Memphis stylist uplifts charities with big balloon display
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis balloon stylist took her talents overseas this month to uplift several good causes.
Brittanae Campbell, owner of Ivy League Balloon Co. in Memphis, joined 79 other artists from around the world for the Big Balloon Build. It’s an event creating massive balloon towns in different cities.
In early December, the build was held in the U.K. in Guildford, just outside of London. Campbell was the only Tennessee stylist selected to participate in this build.
“The first time I applied, I didn’t get selected for the first build,” said Campbell. “Then I got an email that said, ‘Hey, would you like to go to London with us?'”
Campbell hopped across the pond from Dec. 10-15, 2023, to help craft this build called “Christmas in London.” Stylists used more than 125,000 balloons to create a massive display inside a 12,000-square-foot facility.
“Our team of five built the Gnome Village, so it’s a cute little houses, a water well which was probably our biggest challenge, the pond,” said Campbell.
“Just the gnome village I believe the balloon count for the five stylists was 23,000 balloons. So we physically touched and handled 23,000 balloons. One day we worked 15 hours straight. My hands were hurting, my back was hurting.”
The hard work paid off, especially for Campbell who says the cause is dear to her heart. The event raises money from ticket sales through the weekend for people to view the balloon village.
Benefiting from this build is a network of charities, including a hospice care organization.
“Just the thought of hospice was near to me because I lost a brother in May and we went through the whole hospice process,” said Campbell. “I really didn’t process until I got on the plane, headed home, that the work that I had output was actually going towards something bigger than myself.”
According to its website, in the past 18 months, the Big Balloon Build has raised more than $575,000 dollars for dozens of charities worldwide. And Campbell has already been selected to join another Big Balloon Build in Ohio set for next summer.
“It was fun, it was fulfilling, it was rewarding,” said Campbell. “It was probably the biggest things I’ve ever been a part of, but it won’t be the last.”
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