January 17, 2025

Kyrus Charities Rebrands as Accelerated Visions

A story from Accelerated Visions, Sterling, Virginia.

New Name Reflects Expanded Mission to Drive Nonprofit Growth Through Student Innovation

Loudoun County, VA (January 17, 2025): Kyrus Charities, a nationally active 501(c)(3) based in Loudoun County, announced its rebranding to Accelerated Visions (AV). The new name underscores the organization's commitment to empowering emerging nonprofits through student-driven innovation and technology solutions.

At the time of the announcement, Accelerated Visions connected emerging nonprofits with students who develop technology and other innovative solutions the nonprofits would otherwise be unable to afford, with volunteers from the local tech community providing project and career guidance.

“We are one of the rare organizations that simultaneously benefit three key groups,” said Kerrie Schram, Executive Director of Accelerated Visions. “We're advancing nonprofit missions, enhancing students' real-world experience, and amplifying the impact of our mentors, all at once. That's why we've chosen to rebrand as 'Accelerated Visions.' Our mission has grown far beyond what we initially envisioned at Kyrus Charities, and this new name reflects the expanded scope and ambition of our work.”

The announcement named nonprofits Accelerated Visions was working with, including 500 Rising, Flip Flop Friends, Loudoun Cares, ShelterHouse, UpsideDown Moments, and Vets' Retreat Virginia. Work with 500 Rising and students from West Virginia University (Data Driven WV) helped engineer a custom learning and content management solution that saved the nonprofit significant time and money.

“Being selected for the accelerator project was a privilege on many levels. Financially, the tech stack created for us through Kyrus Technologies mentorship with students from WVU Data Driven program would have been, and likely would always be, out of reach. It's been estimated the hours and experience invested in our project would have run upwards to $60,000, possibly more. The realized benefit from the students and mentors' investment into our work has allowed us to have a global impact instead of working solely within our circle of friends and colleagues in the U.S. As a 501 (c) 3 organization our mission is to inspire change. The accelerator project had made that possible,” said Tammy McCracken, CEO of 500 Rising.

Students Leonardo Cuellar and Hannah Wilkinson contributed 50 percent of their time to the #500Rising project with Kyrus Charities and Kyrus Tech, a commitment valued at $12,000 for the year.

“Working on the #500Rising project provided me with valuable experiential learning and extensive,” said Leonardo Cuellar, a student in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. “The mentorship on processes currently used in the industry really helped me stand out from other applicants. Accelerated Visions has been pivotal in shaping my professional journey.”

“The whole experience has been incredible, the students DataDriver WVU selects are blue-chip contributors,” said Dan Barton, a Software Engineer at Kyrus. “To help grow the next generation of problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders is something every mentor should cherish.”

“This rebrand and renaming is just the start for AV,” Schram said. “We are tirelessly focused on building an organization that has the capacity to help multiple populations at once. Our partner nonprofits, students, and mentors are among the best in the world and we can't wait to accelerate their progress toward their very big visions.”