‘LiveStrong.’ Then there’s the Lew Perkins brand, one from my favorite bar and even one supporting Israel. Really, everyone can get their message across this way, and I would like to help more people achieve that.”

Knowing that his project might someday affect billions, this young philanthropist plans to donate 50 percent of the proceeds from his “I Love Bracelets” bracelets to the NBDC — the National Bracelet Development Coalition.

The other half of the money will help finance a fact-finding trip to Acapulco, Mexico, March 20 through March 27, where Dolphus will investigate the potential impact of cause bracelets in developing countries. He has not yet produced Spanish “Yo amo las pulseras” bracelets.

The United Nations and other international organizations have yet to pursue such a bold initiative, and Dolphus thinks he knows why.

“They’re all afraid because this could change the world,” Dolphus said. “Within 20 years, you won’t pay for a hot dog with paper dollars. Instead, you’ll show your ‘United States’ bracelet and the vendor will simply take a laser scan of your eye.”

Though many innovators are eventually weighed down by the burden of their own ideas, Dolphus maintains he won’t be.

“I don’t think I could look my kid in the eye knowing that I had this opportunity to help mankind and didn’t,” Dolphus murmured as he carefully turned each bracelet on his arm so that it could be read. “Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I just take out my old ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ wristband and I think, ‘he’d probably make a kick-ass bracelet.’”