Throughout the year, Brightspot deepened long-standing relationships with new ways of giving back to its community. Employees advanced inclusive digital experiences for Special Olympics, remained a steady presence in classrooms at Aldrin Elementary, addressed essential needs through food and diaper distribution, and honored veterans and their families through service and recognition. With the launch of Mission Multiplied, employees also extended this impact beyond company-led events by supporting causes close to home and close to heart.
Expanding Special Olympics’ global reach
Always on, worldwide
Although Special Olympics was founded in the United States, it has expanded globally to over 200 countries. In 2025, Brightspot delivered a bold visual refresh of the SpecialOlympics.org homepage, led by compelling video that highlights the power, emotion and worldwide reach of the movement, reinforcing the idea that Special Olympics is “Always On” — with athletes training, competing and building community across the world every day.
To support greater global accessibility, Brightspot also set up a new integration with Google Translate and implemented a new, scalable translation workflow. This foundation will enable Special Olympics to eventually deliver content in its six official languages, helping more athletes, families and supporters engage with content in their native language.
Upgrading schedule & results
Brightspot first launched Special Olympics’ Results platform in 2022, providing a dedicated digital home for real-time competition results for marquee events, including World Games, USA Games and other international competitions. Earlier this year, Special Olympics launched a new Games Management System, necessitating an updated integration to power the Results experience. Along with other newly developed features, the enhanced integration delivers real-time schedule updates and results during competitions and provides a comprehensive archive of competition history, improving operational efficiency and amplifying athlete visibility worldwide.
¡Viva la inclusión!
In 2025, Brightspot launched the official website for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile. Published in both Spanish and English, the site launched in under two months.
The Santiago Games mark a historic milestone as the first Special Olympics World Games held in the Southern Hemisphere. In conjunction with the World Games, Chile will significantly expand Special Olympics programming across all 16 regions of the country. This will bring opportunities in sport, health and education to thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities who have long been underserved. As the Games approach in October 2027, the site will continue to evolve to support this landmark event.
Inclusion in action
At the heart of Brightspot’s partnership with Special Olympics is the belief that inclusion is built through shared experiences. In 2025, our employees volunteered alongside athletes around the world and close to home — forming genuine connections, celebrating ability and creating memories that extended far beyond the playing field.
An unforgettable week in Turin
In March, a dedicated team of eight employee volunteers had the unique opportunity to support the 2025 Special Olympics World Games in Turin, Italy. The experience began at the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, March 8, where employees Kylie Marx and Alexa Fox (Director, Mission) had the honor of walking alongside the delegations from Armenia and Bahrain as they proudly entered Inalpi Arena. The following day, the group got a private tour of the Healthy Athletes program, which offers free health screenings and education to athletes, while also training healthcare professionals in best practices for working with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
One of the most memorable moments took place in the alpine town of Sestriere, where the team facilitated a Unified snowshoeing experience. This exhibition competition paired 20 Special Olympics athletes and 20 honored guests to form Unified teams that competed in a 200-meter relay race. The volunteers played a key role in keeping the event organized and fun by checking in the participants, distributing snowshoes and bibs, and creating an upbeat and energetic atmosphere for everyone involved.
Witnessing inclusion, joy and sportsmanship at the Special Olympics World Games was unlike anything I had ever experienced. This trip encouraged me when I thought I would be the one encouraging the athletes. It showed me that loving the person next to you costs nothing and should be given freely — no matter where someone is from, what they look like or what differences exist between you.
Following their return from the mountains, the team spent the remainder of the week supporting the Floorball competition, a fast-paced sport that combines elements of field and roller hockey. Despite being new to the game, the group quickly became immersed in the action. Their primary role involved tracking substitutions to ensure meaningful involvement for every athlete by carefully monitoring shifts during each game to guarantee all players had the opportunity to participate and contribute. They also helped lead the Floorball Unified Sports Experience, bringing athletes and Unified Partners together in spirited competition.
Throughout the week, the team witnessed countless displays of sportsmanship, camaraderie, athleticism and heart. They saw friendships blossom between athletes who did not speak the same language, and experienced every emotion in real time. It was a powerful reminder of how inclusion can transform lives, bring communities together and create moments that are truly unforgettable.
Unified connections
Closer to home, Brightspot employees continued to engage with Special Olympics athletes through a variety of Unified sports and community events. In February, Brightspot hosted its annual Unified Bowling night at The Branch in Leesburg. Every strike, spare and gutter ball was celebrated, creating an environment where connection mattered far more than score.
Later in the year, a small but mighty group of volunteers supported the 2025 Dulles Plane Pull, running the Kids Truck Pull. The Truck Pull is a joyful, pint-sized version of the main event where children team up to pull a junk truck. The morning was full of smiles and high energy, all in support of Special Olympics Virginia.
The year wrapped with Brightspot’s second annual Unified Bocce Night at Potomac Green in Ashburn, where teammates and Special Olympics athletes came together on a beautiful evening to let the good times roll. Together, these events reflect the heart of Brightspot’s partnership with Special Olympics: showing up consistently, building relationships and creating inclusive spaces where everyone belongs.
Soaring with the Eagles
In 2025, Brightspot continued its long-standing partnership with Buzz Aldrin Elementary School in Reston, Virginia, remaining actively involved throughout the school year in ways that benefited students, teachers and families. From weekly classroom engagement to school-wide events and hands-on projects, Brightspot volunteers played a consistent role in creating positive learning experiences and contributing to daily life at Aldrin.
Building block for bright futures
At the heart of Brightspot’s partnership with Aldrin Elementary is our classroom support program, which places volunteers directly alongside teachers throughout the academic year.
For the 2025–2026 school year, our program evolved to focus on third and fifth grade classrooms. Every week, our team is on the ground helping students master math concepts and build the confidence they need to succeed.
In third grade, volunteers focus on foundational skills like multiplication and number patterns, often using interactive games to keep learning high-energy. In fifth grade, the focus shifts to more advanced topics — including fractions, decimals and introductory algebra — to help prepare students for the big transition to middle school.
My time as a classroom support volunteer at Aldrin Elementary has been incredibly fulfilling. I’ve enjoyed supporting students’ learning and watching their confidence grow, and I’m thankful to work at a company that values giving back and empowering future generations.
Reading is fun-damental!
Beyond math-focused classroom time, Brightspot volunteers also took part in Aldrin Elementary’s reading-centered initiatives throughout the year. In February, volunteers participated in Family Literacy Night, where they handed out books and spent time with students as they explored stories, drew characters, imagined adventures and created narratives inspired by wordless picture books.
Brightspot also joined Read Across America Week, spending a full day rotating through kindergarten classrooms to lead reading stations and literacy games. Volunteers helped guide activities designed to strengthen early reading skills while making the experience fun and interactive.
Later in the year, Brightspot volunteers supported the Scholastic Book Fair, assisting with setup and helping students build wish lists, locate books and complete purchases — ensuring every child had the opportunity to find something they were excited to read.
Growing more good
Brightspot’s involvement extended beyond the classroom through hands-on projects and seasonal initiatives that benefited the school throughout the year.
On April 25, volunteers returned to Aldrin for the school’s seventh annual Beautification Day, held on Arbor Day. Working alongside students and teachers, the team spent the day planting, mulching, weeding and caring for outdoor spaces across the campus. A meaningful highlight was helping create a sensory garden in honor of a longtime Aldrin teacher who recently passed away. The garden now serves as a peaceful space for students and staff and stands as a lasting tribute.
Brightspot is proud to continue supporting the Aldrin Eagles in meaningful ways that uplift students and help them reach their full potential.
Being a consistent presence at Aldrin, whether supporting students in the classroom or helping out at school events, has shown me the incredible impact of encouragement. The kids’ progress and their excited waves in the hallway remind me that every little bit of time we give makes a difference.
Supporting those in need
In recent years, Brightspot employees have increasingly come together to help provide essential needs for individuals and families facing hardship. In 2025, that focus continued through hands-on efforts centered on nourishment, essential supplies and shared experiences.
Feeding people, one meal at a time
Providing access to nourishing food remains one of Brightspot’s most consistent areas of engagement. In 2025, employees once again gathered at headquarters twice, once in January and again in July, to pack lunches for individuals experiencing homelessness at Cornerstones’ Embry Rucker Shelter. Together, volunteers prepared more than 450 sandwiches, continuing a long-standing tradition that brings people together around a simple but powerful act of care.
Brightspot employees also dedicated more than 80 volunteer hours at food banks throughout the year. Volunteers returned multiple times to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), where efforts ranged from bagging beans for 1,400 local families, to packing nearly 900 bags of oatmeal. Later in the year, volunteers also helped sort and organize hundreds of pounds of donated food, ensuring items were safe, usable and ready for distribution.
Brightspot’s impact extended beyond the D.C. area as well. In September, the Chicago team volunteered at Nourishing Hope’s El Mercadito location, assisting local residents as they shopped for food and household essentials. The experience offered a direct window into how access to nutritious food can strengthen families and stabilize communities.
Covering the basics for young families
In 2025, Brightspot continued its strong partnership with diaper banks serving families across multiple regions. In April, employees participated in a company-wide diaper drive showdown in support of the HopeLine in the Bronx. Divided into teams, participants rallied around the cause, resulting in the donation of 84 boxes of diapers (more than 6,000 diapers total), 13 cases of wipes and 92 children’s books, far surpassing the previous year’s totals. Following the drive, New York–based employees traveled to the HopeLine to help sort and package the donated items, preparing them for distribution to families in need.
In May, another group headed to the Greater DC Diaper Bank warehouse in Silver Spring, where volunteers bundled over 10,000 diapers. These efforts helped ensure that families across the DMV had access to essential supplies during a time when demand continues to rise.
Making beautiful music together
Not all needs are material. Creative outlets and shared experiences matter, too. In Austin, Brightspot partnered with national nonprofit Can’d Aid for a unique volunteer event centered on music and creativity. Held at the conclusion of our annual Customer Advisory Board meeting, customers and employees worked together to build 35 ukuleles for donation to Galindo Elementary, a Title I school in Austin.
Arts and music programs are often the first to be cut in under-resourced schools, making instruments like ukuleles powerful tools for both learning and expression. While assembling them required patience and a lot of tiny screws, the experience was collaborative, joyful and deeply rewarding. Many participants stayed late to build more than one instrument, ensuring even more students would have the chance to make music.
Even as a remote employee, I’ve felt deeply connected through the volunteer opportunities I’ve been fortunate to participate in throughout the year at Brightspot. One of the most impactful experiences was building ukuleles for underfunded music programs. Knowing that this work would help make a child’s day a little brighter was incredibly rewarding.
Spreading holiday cheer
To close out the year, Brightspot employees took part in one of the company’s most meaningful traditions: the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. In 2025, 76 employees adopted 111 Angels, providing clothing, toys and gifts for children during the holiday season. In early December, a group of volunteers also spent time at the Salvation Army warehouse helping sort the gifts for distribution to thousands of local families.
From providing meals and essential supplies to creating opportunities for creativity and celebration, Brightspot’s efforts in 2025 reflect a continued commitment to showing up with care, generosity and purpose — helping meet immediate needs while strengthening the lives of children and families along the way.
It’s a privilege to be in a position where I can readily put my time and money into supporting the vital work our community partners are doing. I’ve been involved with our mission work for over eight years now, and I’m still learning new things about the needs of our neighbors and the systems in place to support them. Our mission events also provide an energizing break from my usual work and a chance to connect with coworkers. When I can do an activity in good company that connects me to and makes a difference in our community, deciding to participate in our mission work again and again is incredibly easy.
Honoring those who served
In 2025, Brightspot remained committed to honoring veterans, first responders and their families by continuing partnerships with organizations dedicated to healing, reflection and gratitude. Through hands-on service and moments of recognition, employees showed up throughout the year to express appreciation for those who have given so much.
Cultivating a comforting retreat
At the Boulder Crest Foundation’s Bluemont, Virginia, campus, Brightspot volunteers spent time helping maintain the retreat property that hosts programs centered on mental health, resilience and post-traumatic growth for veterans, first responders and their families.
The year began with a volunteer day in January focused on practical care of the property, as volunteers helped take down and store holiday decorations and prepare the campus for the year ahead. In December, the team returned to help decorate cabins and common spaces, creating a warm and welcoming environment for the heroes and families spending time at the retreat during the holiday season.
Mindfulness on the farm
In May, Brightspot volunteers traveled to Purcellville, Virginia, to spend the day with Holistic Horsemanship Services (HHS). The organization provides Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Therapy for individuals facing life challenges, including veterans and first responders.
During the visit, volunteers assisted with seasonal farm tasks such as organizing the barn, repairing fences and improving drainage around the property to help maintain a safe environment for the horses. Time at HHS also offered insight into how equine-assisted programs foster mindfulness, self-awareness and emotional regulation. Under the guidance of Founder and Executive Director Adrienne Freeland, participants learned how presence, breathing and energy play a role in personal growth and healing.
A hero’s welcome
Brightspot also had the privilege of welcoming veterans to our nation’s capital through its continued involvement with Honor Flight Chicago, an organization that provides all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C., for veterans to visit memorials honoring their service.
In June, Brightspot employees served as greeters for an Honor Flight arriving at Dulles Airport. In advance, volunteers created handmade signs and gathered patriotic gear to prepare for the welcome. On the day of arrival, the team lined the terminal with flags and messages of thanks, greeting World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans as their flights arrived. The experience was deeply moving and offered a powerful opportunity to express gratitude in person.
Brightspot’s mission program offers many ways to give back to the community, but I am most drawn to opportunities that serve our nation’s veterans. Service members often sacrifice so much of their physical, mental and emotional well-being for our country, and supporting them and their families is truly an honor. This year, I was especially grateful to participate in an Honor Flight greeting at Dulles Airport. I’ve had meaningful conversations with my parents about the lack of support and empathy for Vietnam War veterans when they returned home, and I hope that our cheers and signage as they deplaned helped replace those painful memories with positive ones as they began their day touring the D.C. war memorials.
Service that saves lives
On a sunny Saturday in August, Brightspot’s Colorado-based team members volunteered their time at Warhorse Ranch. Much like Holistic Horsemanship Services, Warhorse Ranch is dedicated to empowering veterans, first responders and trauma survivors navigating PTSD, anxiety and depression — with the critical goal of reducing the risk of suicide. While on-site, the team tackled various essential farm tasks, including painting fences, cleaning the chicken coop and clearing manure to maintain the facility. Volunteers also had the opportunity to groom the horses and learn about the profound mental health impact the organization’s programs have on the local community. The experience served as a powerful reminder of the life-changing results that occur when dedicated service meets a vital cause.
Multiplying our impact
While Brightspot organized more than 35 company-led mission events throughout the year, it was clear that no single program could reach every cause and community that employees were already supporting on their own.
Our new Mission Multiplied program was created to recognize and amplify that generosity. The initiative highlights and celebrates employee volunteerism with organizations that matter to them, outside of Brightspot’s traditional focus. By capturing and highlighting these efforts, the program encourages employees to extend Brightspot’s mission in ways that are personal, meaningful and far-reaching.
In its first year, 21 employees participated, collectively supporting 29 different organizations. As a result, Brightspot more than doubled the number of nonprofits supported in 2025, reinforcing the idea that impact grows exponentially when individuals are empowered to act.
Looking ahead to 2026
Together, Brightspot’s mission efforts in 2025 reflect a shared commitment to showing up with intention and care. Through technology, volunteer service and independent acts of generosity, employees helped expand access, strengthen relationships and support communities in meaningful ways. As this work continues, Brightspot remains focused on deepening partnerships, empowering employees to lead with purpose and creating impact that reaches far beyond any single moment or initiative.
