Small Labels, Big Impact: A New Alliance for Early Childhood Support

By Tyler Nguyen

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – January 13, 2026 – In a move that blends corporate philanthropy with practical, on-the-ground support, custom label company Name Bubbles has announced a national partnership with Start Early, a leading nonprofit dedicated to prenatal-to-five early learning. The collaboration includes a $20,000 grant and an additional $5,000 in product donations to bolster the nonprofit’s extensive support services for families, teachers, and caregivers across the country.

This partnership brings together two organizations with a shared focus on the foundational years of a child's life. Name Bubbles, known for its durable, personalized labels for children's belongings, aims to simplify daily routines for families. Start Early, with over four decades of experience, works to close the nation's opportunity gap through high-quality early learning and care programs, policy advocacy, and research. The alliance highlights a growing trend in corporate social responsibility where a company’s core products are strategically integrated into its philanthropic mission.

Beyond the Check: The Power of Practical Tools

While the $20,000 grant provides a direct financial infusion into Start Early’s programming, the donation of $5,000 worth of durable name labels addresses a different, yet equally critical, need: reducing the daily stress and chaos that often accompanies the care of young children. Experts in child development consistently emphasize that organized, predictable environments are crucial for fostering a sense of security and independence in children. When caregivers are less stressed, they can create more nurturing and joyful learning atmospheres.

"As a mom, I know how beautiful and overwhelming those early years can be and how one small thing, like a label, can help bring calm to a busy day," said Michelle Brandriss, founder of Name Bubbles, in a statement. "Partnering with Start Early allows us to extend that support to families and teachers who are caring for young children every single day."

The labels will be distributed through Start Early’s directly operated programs, reaching the hands of doulas, home visitors, Early Head Start teachers, and the families they serve. For a home visitor working with a new parent, labeled bottles and supplies can help establish manageable routines. In a bustling daycare classroom, clearly marked cubbies, jackets, and lunchboxes can prevent mix-ups, save valuable time for educators, and reduce friction among children and parents. This focus on practical support acknowledges that improving early childhood outcomes is not just about large-scale interventions, but also about improving the small, everyday interactions that shape a child’s world.

A Model for Strategic Giving

This collaboration is a key initiative under Name Bubbles' 'Labeled for Good' program, the company's corporate social responsibility arm established in 2010. The program has a history of supporting child-focused nonprofits, including a $20,000 commitment to Feed the Children in 2025 and previous partnerships with organizations like Toys for Tots and Blessings in a Backpack. The philosophy behind 'Labeled for Good' is to align the company's product—a tool for organization—with its charitable mission, creating a powerful synergy.

This partnership with Start Early serves as a case study in effective corporate philanthropy. Instead of simply writing a check, Name Bubbles is leveraging its unique product to provide a solution that directly complements the work of its nonprofit partner. This approach not only amplifies the impact of the donation but also reinforces the Name Bubbles brand as one that understands and addresses the real-world challenges of parenting. By embedding its product within Start Early’s trusted network, the company gains authentic visibility while contributing to a vital social cause, demonstrating a model that benefits the community, the nonprofit, and the corporation simultaneously.

Bridging Critical Gaps in Early Education

The timing of this partnership is significant, as it comes when the early childhood education (ECE) sector is facing immense pressure. The expiration of pandemic-era federal relief funding has left many childcare providers in a precarious financial position, exacerbating long-standing issues of underfunding, low wages for educators, and a lack of access for families. According to recent studies, more than half of Americans live in a “child care desert,” with limited or no access to quality care, a problem that disproportionately affects low-income and rural communities.

This is the landscape in which Start Early operates. The organization works across all 50 states, reaching more than four million children through a multi-faceted strategy that combines direct service, research, and policy advocacy. Its programs include best-in-class doula and home visiting services that support parents from pregnancy through a child's first years, as well as comprehensive Early and Head Start programs that prepare children for school. By working to drive systemic change, Start Early aims to ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive.

In this context, private-public partnerships are not just helpful; they are essential. The contribution from Name Bubbles provides flexible funding and resources that can help Start Early innovate and sustain its programs in the face of uncertain public investment. This collaborative approach, which leverages private sector resources to bolster the efforts of established community-focused organizations, is becoming increasingly critical for building a resilient and equitable early learning system. By investing in the infrastructure that supports families and educators, this alliance contributes to the larger goal of closing the opportunity gap and laying a stronger foundation for the next generation.