Interviews and Speeches

What a joy it is to stand before you today — in a room full of hope, generosity, and shared humanity. As the founder of the Gimbrown Foundation, I am humbled, once again, by the spirit that brings us together this evening. This is not just a gift-sharing event; this is a moment of connection. A moment of kindness. A moment where we look beyond ourselves and say to someone else, “You matter.”

I want to start by thanking every single one of you — our donors, our volunteers, our community partners, and our beloved recipients — for being part of this journey. Whether you brought a toy, a bag of groceries, a warm coat, or simply your warm heart, your presence here matters. You are the soul of what we do.

Let me tell you a story.

About 15 years ago, I was walking through a neighborhood not far from here — a place where I spent much of my childhood. I saw a little girl, no older than 7, standing outside a community center. It was December, bitter cold, and all she had was a light sweater and sandals. She wasn't crying. She wasn’t begging. She was just... waiting.

I asked her who she was waiting for.
She said, “No one. I just like to watch the lights.”

Something about that stayed with me.

She wasn’t asking for anything. She wasn’t even aware she deserved more. But I knew, in that moment, that she — like every child, every person — deserved warmth. Not just physical warmth, but the warmth of being seen. Of being remembered. Of knowing that someone, somewhere, cares.

That moment was the spark that became the Gimbrown Foundation.

Since that day, we’ve grown from a small group of volunteers in a church basement to a movement that now reaches thousands of families across the region. We have built programs around education, health, housing, mentorship — but at the heart of it all is what we are doing here tonight: sharing.

Because giving a gift is more than an act of charity. It’s an act of dignity. It's a message that says, “You are not forgotten.”

To our generous sponsors and partners — thank you. Your support enables us to do the work on the ground, day in and day out. You fund the backpacks we distribute at the start of every school year. You fund the meals we serve every weekend. You even fund the little things — like the ribbon on a wrapped toy, the cozy socks in a gift bag — that remind people someone took time to care.

To our incredible volunteers — you are the heartbeat of this foundation. You wrap, deliver, organize, coordinate. You show up when no one else will. Many of you juggle jobs, families, and countless responsibilities, yet still make time to serve. That is extraordinary.

To our recipients — the families, elders, and children here today — let me say this from the deepest part of my heart: You inspire us. You are not here just to receive. You are here because you matter. Your resilience, your courage, your faith in better days — that is what drives this entire mission. We learn more from you than you will ever know.

This evening, as you open your gifts, I want you to know something: Behind every package is a person. A person who took time to pick something out with love. Who thought about your joy. Who wanted to bring you a moment of light, no matter how small.

Because joy is powerful.
It is healing.
It reminds us that even in difficult times, we can create beauty.

Now, friends — let us not make this an event that comes and goes, a one-night experience that fades. Let this be a movement. Let this kindness ripple beyond this room. Let us check on our neighbors, uplift a stranger, volunteer, advocate, do more.

Because a better world doesn’t come from grand gestures alone. It comes from small, consistent acts of care — just like this.

I’ll end with a quote that has guided me for many years. It’s from Maya Angelou. She said: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Let’s make each other feel seen, valued, and loved — not just today, but every day.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here, for giving, for believing.

Let’s continue building something beautiful together.

Happy holidays, and may tonight’s joy stay with you all year long.