Generous Impact

In this thought-provoking episode of Generous Impact, hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt sit down with Lisa Sugarman, a mental health advocate and crisis counselor, to uncover her inspiring journey from personal tragedy to becoming a force for change in the realm of suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

Lisa opens up about the heartbreak of losing loved ones to suicide and how these experiences shaped her mission to help end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Through her roles as a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a facilitator with Samaritans, and a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project, Lisa is committed to empowering others by normalizing discussions about mental health, grief, and loss.

Discover the creation of The HelpHUB, Lisa's innovative platform designed to provide resources and support for individuals facing mental health challenges tailored to various communities. This episode serves as a beacon of hope and encouragement, emphasizing that no one is alone and resources are available for those in need.

In this episode of Generous Impact, hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt welcome Dr. Tim Packer, the Executive Director of The Cove in Waco, Texas. Dr. Packer shares his extraordinary journey from working in housing and homelessness services in Scotland to making a significant impact on homeless high school youth in Texas. He delves into how The Cove provides a nurturing environment for these youths, offering stability, hope, and crucial relational connections essential for their development.

Listen as Dr. Packer sheds light on the complexities surrounding youth homelessness, exploring both systemic issues and individual struggles. The discussion highlights how The Cove’s holistic approach addresses the educational and emotional needs of the youth, aiming to make their homelessness experience rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Join this insightful conversation to learn more about how communities can support homeless youth in achieving successful transitions into adulthood, and the role of advocacy and legislative efforts in this process.

Find them at TheCoveWaco.org.

Join Bret and Amanda Brummitt in a deeply insightful conversation with Mark Hilbelink, the Executive Director of Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in Austin.

In this episode, Mark shares his unexpected journey from pastorship to leading a groundbreaking homeless navigation center. Learn about the innovative, trauma-informed services Sunrise offers, which include connecting people experiencing homelessness to essential resources and housing opportunities. Discover how the interconnected model and compassionate community focus are making significant impacts in Austin and beyond, ultimately striving to solve the complex problem of homelessness in a holistic way.

Find them at SunriseNavigationCenter.org.

In this episode of Generous Impact, hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt are joined by Jose Ferrua, Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Lone Star Circle of Care. Discover how this Texas-based organization provides healthcare to over 100,000 patients annually, regardless of their financial situation.

Jose shares insights from his journey from the Dominican Republic to becoming a healthcare leader at Lone Star Circle of Care, highlighting his commitment to eliminating health inequities and expanding access to care.

Learn about the organization's vision to bridge healthcare gaps, providing quality and affordable care to all. This episode also touches on the importance of partnerships, community involvement, and continuous improvement in the healthcare sector.

Join Bret and Amanda Brummitt in this inspiring episode of Generous Impact as they sit down with Matt Vestal, co-founder of Junction Health. Discover how Junction Health is making a significant difference in the healthcare landscape by establishing infusion centers within Federally Qualified Health Centers. These centers aim to provide much-needed life-promoting infusions to patients who face financial barriers in accessing traditional healthcare models.

Matt Vestal shares his professional journey, starting from his early career at Cerner to co-founding Junction Health dedicated to serving underserved communities. Dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of operating infusion centers, the importance of the 340B pharmacy program, and how Junction Health is successfully partnering with federally qualified health centers to address healthcare access constraints.

Listen in to hear stories that depict the real-life impacts of Junction Health's innovative approach, which not only delivers critical medications to patients in need but also injects vital revenue into health centers that serves the community. Discover the collaborative and compassionate culture fostered by Junction Health's team, determined to bring meaningful change to the world of healthcare.

Join Bret and Amanda Brummitt as they delve into the transformative work of Texas Native Health in Dallas with special guest, Dr. Cassandra Self. This episode highlights the organization's comprehensive support system for the Indigenous community, ranging from primary care and diabetes management to behavioral health counseling and career training.

Discover how Texas Native Health is not just providing healthcare but is also building a healthier future for Native Americans by addressing unique challenges such as human trafficking victim support and promoting cultural awareness and revitalization.

Learn about Cass' personal journey and her dedication to community service amidst her background as a healthcare executive. Explore how her insights and experiences contribute to Texas Native Health's mission of empowering Indigenous populations throughout Texas, and how you can support their impactful initiatives.

Learn more at TexasNativeHealth.org. 

Join Bret and Amanda Brummitt as they welcome their esteemed friend and colleague Tawnia Wise, founder of WISE Resource Development. In this insightful episode, Tawnia shares her journey to becoming a transformative force in the nonprofit sector. Discover how WISE Resource Development supports nonprofits by alleviating the burdens of fundraising and recruiting while fostering dignity and respect for all involved. Tawnia's personal and professional growth fuels her mission to empower those around her and create lasting partnerships that strengthen communities.

Listen in as Tawnia discusses the importance of nonprofit sustainability and the vital role of leadership and culture in achieving this goal. From her heartfelt commitment to lifelong learning to the recent achievement of B Corp certification, Tawnia and her team continually strive for excellence and greater impact. Whether you're involved in nonprofit work or simply want to make a positive difference, this episode offers invaluable insights and inspiration for supporting the causes you care about.

In this touching episode of Generous Impact, hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt sit down with Jennifer Lee, a remarkable software engineer and mother of two, who is making a significant difference in the lives of homeless women in her Austin neighborhood. Despite her full-time job and family commitments, Jennifer finds time to offer crucial support and resources to those in need, driven by a genuine care for her community.

Jennifer shares the organic journey that led her from being a regular neighbor to a vital support system for women like Jen, Tanya, and Shay, who faced homelessness. Through perseverance, empathy, and tireless advocacy, Jennifer has helped these women find stable housing and access to essential services.

Listeners will be moved by Jennifer's dedication and the personal sacrifices she makes to help her neighbors in need. Tune in to be inspired by Jennifer's message of empathy and her call to action in recognizing and humanizing our unhoused neighbors.

Welcome to Generous Impact with Bret and Amanda Brummitt. In this episode, they sit down with their longtime friend Adama Iwu, who brings over two decades of experience in government affairs. Adama shares invaluable insights on how engaging with politics at the local level and being an informed voter can significantly impact your community and the nation.

Adama details her journey from starting as a fellow in the Schwarzenegger administration to becoming a lobbyist for a large financial services company. She discusses the importance of civic engagement, the various dimensions it encompasses, and practical ways to get involved.

They explore the necessity of voting, the influence of local elections, and how outside money can shape local politics. Adama also provides tips on trustworthy news sources, tracking campaign finance, and the importance of having a voting plan. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact in their community.

Election Assistance Committee to help at the polls: https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote

Vote Forward to write letters to voters to encourage election turnout: http://votefwd.org/ 

We are joined today by Andi Gillentine, Vice President of the Board for Gazelle Foundation and Plan Chief Operating Officer at Fidelis Care. In this episode, you'll hear how Gazelle Foundation is bringing clean water to the people of Burundi.

Andi shares her personal and professional background, highlighting her journey from Texas to New York, and her extensive experience in healthcare and public health. She explains how she first became involved with the Gazelle Foundation through a transformative encounter with its founder, Gilbert, a genocide survivor from Burundi.

We delve into the impactful work of the Gazelle Foundation, which has built 70 water systems in Burundi, providing clean water to over 100,000 people. Andi discusses the profound health and educational benefits of clean water, including reduced infant mortality rates and improved opportunities for young women.

Andi emphasizes the importance of clean water for public health and shares her vision for the foundation's future. She also draws parallels between her work in healthcare and the foundation's mission, highlighting the role of health equity in both areas.

If you're in the Austin area, consider participating in the Run for the Water event on November 3rd to support their mission. Learn more about their work and how you can contribute at GazelleFoundation.org.