Want to support mental health programs and plant trees? There’s an iBrid for that.
Developed by West Shore residents Sami Sayeed and Chris Cordray, a new iPhone case and wallet combination dubbed the iBrid is helping raise awareness and fund local mental health programs, and planting trees in Africa, with proceeds from every unit sold going directly to the cause.
“We have close family members suffering from bipolar disorder and to know we have been able to contribute to this cause makes us very happy,” said Sayeed, who has roots in Africa.
“It is huge for us from the get-go, no matter how successful our product was going to be, we wanted to make sure we would give back to the community one way or another.”
Sayeed’s girlfriend Andrea Paquette is executive director of the Bipolar Babe Society, the iBrid’s local funding partner alongside Aid for Africa, an international non-profit.
“I think it’s really important for business and people who are entrepreneurs to reach out to a cause and a charity and to something they believe in,” Paquette said.
“It means they care.”
Twenty per cent of the sale of every case – they sell for $49.99 – goes to the Bipolar Babe Society and facilitates the planting of one tree in Africa. Funds go to educating youth in schools and communities including in the West Shore, funding support groups for both youth and adults as well as helping raise awareness and “stomping out stigma” about mental health.
“It is about people, not about product,” Paquette said. “ And I believe when people get passionate about a certain cause, they want to make a difference.”
The couple recently started an Indiegogo campaign for the iBrid, which holds credit cards and cash like a wallet, but has a leather-bound case to protect an iPhone.
Sayeed said the iBrid is worth supporting not only because it’s a quality product, but helping a quality cause.
“It’s important to support (Bipolar Babe) and the environment, so it’s a big deal for us. That is not going to stop; as long as our wallet stays intact we will continue,” he said.
“To help support the countless hours (Paquette) spends on mental health education and support, that makes this whole process so much sweeter.”
For more information or to help fund their Indiegogo campaign, visit ibridwallet.com or bipolarbabe.com.
alim@goldstreamgazette.com