Giving back to the community is woven into the fiber of BryteBox’s culture. And when we have the opportunity to align with clients who share this commitment to the greater good, we see this as a tangible expression of who we are. Over the years, we have been involved in many nonprofit community organizations that align with our company and our clients’ personal and professional values.
In honor of Give Miami Day (November 17, 2022), one of the nation’s largest annual giving events that brings awareness to the impact and work of over 900 organizations, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of our partner organizations and causes, including the Surfrider Foundation, Oliver Patch Project, and NVEEE (National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment).
Read on for more information about these important causes and how you can support them on Give Miami Day and throughout the year.
The Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a diverse group of environmentalists, surf fanatics, people who like the beach, and people who just want to belong to something. The organization began when a much-loved surf break on Miami Beach was saved from development by a surfer and an attorney. Soon, people from other coastal locations reached out, saying the same issue was arising in their communities. Today, the Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans and beaches through a powerful nationwide activist network.
Our founder, Brad Wells, is well-known within the Surfrider community. He helps bridge the gap between different community interests and provides strategies to move the organization forward. One of his key contributions to Surfrider was spearheading the corporate volunteerism program for dune restoration. In addition, BryteBox continues to help the Surfrider Foundation by providing free monthly website maintenance.
For more information about the Surfrider Foundation and how you can support the organization this Give Miami Day, visit https://www.givemiamiday.org/surfrider.
The Oliver Patch Project
In 2020, 9-year-old Oliver – son of BryteBox client Studio IDC’s VP Trisha and her husband, Brian – was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Oliver’s treatment began during COVID, which meant the family didn’t have the regular support or shared experience with other families also going through treatment. Trisha and Brian created a Facebook post, asking friends, many artists, to create and mail Oliver a patch that he could sew onto his jacket. The response was enormous! The jacket served almost like a suit of armor, making him feel strong and loved while fighting his battle.
This soon evolved into the Oliver Patch Project, which is now open to any child in the United States in active cancer treatment. The child picks out their jacket or tote and 20 patches, which are hand-sewn onto their garment. Caregivers then receive 13 milestone patches they can give the child throughout their cancer journey. In addition, OPP members receive one patch per month for the duration of their treatment. The children look forward to receiving these patches, which give them a sense of hope.
To learn more about the Oliver Patch Project and how you can donate or get involved, visit https://www.givemiamiday.org/fundraise/20645/StudioIDCandOPP.
NVEEE
NVEEE (National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment) is a national 501(c)(3) bullying and suicide prevention nonprofit made up of a diverse team of educators, business leaders, social workers, mental health professionals, parents, and students who are committed to youth leadership, turning bystanders into upstanders, mentoring programs, and providing prevention education. The organization offers interactive bullying and suicide prevention education to K-12 school communities (including parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff), universities, community organizations, faith-based communities, and workplaces. Many of its programs are co-facilitated by students with direct experiences as targets or bystanders of bullying.
NVEEE organization’s founder, Jowharah Sanders, a long-time friend of BryteBox, is passionate about youth in need, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. BryteBox founder Juliana Ruiz is also a founding board member of NVEEE. Over the years, BryteBox has helped the organization significantly by developing strategic campaigns and assisting the team in visualizing project components.
To learn more about ways to get involved with NVEEE or donate to the cause, visit https://www.givemiamiday.org/NVEEE.
With over 900 charitable organizations participating in Give Miami Day, there are endless opportunities for members of our community to get involved. The organizations listed above are close to the hearts of BryteBox’s team members and clients, but we encourage everyone to find a cause that speaks to them. What issues are important to you? What are you passionate about? How do you want to impact your community and the world? We ask ourselves these very questions as we look forward to continuing our support for these and other philanthropic initiatives all year long.
