The Brave Box

06/01/2026

Calling all 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐔 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐬 — we want to hear from you.

We want to help advocate for the strength you carry, the courage you show, and the support you provide for your families each and every day.

As part of Men’s 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 this June and alongside our Father’s Day Brave Box (The Brave Box) initiative, we are looking to connect with 4–5 current or former NICU fathers willing to answer three simple questions to help raise awareness and share the realities of the NICU journey from a father’s perspective.

Your story matters. Your voice matters.

If you are interested in being part of this project, please connect with us via email. We would be honored to share your story.

A small 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 as we prepare for Father’s Day: we are also actively collecting donations for our Purple Bin initiative. We are seeking new, unopened essential care items, comfort items, and gifts specifically for fathers navigating the NICU journey. Donations can be dropped off at the Isanti County Sheriff's Office. Thank you for helping us remind dads that they are seen, valued, and supported too.

Nicholas & Shacreya Lee
Founder, The Brave Foundation | The Brave Box Project
NICU Family Support System Advocates
Email: [email protected]

05/28/2026

Keep up the great work we need your support to make this happen!! HELP HERE👉 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5EAL1131PKLM?ref_=wl_share

05/26/2026

🔥🔥🔥

🚨 A Powerful Community Partnership Is On The Way 🚨

This June, The Brave Foundation is honored to partner with the Isanti County Sheriff's Office Office for a meaningful community-wide initiative focused on 𝐌𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 — with a special focus on NICU fathers and families.

As part of this partnership, the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office will serve as an 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐧 Initiative, helping collect brand-new, unused comfort and self-care items that will be placed inside designated NICU family-only spaces throughout local hospitals.

Feel free to begin drop offs as soon as TODAY!

This mission is deeply personal.

As a two-time NICU dad, 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐞 — 𝐂𝐨-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 & 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 of The Brave Foundation — knows firsthand the emotional weight fathers silently carry during a NICU journey: the fear, uncertainty, exhaustion, pressure to stay strong, and the reality that dads are often overlooked in conversations surrounding mental health and support.

Together, we want to help change that.

This Father’s Day season, our community will have the opportunity to remind NICU fathers that they are seen, valued, supported, and never alone.

💜 We will be collecting new and unused:
• Lotion
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste & hygiene essentials
• Cozy socks
• Hats & beanies
• Tumbler cups & water bottles
• Sunglasses
• Journals
• Gift cards
• Comfort items & thoughtful merchandise that help dads feel encouraged and supported

All donations will help stock our Purple Bins located in designated NICU family spaces, creating small moments of comfort and care for parents navigating some of life’s hardest days.

Other details and information, on ways to get involved will be announced soon as we prepare for our Father’s Day boxing party with The Brave Box gifts!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 to the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office and our community for standing alongside us in support of fathers, mental health awareness, and NICU families throughout our community.

Stay tuned. 💜

05/25/2026

05/23/2026

This work matters! 🖤

Something meaningful is coming this Father’s Day.

Behind strong fathers are stories rarely told — conversations many quietly carry and rarely speak about.
Nicholas Lee, Co-Founder & Vice President of The Brave Foundation - NICU Support is sharing something deeply personal to help shine a light on men’s mental health, fatherhood, and the unseen weight many dads carry in silence, especially throughout the NICU journey.

Nicholas Lee’s Father’s Day Wish List is now live.

You can now shop and help contribute meaningful Father’s Day gifts for dads currently navigating the NICU journey.

Stay tuned to learn more about this powerful campaign focused on fatherhood, men’s mental health, and the unseen weight many fathers quietly carry — and how you can support, get involved, and make an impact this Father’s Day.

The The Brave Box Father’s Day wish list👉 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5EAL1131PKLM?ref_=wl_share

05/22/2026

📣 Calling Our Community Supporters 💙

You’ve seen the direct impact a Brave Box can make on a NICU family. You’ve seen our dedication to ensuring parents feel seen, encouraged, supported, and reminded to keep fighting during one of the hardest journeys imaginable.

Now, we need your help to make sure NICU dads are seen too.

This Father’s Day, we are intentionally preparing thoughtful boxes of encouragement for fathers navigating a NICU crisis — fathers carrying fear, pressure, exhaustion, and emotional weight quietly behind the scenes every single day.

Too often, dads are overlooked during the NICU journey. But they matter deeply. Their mental health matters. Their strength matters. Their presence matters.

Would you consider shopping an item from our Father’s Day Wishlist today to help us remind NICU fathers that they are not forgotten, unseen, or alone?

💪𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5EAL1131PKLM?ref_=wl_share

Every item donated becomes part of a meaningful care package designed to encourage, uplift, and strengthen dads during an incredibly difficult season.

Together, we can help carry some of the weight. 🤍 The Brave Foundation - NICU Support

05/19/2026

Happy Birthday to the most incredibly strong and brave little boy we know. 💙

Today our hearts are filled with gratitude, joy, and so many emotions as we celebrate the gift of YOU. Over the last four years, Brave, you have continued to defy the odds and inspire everyone around you with your strength, resilience, and beautiful spirit.

Your journey has become a testimony that children like you are capable of anything. Through every challenge, every milestone, and every victory, you continue to shine brighter than ever.

We are beyond thankful that God chose us to be your parents, and we are so proud of the legacy, impact, and ministry your life has already begun in and through us.

Happy 4th Birthday, sweet boy. We love you more than words could ever express. 💙

💙

05/17/2026

𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐔𝐏 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌! 🔥

As a father, there are moments from our NICU journey that will stay with me forever.

Watching not one, but two of my children fight for their lives.

Walking into hospital rooms filled with machines, alarms, uncertainty, and fear.
Trying to be strong for my wife while silently falling apart inside myself.

Carrying the weight of providing, protecting, leading, advocating, and surviving all at once.

And the truth is… many NICU fathers are doing the exact same thing right now.

As a society, we often rally beautifully around mothers navigating the NICU journey — and rightfully so. But unintentionally, fathers are often overlooked. They are expected to stay composed. To hold everything together. To suppress the fear, trauma, exhaustion, anxiety, and mental toll that comes with watching your child live on life support while trying to keep your family emotionally afloat.

𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭.

As 𝐂𝐨-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 of The Brave Foundation - NICU Support and The Brave Box Project, I believe it is time we begin showing up for fathers in a more meaningful, intentional, and impactful way.

This Father’s Day campaign is deeply personal to me.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll begin opening up more about the mental toll I suffered as a two-time NICU father — and the reality of having two children on life support at the same time. I want fathers to know they are seen. They are valued. They are allowed to struggle. And they deserve support too.

This campaign is bigger than care packages.
This is advocacy.
This is awareness.
This is breaking the silence surrounding men’s mental health in the NICU community.

Today, I’m asking our community to help us show up for these fathers.

Please visit our Father’s Day Wishlist and help us fill Brave Boxes with meaningful items that remind NICU dads they are not forgotten. Your support directly impacts fathers walking through some of the hardest days of their lives.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 at:
thebravebox.org under the “Wishlist” tab
or directly here: 👉
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5EAL1131PKLM?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for believing in this mission.
Thank you for helping us advocate for fathers.
And thank you for helping ensure no parent walks the NICU journey alone.

“I’m not who I was, I’m stronger“

— Nicholas Lee