WE ARE WORKING
TO MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT
- AS A BALCONY PEOPLE -
BY LIFTING OTHERS UP !

Through the ironic discovery of Brody's black bracelet he wore everyday which read, "EVERY DAY COUNTS," we have been inspired by how he made those days count. It was not by his active lifestyle or money or likes and shares. It was love and people.

We recognize that we can all do more to connect with, lift up, and support others around us. From how we channel our focus and efforts in our daily lives away from social media and division and move it toward awareness of the love and the needs of others.

See Projects Details Below

Graduation Gift Bags

Each year the graduates of Wando High School will receive the following inspiration on how to make every day count by how they lift up others, love fresh each day, and live their lives as a balcony person rather than a basement person. They read how to not just achieve but to begin their lasting legacy in life.

Every Day Counts-Lift "Em Up graduation message

Happy Graduation! This bracelet, sticker and graduation message of EVERY DAY COUNTS LIFT ‘EM UP are gifts to you from the Brody Reynolds Balcony Foundation. As you move forward from Wando High School and branch out on your own path in life, it is useful to have a consistent reminder to help keep yourself centered on your chosen path- because life has many ways of disrupting things and confusing us all along the way.

These bracelets and stickers were inspired by the life and daily ways of Brody Reynolds, a member of the 2024 Wando graduating class who tragically lost his life in a car accident just months before graduation. Brody, and one of his best friends, both wore a bracelet like this every day and it has sparked a mission to share this motto with others because we all struggle and need more people to reach out, connect, help, listen, and make sure others do not feel alone.

As you step forward, it is very easy and normal to place your sights on acquiring money, titles, recognition, and status - but these things are not capable of creating a lasting impact from your time in this world. The EVERY DAY COUNTS- LIFT ‘EM UP message is here as a daily reminder for you to keep your focus on what does make a lasting impact from your life- which is how you choose to treat / carry yourself AND how you love, connect with, and show up for those around you.

Money is what you can gain, status is what you can have- but how you carry yourself and others, that will speak for who you are and impact how you will be remembered.

Brody’s family found his bracelet to be so ironic for someone who lost their life so young, but Brody truly did live his life by this motto. It was not just in his fun, you only live once sort of way of always being down for packing the most fun into each day with school, work, fishing, surfing, lacrosse, parties, rope swings, basketball, and trips to Cookout, Cane’s, and Comeback Shack. It was much more. Brody truly excelled at making every day count by how he treated people.

Brody was instantly remembered by how he loved, his light that shined on others, how he took joy in making people smile, passing out hugs, telling them he loved them, making others feel welcome and that they mattered, and helping folks out whenever needed. He made every day count by how he took joy in simple things like a great wave, playing or cuddling with his dog, the perfect smashburger, hyping up someone else’s accomplishment, a beautiful summer day for fun, someone being really nice to him, or being there to help anyone. He listened, he spoke truth even if it wasn’t what someone wanted to hear, he believed in others, treated everyone as equals as much as possible, and truly cared about others being ok in this world.

Brody also instinctively sought out those who were alone, outcast, shy, and unsure. However, he wouldn’t just ask them to sit or come along- he made them feel that they belonged right there by the simplest acts of kindness.

**** There are 2 things Brody’s family and the foundation would like for you to take away from this message in addition to the bracelet and sticker:

When Brody was 5 years old and he was crying, his mother told him that he was her hero in how he came in to this world just so happy to be here but really by how he LOVED FRESH each day. Despite what happened the day before, he woke up with so much love and really worked out grudges so that the day could be happy.

*Each morning, try to wake up and LOVE FRESH- it is hard but it can change your whole day and someone else’s day!

Brody’s mother also told him (and his siblings) to remember that there are two types of people in this world – BALCONY PEOPLE and BASEMENT PEOPLE. She said, “Brody, always be a balcony person and spend your life lifting others up – never, ever become a basement person who spends their lives pulling others down to as low as they feel. Also, make sure to keep yourself in that balcony by surrounding yourself with other balcony people who will lift you up.

*Strive to be a balcony person and always extend a smile, a hand, an ear, invitation- whatever is needed to lift up others.

LOVE FRESH - BE A BALCONY PERSON and EVERY DAY COUNTS by how you LIFT ‘EM UP!

Bear Drive

The day Brody passed, his mother called the principal of Wando High School and asked for his help. She told him how someone brought a stuffed bear and it was ironic because that is what she always called Brody, she called him "Bear" "Bear bear" or "Brody Bear" and she realized that Brody would not want everyone at school to remember him by being sad but to instead remember him by spreading love and hugs as he would in those halls. She asked if they could do a bear drive to give bears to local children's charities and spread hugs to children in the region who are very much in need of a good bear hug. He kindly said yes and before it was even announced publicly the next morning social media posts were already popping up asking for Brody Bears. By the time it was all said and done, thousands of bears were collected not just by Wando High School but also from Lucy Beckham High School, Philip Simmons High School, Bishop England High School, Charleston Southern University, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Lowcountry Yoga, Mt Pleasant Fit Body Boot Camp, Ole Miss along with hundreds of people from other states who knew Brody and wither sent bears to Charleston or collected bears and delivered them to children's charities in their own towns.

BRACELETS & STICKERS

They are both self awareness reminders and also great opportunities to connect with others.

The goal of the stickers and bracelets is that they are to serve as reminders. Whether on our wrist, our car gear shift, a jewelry tray, a water bottle, computer case....it doesn't matter. They are visible reminders to create an awareness in life and to be followed with action to make our days count by how we love and lift up others.

They are also an opportunity to share this message with others and create connection when others are hurting or in need of a friend. Give them your bracelet or sticker and we will happily get you another one. Contact us and we can talk about getting you whatever amount of reminders to share that you need.

Feel free to email us a photo of your bracelet on your hand or your sticker as we will be adding a gallery on the page.

Be A Friend Challenge

Scholarship

Scholarship information will be available in the Fall of 2025.

The scholarship will given to a Wando senior each year.

WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT - AS A BALCONY PEOPLE - BY LIFTING OTHERS UP !