For Mariah Edwards, watching her son open presents on Christmas morning will mean more than unwrapping toys.
- “Being a single mother, there’s so much weight on your shoulders, especially around the holidays, and this takes so much of that stress away,” said Edwards, a Fresh Start for Children & Families resident. “Knowing my son will wake up with a smile on his face and have everything he needs and wants means everything to me.”
Edwards is among the families served this year by the Be the Magic Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Fort Walton Beach-based Bit-Wizards. For the fifth consecutive year, the technology company fulfilled Christmas wish lists for every child in Fresh Start’s care, wrapping and delivering more than 260 gifts ranging from PlayStation 5 consoles and iPads to bicycles and giant dollhouses.
The annual effort has become a meaningful tradition that brings company staff together, but the impact extends far beyond Bit-Wizards’ headquarters.
“Supporting Fresh Start reflects who we are at our core,” said Caroline McCoy, Bit-Wizards’ chief operating officer. “This isn’t just about gifts. It’s about showing families they’re seen, supported, and cared for.”
Fresh Start for Children & Families, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has served the homeless population for more than 30 years. Founded in 1986 as the Okaloosa Coalition on the Homeless, the organization rebranded as Fresh Start—standing for Freedom, Respect, Education, Safety, and Hope—to better reflect its focus on helping families rebuild stability and independence.
- The nonprofit operates three core programs: Transitional Housing, Affordable (Step-Up) Housing, and the Repeat Street Thrift Store, which serves as its primary funding source.
For Marlene Carby, another Fresh Start resident, the organization provides something harder to quantify than housing assistance.
“I don’t have family here, so Fresh Start feels like my family,” Carby said. “They listen, they support you, and that changes everything when you’re trying to rebuild.”
That steady support creates safety and consistency for children too—something Carby said becomes especially important during emotional times like the holidays.
“It’s absolutely everything to see my kids so happy,” she said. “Knowing their hopes and wishes are fulfilled, even when I couldn’t make that happen on my own, means more to me than anything.”
The Be the Magic Foundation was established in 2021 as part of Bit-Wizards’ long-standing commitment to philanthropy. As the company celebrates its 25th anniversary, it has donated more than $3 million to over 50 nonprofit organizations across Northwest Florida through financial contributions, volunteer hours and in-kind support.
McCoy said the partnership reflects something deeper than charitable giving.
- “They’re doing so much to overcome homelessness, trauma, or financial hardship and deserve to have the same joy, dignity, and sense of belonging as any other family,” she said, “especially during the holidays.”
Community members interested in supporting Fresh Start can visit freshstartfl.com/about-us.
