Staff

Brittany Hebert Franklin

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Brittany Hebert Franklin never met a challenge she wasn’t prepared to face head-on. Her early years in Louisiana produced hardships from her parents’ divorce, mother’s drug addiction, father’s depression, and her family’s home burning to the ground. Through adversity, she clung to her rallying cry, “do things bigger than yourself” and has continued to raise the bar for herself each year.

At 21, Brittany was approached to raise $10,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Brittany remembered her life-changing trip only five years prior. Inspired by the challenge, Franklin contacted a few friends and hosted a sporting clay tournament in hopes of raising the $10,000. That day, they raised $50,000.

For 13 years, Brittany excelled in the Oil and Gas industry while building Sky High for Kids in her personal time. She utilized her contacts and resources within the industry to build events throughout Texas and Louisiana–raising millions of dollars to fund research projects. Sky High for Kids was officially founded in 2007 and successfully operated as a volunteer-run organization until 2014. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide comfort, fund research and save the lives of those fighting pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

In 2018, Brittany became the foundation’s full-time CEO. Today, she is leading a team raising millions of dollars to help fund pediatric cancer research. Sky High funds projects at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Center and The Ronald McDonald House Charities, Memphis among others. Brittany’s leadership and passion has led Sky for High Kids to donate more than $14 million to research institutions and causes, including $4 million in 2019 alone. In 2018, Sky High for Kids ambitiously pledged to raise $40 million over the next 15 years for Texas Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ($20 per institution).Twenty million of the commitment benefits Texas Children’s Cancer Center projects Global HOPE initiative and the first immunotherapy center solely dedicated to pediatric cancer in the U.S. In addition, Sky High has committed to a $20 million pledge to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to fund a research floor within the new 625,000-square-foot Advanced Research Center (ARC). Research conducted throughout the ARC will help move pediatric cancer survival rates forward.

Brittany is a member of the Entrepreneurship Organization of Houston and Houston Pipeliners Association. She also serves on the Texas Children’s Cancer Center Advisory Board, Global Hope Campaign Executive Committee and Leadership Committee for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Memphis. Recognitions include Houston Business Journal’s 2016 40 Under 40 and Women to Watch in Business, St. Jude Houston Region Guest of Honor as well as one of Houston Modern Luxury’s 2017 Most Dynamic Women. Through her company, BMH Performance, LLC, she consults other nonprofit organizations, oil and gas service companies, and shares her story as a keynote speaker.

Brittany lives in Houston with her husband, James Robert, and two dogs.

SHAUNTAE CENTERS

Chief Operating Officer

Shauntae was born and raised in Fargo, ND and moved to Houston in 2008. She joined the Sky High Team in 2017 as the Executive Assistant to the CEO and believes her mission in life is to help find the cure for pediatric cancer. When not working, Shauntae enjoys spending time with her family, finding new recipes and staying active. The Sky High Team has become her second family as she continues to live the mission as Director of Operations.

Grace Clark

Director of Programs

Raised in Pearland, Texas, Grace is a Texas State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Relations and Business Administration.  Philanthropy and servant leadership was instilled in Grace through her upbringing and Christian faith. Serving others has always been at the forefront of her heart. Using her God given talents and passion to serve, Grace knew Sky High was the right career path for her.

Grace joined Sky High as an event coordinator in July 2018, where she spearheaded the Lafayette and West Texas events before transitioning into the Director of Events role in July 2021.  Since joining the team Grace has worked with committees in all five Sky High regions producing over 20 events and has been a key component in helping Sky High raise more than $25M towards our pledges. Her time and talent were used to help establish the largest fundraising arm of Sky High by creating event processes and procedures that took our mission to the next level.

After a successful 6 year run producing unforgettable events, Grace now serves as the Director of Programs where her love for structure and process implementation will be used to build and operate an extremely important part to our mission, providing comfort. Grace believes she has the best role at Sky High for Kids as she gets to work directly with the amazing families that we are honored to serve.

In her spare time, Grace enjoys staying active, riding the Peloton, reading, and spending time with her husband Caleb and son Collins.

Grace Debbink

Chief Financial Officer

Grace joined Sky High in February of 2023 with over 20 years of accounting experience in public, private, small business, and non-profit accounting.  Grace attended Texas State University, where she received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree in Accounting, and the University of Houston, receiving a Master of Science degree in Accounting.

Grace and her family recently settled back to Texas after her husband retired from twenty years of service in the United States Navy.  She and her husband have two children, two dogs and stay active with games, recitals and long weekends at the ballpark.

Megan Nunez

Office Manager & Executive Assistant to the CEO

Megan Nunez, a native Houstonian, began volunteering with Sky High for Kids and soon after, fell in love with the mission. In 2022, she decided to make the leap and make Sky High for Kids her full time career. In her current role, she is the Executive Assistant to the CEO, Office Manager and Programs Coordinator. She manages day to day office operations, our programs division, all things Brittany as well as assisting with events and so much more! In her spare time, she enjoys the beach, trying out new restaurants, family and her husband and two cats Magnolia & Olive.

Noel Jones

Marketing & Creative Manager

Noel Jones is a talented marketing professional and native Houstonian who graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Visualization and a minor in Communication. She began her professional career with Sky High for Kid as a Marketing Coordinator.

During her time at Texas A&M, Noel focused on interactive media and honed her skills in graphic design and UI/UX design. Outside of her studies, she was the Director of the only improv troupe on campus and hosted her own radio show on KANM: The College Station of College Station.

She currently resides in the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas. When she’s not busy with work, Noel enjoys attending concerts and spoiling her cat, Ringo with treats and affection.

Carly Owen

Event Coordinator

Carly Owen is a Houston native who discovered her passion for volunteering and ministry during her year-long journey around the world in 2017. She collaborated with various non-profits, churches, and ministries during her travels to 3 different continents. She always knew her place in the world was working to make it a little bit better than she found it.

In 2023, Carly decided to make a career out of her dedication and joined Sky High for Kids. She now serves as an Assistant Event Coordinator, working closely with her team to organize events that raise funds to fight and END Pediatric Cancer.

Outside of work, Carly finds joy in local and international travel, trying out new restaurants, cooking for her family and soon-to-be husband, and spoiling her three cats.

Lilly Cone

Programs Liaison

Lilly Cone is a born and raised Houston native. She is currently a student at the University of Texas at Austin in the School of Nursing where she will graduate in May of 2024. Growing up, Lilly always had a calling for children’s cancer and dreamed of starting her own charity one day, much like Sky High for Kids.

In 2022 Lilly was introduced to CEO Brittany Franklin who told her “Why start your own when you can work for ours.” That summer, Lilly interned at Sky High for Kids helping them fulfill Cancer Warrior Packs. Since then, Lilly has continued to work with Sky High as their program’s liaison providing comfort and smiles to children and families. In her free time Lilly enjoys fishing, baking, spending time with loved ones, playing pickleball and learning new things.