Brute Labs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization based in Silicon Valley. The volunteer organization is composed of Bay Area high tech professionals and supports a broad spectrum of causes ranging from physical fitness in low income schools[1] to clean water wells for rural communities in Africa.[2] The name is derived from the philosophy of doing whatever it takes to get something done (Brute) and constant rapid prototyping to learn from mistakes (Labs).[3]
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Brute Labs was started in 2006 by Josh To, with a mission to prove that anyone can do good.[4]
Brute Labs has completed several socially conscious design projects since its inception.
In June 2008 Brute Labs partnered with Pioneers-Africa and local village governments in Ghana to build wells in rural communities that would provide access to clean drinking water. The Well Done project won 2nd place in the American Institute of Graphic Arts San Francisco Cause/Effect Health and Development award in July 2009.[2] The project later spun off as its own non-profit organization dedicated to expanding clean water resources and has since brought clean drinking water to more than 50 communities around the globe[5]
In 2007, Brute Labs launched a fitness program at Caesar Chavez elementary school in East Palo Alto to address the childhood obesity epidemic.[1]. A raffle was added to the existing physical education program to incentivize students to run above the minimum requirement, with raffle tickets given for every lap above the required distance and every new personal best set in the mile. The program caused a 232%[6] increase in the number of miles run with an investment of $50 and a little time. Building off of that model, grant money from the Sappi’s “Ideas That Matter” program was used to expand RUN! to 15 low-income bay area schools.[7]
ProjectOPEN was conceived to address the pervasive plight of the homeless population in Santa Monica. With a city map[8] including markers for homeless resources such as housing and food services along with public transportation routes to get there, as well as a reverse side with laws that pertain to homeless populations, the goal was to inform and empower. ProjectOPEN won a grant from UCLA for printing and distribution in Santa Monica, as well as the American Institute of Graphic Arts San Francisco Cause/Effect community development award in July 2009.[9]