Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Caragliano.
Hi Ariana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Balloon Brigade was born out of a real need — and a little bit of mom panic. My sister-in-law sounded the alarm: while she was at one event for my niece, she asked me to grab balloons for my nephew’s 14th birthday party, which was later that day. I jumped in to help, but as I scrambled, I realized just how hard it was to find something special, fast, reasonably priced, and stress-free.
That moment stuck with me. If two moms who plan everything could still end up in balloon chaos, how many others were running into the same frustration?
So I decided to change that, and even though The Balloon Brigade began as one mom helping another, it grew into a family-run way to make celebrations easier, happier, and more personal. Now, every bouquet, arch, column that we deliver is made with love, thoughtful touches, and the kind of care I’d want for my own kids’ big moments.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not — it’s been anything but smooth. When I started The Balloon Brigade, I had no idea what I was doing. I spent countless late nights teaching myself everything — building my first website on Canva, ordering inventory, figuring out Yelp and Google Ads, taking on jobs and sometimes failing, redesigning logos, and eventually realizing I needed a more powerful website, which led me to hire a company to rebuild it. I juggled all of this while working full-time for a nonprofit and teaching as an adjunct professor — many of my custom balloon creations happened between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
What surprised me most was how much I grew to love the creative process. At first, it was just about solving a problem, but I found real joy in learning how to work with balloons — how to twist, layer, and shape them into something special and one-of-a-kind. Even when things got hard — like overbooking myself or dealing with last-minute changes when someone’s plans shifted — it taught me how to adapt, stay resilient, and keep moving forward.
It hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has made the business stronger and reminded me why I started in the first place.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of purpose, strategy, and creativity. Today, I serve as the Chief Advancement Officer at the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting injured service members, veterans, and their families. In that role, I lead all aspects of fundraising and development — from major gift campaigns and grant strategy to communications, marketing, and large-scale events. Over the past few years, I’ve helped drive record-breaking campaigns, close critical budget gaps, and grow both revenue and donor engagement so we can serve more military families in meaningful ways.
Before joining Yellow Ribbon Fund, I worked within the City University of New York system, where I managed academic programs, handled data and reporting, and created communication strategies to connect students and faculty with key initiatives. I’ve also spent many years as an adjunct lecturer in psychology and neuroscience, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of my professional life. Teaching and mentoring students — especially helping them navigate their career paths and think about impact-driven work — has shaped how I lead and build teams today.
My academic background is in neuropsychology; I earned my master’s degree at The Graduate Center of CUNY and continued into a Ph.D. program, focusing on the brain and behavior. That training taught me how to think critically, analyze complex problems, and communicate ideas clearly — skills that have carried into every part of my career.
At first glance, launching The Balloon Brigade might seem like a departure from my nonprofit and academic work, but to me, it’s a natural extension of what I love to do: create something meaningful, solve real problems for people, and bring joy into their lives. I didn’t plan to start a business, but when I saw the need — and felt it myself — I leaned on the same determination and resourcefulness that have guided me professionally. Whether it’s building fundraising campaigns or designing a one-of-a-kind balloon arrangement at midnight, it all comes from the same place: a drive to make an impact and to create experiences that matter. What I’m most proud of is that I’ve never stopped growing — and I’ve done it while showing my three daughters what it means to dream big and work hard. Continuing my education, even when life was busy and messy, was important to me because I wanted them to see that it’s never too late to keep learning and building the life you want.
I’m proud that I’ve been able to create something lasting — a legacy for my family — while also making an impact for other families. Whether it’s through my work supporting military families at Yellow Ribbon Fund or bringing joy to life’s milestones through The Balloon Brigade, I know my girls are watching. I want them to see that you can be both ambitious and compassionate, that you can create something meaningful while lifting others up along the way.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is family and impact — leaving the world a little better for my daughters and for the people whose lives I touch. My three girls are at the heart of everything I do. I want them to see that with hard work, kindness, and resilience, they can build the life they dream of. I want to be the example that shows them it’s possible to chase big goals while staying grounded in love and purpose.
Impact matters because life is about more than just what we achieve for ourselves. Through my work in the nonprofit world and with The Balloon Brigade, I’ve seen how even small acts — helping a military family feel supported during crisis or delivering balloons that make a child’s birthday unforgettable — can change how people feel and remember their most important moments. Knowing that what I do creates joy and comfort for others is what drives me every day.
Pricing:
- We truly work with all budgets — I would be heartbroken if someone wanted balloons but felt they couldn’t afford them. If there’s one thing I do, it’s make sure to work with what you need and the budget you’re comfortable with. I’ve even had someone call me just to ask if my prices were real because they were surprised that custom designs could be both beautiful and affordable.
- Balloon Bouquets: starting at $65 (includes delivery
- Balloon Columns: $20–$25 per foot (custom colors & accents available)
- Balloon Arches: typically $300–$500+ depending on size, style, and complexity
- Full Event Installations: fully customized — most range from $350–$1,000+ depending on scale & design
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ordertheballoonbrigade.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balloonsbythebrigade/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalloonsByTheBrigade
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theballoonbrigade-25?si=YYjw1CAD–h7GXT0
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-balloon-brigade-boca-raton
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Balloon+Brigade,+LLC/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x88c9673ed46989f7?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111
Image Credits
Sasha 857.247.4459
