Moments That Inspired Our Mission

ᰔᩚ November–December 2019

Before Brighten a Heart

Before founding Brighten A Heart™, I was already creating small acts of care in my community, bringing people together through creativity, gratitude, and kindness.

Looking back, I can see how those early moments shaped everything that followed. They showed me how a single gesture can brighten someone’s day, and how meaningful human connection can be, especially during difficult times.

These experiences became the foundation for Brighten A Heart™, guiding how every comfort care tote is thoughtfully created today.

ᰔᩚ November–December 2019

Seasonal Giving – NYC

In New York City, I spent many holidays creating hundreds of mini floral arrangements in my apartment for homebound seniors.

Citymeals on Wheels would pick them up and deliver them alongside warm meals that day. Knowing each bouquet would arrive at someone’s door as a small surprise of color and care was incredibly meaningful.

That experience helped shape how Brighten A Heart™ approaches seasonal giving today, focusing on simple, thoughtful additions that bring warmth exactly when it is needed most.

Multiple colorful flower arrangements with various types of flowers in glass vases.

A young woman and an elderly woman take a selfie together, holding a vibrant bouquet of multicolored flowers, smiling with a background of a light-colored room and window

Colorful mixed flower bouquet in a glass vase on a table, with a Thanksgiving message tag attached.

ᰔᩚ 2019–2020

Literacy & Community Initiatives

I am deeply grateful to have partnered with Toli Management, led by Tony Rodriguez. Tony has always shown up for his community and believed in this work long before Brighten A Heart™ had a name.

His support helped bring these early projects to life, reaching thousands of families and showing how meaningful community-driven efforts can be.

A group of young children and a woman sitting together in a room, holding books titled 'Questions for Breakfast'. Some children are smiling, and they are surrounded by colorful question marks and a cartoon character with a surprised expression.

During the grand opening week of the McDonald’s location across from the Bronx Zoo in July 2019, I hosted a special book signing event for my children’s book Questions for Breakfast, in partnership with Toli Management.

I donated and personally signed books for children, spending the day reading, connecting with families, and encouraging curiosity through storytelling.

A woman sitting at a table with children celebrating a birthday with balloons, cake, and a question game for breakfast.

Inspired by that experience, I later collaborated again with Toli Management and Literacy Inc., known as Literacy in Community (LINC), a New York nonprofit that equips children with foundational literacy skills by empowering families and mobilizing the community.

Collage of four photos showing children and adults at a retail store. In the top left, a boy and girl wearing masks, with the girl holding a rolled item. In the top right, a girl at the checkout counter exchanging a paper with a cashier. In the bottom right, a woman handing a young boy a card or gift bag. In the bottom left, a woman and a child in masks, with a checkout screen visible in the background.

Together, we created Thankful November, a community initiative launched in November 2020 across 14 McDonald’s locations in New York City. Throughout the month, team members handed out oversized placemats inside the restaurants and through the drive-thru. I designed each placemat with gratitude-themed artwork and writing prompts, incorporating characters from my children’s book, Questions for Breakfast. Each one invited families to share what they were thankful for, turning an everyday meal into a moment of reflection and connection during a challenging year.

Flyer for a literacy event called 'Thankful November' hosted by Literacy Inc. (LINC) in partnership with McDonald's, scheduled for November 20, 2020, at 4:00 PM. The flyer features cartoon illustrations of smiling oranges, bowls of food, and a book cover titled 'Questions for Breakfast' by Sabrina Miller. It includes registration details, a QR code, and social media handles for Literacy Inc., along with the address 5030 Broadway, Suite 641, New York, NY 10034.

Special thanks to Corey Saxton and the LINC team for collaborating with me on Thankful November, and for inviting me to read Questions for Breakfast with LINC families on Zoom on November 20, 2020. That invitation was truly a highlight for me. If you would like to learn more about their work, I encourage you to visit LINC’s website and explore ways to support their mission.

Children receiving paper scrolls from a staff member at a fast food restaurant while wearing masks.

ᰔᩚ August 2021

Reach Out and Read – Celebrating Literacy & Connection

In August 2021, I had the honor of collaborating with Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, that gives young children a strong foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

Through a network of more than 230 medical programs across New York City, Reach Out and Read partners with pediatric providers who give children a prescription for reading. They offer a book at every well visit and guide parents on how to build strong, loving connections through shared reading.

Children's activity worksheet with a colorful border filled with flowers, leaves, and butterflies. The worksheet includes a fruity maze, a matching activity connecting fruits to names, and a letter writing exercise. There are cartoon characters of fruits with faces, arms, and legs, and a section with social media handles and health organization logos.

As part of Reach Out and Read’s Community Partnership Series, I was featured as an author and volunteer, sharing Questions for Breakfast and encouraging families to discover the joy of reading together.

To support their mission, I organized a fundraising event using my book and helped raise $5,000. This milestone would not have been possible without the generous support of a New York City family foundation. I am deeply grateful for their belief in early literacy and for helping make this contribution possible.

I also want to share special thanks to Emily Marchese, Executive Director, and Kari Kurjiaka, Director of Literacy and Public Policy. They welcomed me and my ideas with genuine kindness and encouragement, and their passion for giving back has stayed with me.

Meeting them left a lasting impression. It reminded me of the kind of leader I hope to become, thoughtful, purpose driven, and consistent in how I show up for others.

If you are interested, I encourage you to visit Reach Out and Read’s website to learn more about their mission.

Colorful border with flowers, fruits, bees, butterflies, and sun illustration. Center blank space with instruction to draw favorite breakfast foods, written in English and Spanish.

Watch the Video

A special video created by Reach Out and Read of Greater New York highlights our collaboration and celebrates the joy of reading, curiosity, and kindness.

“A shared belief that reading aloud builds confidence, connection, and a brighter start for every child.”