Anne Griffin, founder and chief executive officer of Charge Ahead LCC, announced recently she will soon begin manufacturing her first product, the Solar Foldy, designed to provide portable light and a charge fueled by solar energy to cell phones and tablets.

"We have an exciting opportunity to tap into the sun's power and take the generation of renewable solar energy into our own hands," Griffin said, noting that natural disasters in past years inspired her to create a product that would provide light, power cell phones and tablets, and could alert first responders with an SOS mode."

To raise money for the first production run of Solar Foldys, based on the prototype Griffin has developed, she's launched a $150,000 Kickstarter campaign on at bit.ly/SolarFoldyKS. Griffin hopes she will able to bring the product to market in the United States by the end of the year.

She said the Solar Foldy is pocket-sized and offers a USB input for charging devices as well as four modes of light-bright light, super bright light that is two times stronger, a night light setting, and a flashing SOS mode. The Solar Foldy provides up to 200 hours of light on a single, eight to 12-hour solar charge. It can also be charged in an outlet, if necessary.

Supporters of the campaign will be offered the option to buy one Solar Foldy and send one to someone in need.

Solar Foldy | www.solarfoldy.com