Jackalope has been very fortunate to work with Brighter Future Charity since 2017. Brighter Future is a California non-profit that works with children affected by autism. Their organization pairs individuals with autism with skills coaches and volunteers at local events to help learn and practice social and professional skills. What we love about Brighter Future is their desire to help kids explore their creative passion! As they state, everyone has a gift to share.

We have had the pleasure to work with Ray’s Shack, Something Extra Candle Productions, and Vyara’s Art, three entrepreneurs a part of Brighter Future Charity. Since we can’t meet them in person this year, we wanted to give you a look behind their brands.

Ray’s Shack

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:

My name is Ray Tate and I sell key chains and jewelry.

Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?

It's called Ray's shack and it's a charity for a brighter future to help kids to find there skills and talent and see how creative I am so they can do it too. I did this to show my lego minecraft videos on my youtube channel, RayTate1.

Ray wanted me to sign him up at street fairs so he could pass out a business card directing people to his YouTube channel about his Minecraft LEGO World that he built. I explained to him that the booths cost money and that most of them were for artists that made something. I suggested he use my old jewelry making supplies to create some necklaces. He did his first show with six necklaces. That was four years ago. After three shows, he said “I need to make keychains, people keep telling me they don’t wear jewelry” I was most impressed by this. I sold jewelry at craft fairs for nine years and it never crossed my mind to diversify and I heard that for years. I’m so proud of Ray and how much he has grown. He is quite the salesman and very creative.

What makes your business unique to the industry?

I take old toys and make key chains and holiday ornaments for a recycled idea and I like doing it.

What is your favorite part of what you do?

See what creative ideas I have to make recycled new jewelry creations from broken and donated jewelry. Finding favorite characters for children and for adult customers to bring back childhood memories.

Something Extra Candle Productions

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:

We are lifelong friends and candlemakers who have Down syndrome.

After taking candle classes, we decided to give our own business a shot. We make soy and beeswax candles with hemp wicks.

Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?

Our business name is Something Extra Candle Productions. We were both born with an extra chromosome, so something extra is fitting. We also try to include tea-lights or other small candles with orders.

What makes your business unique to the industry?

Some of our candles are in unique containers, some are hand painted and some have one of a kind labels we create. We also make labels for customers with personal photos of families, pets, art etc.

What is your favorite part of what you do?

We like being creative, thinking of new ideas and trying to improve!

Vyara’s Art

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:

My name is Vyara, and I create original art.

What makes your business unique to the industry?

My business is unique because I create canvases using paint, duct tape, fabrics, acrylic medium, and found objects, that tell stories about characters I created. My canvases are imaginative and colorful, and my stories are particularly unique because I’m on the autism spectrum, so my imagination and perspective is unique.