A Castle Rock firm that sells T-shirts, bracelets and other items with breast-cancer-related slogans is really a for-profit company that is making millions of dollars in the name of breast cancer.

But former employees of the company told 9News Wants to Know that they thought they were helping raise money for charity and that is how they pitched the items to people.

Adam Shryock, owner of Boobies Rock, acknowledges some people who buy the company’s items may think they’re giving to a charity.

They are giving to a company that is an advocate of breast cancer awareness, but it is a for-profit business, Shryock said.

Shryock says Boobies Rock merchandise is sold in at least 15 cities nationwide.

In two years, the company has made about $2 million selling breast-cancer-themed T-shirts and other items.

“We give a tremendous amount of money,” Shryock said.

Shryock says his company has donated about $325,000 to eight charities.

That figure includes $250,000 paid to the Keep-A-Breast Foundation to settle a trademark infringement lawsuit.

“If we wouldn’t have had that settlement with Keep A Breast, we would have given that money to someone else,” Shryock said.

One charity, Pink Fund, received $50,000 and another, Young Survival Coalition, received $25,000.

Others got as little as $100, all of it collected from the sale of Boobies Rock merchandise in the name of breast cancer awareness.

Shryock says he does not condone the actions of certain saleswomen, who make people think they’re donating to a breast cancer charity.

Scott Robinson, 9News legal analyst, believes some people who give money are being misled.

“This is really reprehensible behavior. The owner can claim that he does not condone the practices engaged in, but the practices are inherently deceptive,” Robinson said.