Crypto Charity Profile: Upbring
In this blog series, we will highlight charities doing great work around the world that accept cryptocurrency donations. For this post, we are thrilled to highlight the amazing work being done by Upbring.
I had the privilege of meeting with Ryan Park, Vice President of Innovation at Upbring, and Valerie Villarreal, the Director of Public Relations and Communications, to discuss Upbring’s work, and their views on the intersections of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and social impact. It is clear that they are leading the way as an innovative, growth-oriented non-profit in Texas!
Upbring’s Mission
Upbring is a “Texas-wide organization implementing generational innovation to advance child well-being.” It has over 100 years of experience “redefining child well-being throughout the state of Texas.”
Upbring has a series of direct-action programs to support children who have experienced abuse and neglect, that include: foster care, adoption, Head Start Preschools—an education program which helps children develop fundamental skills in addition to problem solving and social skills, residential treatment programs for girls and home-like children’s shelters for unaccompanied children, disaster response, healthcare for those who don’t have health insurance, and emergency assistance to families with children, people with disabilities and the elderly with life necessities.
One of the most exciting things about Upbring is its embrace of innovation to advance its social mission. One of its departments, Upbring Innovation Labs, aims to revolutionize the way child welfare services are delivered through the use of technology. This is the first lab of its kind, demonstrating how Upbring is truly a leader in the space.
Upbring is one of a handful of child welfare organizations truly embracing technological innovation, and they believe it will lead to better outcomes for the children and families it serves. As Upbring continues implementing new innovations, it can act as a model for other organizations trying to enact positive change through technological innovation.
Impacts
Upbring has a massive presence in Texas and impacts thousands of children and families through its diverse array of programs each year. In 2020, Upbring had the following impacts:
1,470 children cared for by Upbring foster parents
183 new families verified to Foster In Texas
118 children connected to their forever families
6,000 visits made to free healthcare clinics
$14.9 million in services and resources delivered to disaster survivors
1,851 children under the age of five enrolled in Head Start programs
For inspiring stories highlighting Upbring’s impact, please check out their impact report.
The Crypto-Social Impact Intersection
“The world is changing…and our technology needs to match those changes” – Ryan Park, VP of Innovation
Upbring recognizes the importance of being ahead of the curve when it comes to technological innovation, and understands the important role technology will play in helping them develop more modern, efficient, and client-centered systems to support the children in its care.
Through its Innovation Labs, Upbring is currently in the process of building a prototype to test information sharing on blockchain, which could potentially help lead to a more efficient way of securely sharing vital data.
The Innovation Labs team is also exploring the possibility of a cause based NFT partnership, and would love to see NFTs used to raise funds in support of child welfare causes. They view crypto as an important new way to fundraise and grow Upbring’s impact, and to reach a new generation of donors and change makers.
According to Michael Loo, President and CEO of Upbring:
“Systemic change is our driving force and to accomplish that we must be willing to grow and adapt to the changing needs of society. This means thinking long-term and exploring innovative solutions in business like cryptocurrency as it applies to nonprofits…Upbring is now poised to expand our donation capabilities, diversify our donor base, increase our revenue streams and improve organizational resilience.”
How to donate cryptocurrency to Upbring
You can donate crypto to this amazing organization by clicking the button below.
If you have any questions about Upbring, or would like to support its vital work, you can reach Upbring Innovation Labs at innovate@upbring.org.
