![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3059-300x200.jpg\")
By Asia Nail\nThe Truth Reporter<\/p>\n
By Asia Nail
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/p>\n
When you talk to Jason Rayford, CEO of 1983 The Brand<\/strong>, you can tell right away that he carries Toledo on his shoulders the way someone carries a treasured family heirloom\u2014carefully, proudly and with purpose. His voice moves with the steady rhythm of someone who has built something brick by brick, late night after late night, fueled by faith, focus and community.<\/p>\n Jason didn\u2019t wake up one day and say, \u201cLet me start a whole creative agency.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>It wasn\u2019t that simple. Instead, the spark showed up quietly, almost like someone lighting a candle in a dark room. At the time, Toledo\u2019s creative scene felt all over the place, like puzzle pieces with no picture to follow. \u201cI identified a void,\u201d recalls Rayford. \u201cI sensed a lack. Rather than ignore my intuition, I leaned in.\u201d And he co-founded 1983 The Brand with Nate Maddox and David James.<\/p>\n Initially, 1983 The Brand was simply hosting events. A party here, a show there, something to bring joy to the city. But soon, Rayford realized something deeper: he had a natural gift for helping people with their music. Artists trusted him. They brought him their concepts and ideas, and somehow he seemed to instinctively know how to help them turn those aspirations into reality. The moment Rayford understood that his guidance could help others grow – that was the true beginning of 1983 The Brand.<\/p>\n “I honestly,” Rayford stated, “went from parties to a music label. Now, I guess you can say the brand is like a whole television set with eight channels playing at once as a picture-in-picture.”<\/p>\n Music. Media. Production. Business consulting. Marketing. Events. Community service. Mental health advocacy.<\/p>\n What began small has evolved into a multi-lane organization centered around community, trust, and collaboration<\/strong>. And the best part? Jason didn\u2019t do it alone.<\/p>\n The Team Behind the Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n 1983 The Brand feels less like a company and more like a family cookout. Everybody has a job, everybody helps, and nobody leaves until the work is done.<\/p>\n Rayford speaks about his team with such heart that it\u2019s easy to imagine them gathering around one table, brainstorming projects the way families come together to plan Sunday dinner.<\/p>\n His team consists of:<\/p>\n All of the members of the team work full-time jobs, yet still pour their hearts into community events and creative projects.\u201cThere\u2019s always a voice in the room saying, \u2018We still have work to do. We still have to show up for the community,\u2019\u201d Rayford says. \u201cThat\u2019s what keeps us moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Their working relationship is like a well tuned choir: different voices, different melodies, but all singing the same tune. Now, the team moves in sync, sometimes finishing each other\u2019s thoughts. But that rhythm took time to build. Rayford chuckles as he remembers the early days, when blending personalities felt like trying to match two different tempos. Today, those same differences create their strongest harmony.<\/p>\n A Mission Rooted in People, Not Products<\/strong><\/p>\n Many creative agencies focus upon the end result: the perfect-looking video, the precise logo, the large-scale event. Rayford and his team, however, chose early-on that their focus would always be people first<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “Our non-profit events can\u2019t happen without the people,” Rayford affirms. \u201cEvery person who attends, every vendor, every performer, every volunteer, that\u2019s what makes it work.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, what they do is not a money grab. In fact, most people would be shocked to learn the truth: Zero. When individuals purchase tickets to attend, half of the revenue generated is used to cover costs associated with food and labor (such as lighting, sound, technical support – items many individuals do not consider). The remaining portion of the funds is donated directly to the non-profit organization they are honoring that year. Therefore, the team departs with empty pockets – yet, with full hearts.<\/p>\n After people hear that, Jason says, many ask, \u201cWell then\u2026 why do you do it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n His answer is simple: because it\u2019s about the community.<\/strong><\/p>\n Over six years, they\u2019ve recognized and honored numerous non-profits making significant contributions to improving lives in Toledo – including Mom’s House, Isaiah’s House, Brothers United, and more. This year, they honored Pathway Inc.\u2019s Brothers United program, which supports fathers and strengthens families across Lucas County.<\/p>\n Building Events That Heal, Not Just Entertain<\/strong><\/p>\n Rayford and his team think deeply about the emotional side of their work. Mental health is not a side mission for 1983 The Brand – it is the underlying foundation of all they do.<\/p>\n He recounted the numerous nonprofit leaders that have expressed to him that the gala felt like their first opportunity to breathe, like the first time they were able to enjoy a night without the weight of their title. In their everyday jobs, these leaders must keep everything together, like rubber bands stretched to their limit. But at the gala, they can finally relax, dance, laugh, and be fully human.<\/p>\n The team even created a special drink this year called the Brothers Bourbon Lemon Drop<\/strong>, just for Brothers United, to make them feel seen. Small touches like that soften the stress that often builds up behind the scenes.<\/p>\n Choosing Leaders Worth Celebrating<\/strong><\/p>\n Selecting the nonprofit to honor each year is an intentional process. The team follows the needs of the community, not trends. They look for programs that fill real gaps, whether it\u2019s supporting young men, feeding families, helping single moms, or providing safe spaces for kids in crisis.<\/p>\n For 2026, the theme will be homelessness<\/strong>, which connects closely to mental health. It\u2019s a need that keeps growing, and 1983 The Brand is determined to shine a brighter light on it.<\/p>\n The Heart of the Brand: A Leader Who Doesn\u2019t Want the Spotlight<\/strong><\/p>\n What distinguishes Rayford from many other successful leaders is that he continually strives to minimize his own spotlight and widen everyone else\u2019s. He admits that he’s even tried to dodge interviews and photo shoots because he wants the team to get just as much recognition.<\/p>\n But his team always brings him back: \u201cYou opened this door. Now you have to walk through it. We will be standing by you.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s Next for 1983 The Brand<\/strong><\/p>\n 1983 The Brand has several big projects on the horizon:<\/p>\n The momentum is only growing. As Jason looks ahead, the goal remains the same: serve the people, uplift the city, and keep building a creative space where everyone belongs.<\/p>\n In a world that often overlooks mid-sized cities like Toledo, 1983 The Brand stands as proof that powerful things can grow in hometown soil.<\/strong> Some people build businesses. Others build communities. Jason Rayford and his team found a way to do both.<\/p>\n\n
\n1983 The Brand doesn\u2019t make profit from their annual BLAK Gala.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNothing.
\nNot a penny.<\/p>\n\n