Local technology company Bit-Wizards has contributed more than $3 million to charitable causes in Northwest Florida over the past 25 years, supporting more than 50 nonprofit organizations across the region.
- The managed IT services company, founded in 2000 by Vince Mayfield and Louis Erickson, announced the milestone as part of its silver anniversary celebration this week.
“Louis and I both came from modest beginnings, but we were given what matters most—faith, values, and a sense of purpose,” Mayfield said. “We naturally felt the responsibility to give back as our company grew.”
Mayfield said his commitment to service began early. His mother was the director of a Catholic Charities member agency, and he began volunteering as a child, including helping Vietnamese refugees at Eglin in 1975 and providing shelter for those in need using his family’s home.
- Both founders were raised in Okaloosa County and developed their sense of service by giving back alongside their families from a young age.
In 2021, Bit-Wizards formalized its charitable efforts by launching the Be the Magic Foundation, named after one of the company’s core values. The foundation focuses on four areas: youth development, individuals with special needs, animal welfare and community development.
The foundation has supported organizations including the Gulf Coast Council of Scouting America and Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. For Fresh Start for Children and Families, Bit-Wizards employees annually purchase, wrap and deliver complete wish lists for children in need during the holiday season.
“Bit-Wizards and Be the Magic have always been about more than signing a check or having our logos at a sponsored event—we want to play an active role in creating positive change for those in our community,” said Caroline McCoy, the company’s chief operating officer and Be the Magic Foundation board member.
McCoy said the company plans to continue its charitable work, supporting causes where employees can contribute with intention.
“We’ll continue the Foundation’s legacy of contributing to initiatives where we can truly make an impact,” she said.Local nonprofit organizations interested in requesting support can visit the company’s donation request page on its website.
