We’re one of a kind.
The Grant Halliburton Foundation team is a talented group of professionals with industry backgrounds from many fields including education, social work, advertising, public relations, and nonprofit.
The staff is dedicated to the Foundation’s mission to help teens and their families recognize the signs of distress or suicidal crisis in a young person and how to lead them to help. Our growing team is always leading the way to make a difference in North Texas!
Foundation Leadership
Vanita Halliburton
Co-founder and Executive Chairman
Vanita is a frequent speaker on youth mental health and suicide prevention in schools, at professional conferences, and throughout the North Texas community. She speaks from the heart about her son’s battle with depression and bipolar disorder, his suicide at the age of 19, and the need for a collaborative and comprehensive approach to mental health education and suicide prevention in North Texas.
Kevin Hall
President
After a 30-year career in advertising, Kevin heard the voice of purpose and in early 2017, left the industry to join Grant Halliburton Foundation as chief operating officer. In April 2018, he transitioned to the role of president, providing leadership and long-term planning for the Foundation. Kevin works closely with the senior leadership team to oversee day-to-day programming, operations, and future growth initiatives. He also plays a key role in development and grant management to ensure the Foundation’s continued impact. Kevin has also served as an active board member since 2015.
Diane Blumin, M.B.A.
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Diane manages the Foundation’s operations, overseeing daily human resource needs and financial activities, including monitoring accounts, preparing financial reports, and processing donations and grants. She also manages donor accounts and oversees planned giving efforts. Additionally, Diane leads her team in maintaining the Foundation’s donor database, ensuring accurate records. She works closely with the Foundation president and board of directors to ensure the financial health of the organization. In her spare time, she also works as a financial coach to help those in need create their own financial health and stability.
Blanca N. Garcia, LCSW-S
Vice President of Mental Health Programs
Blanca leads the Foundation’s mental health education and resources programs. A licensed clinical social worker, she has dedicated more than a decade to working with children, teens, and families as a bilingual mental health clinician. Passionate about breaking down barriers to mental health care, Blanca played a key role in implementing the Foundation’s Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line, which connects North Texans to critical mental health resources. She continues to drive initiatives that expand access, provide education, and support the community in navigating mental health challenges.
T.J. Griffin
Vice President of Communications
T.J. leads all internal and external communications for Grant Halliburton Foundation. He oversees print and online media, press releases, educational materials, fact sheets, and media outreach, as well as various writing and design projects, including direct mail and email marketing content. T.J. also leads the Foundation’s social media strategy and engagement efforts, and was the architect behind the development of the Foundation’s new website, which launched in 2019. Additionally, T.J. plays a key role in organizing and leading the Foundation’s annual fundraising events, ensuring the organization’s mission is effectively communicated.
Mental Health Education
Yvonne W. Merritt, M.P.A.
Associate Director of Mental Health Education
Yvonne leads the mental health education team, working to help students, parents, and educators identify, manage, and overcome mental health obstacles. For more than six years, Yvonne was an educator in North Texas. Through that experience, she gained social-emotional learning skills to help convey vital topics to students, parents, and educators to help and equip youth with coping skills. Yvonne is committed to educating communities about mental health and suicide prevention, believing that developing coping skills and learning how to support others are essential steps toward building resilience.
Shauna Barnes
Thrive Mental Health Manager
Shauna’s background in child psychiatry research has given her a passion for mental health awareness and advocacy. She’s motivated by the desire for adolescents, parents, teachers, and community members to have the knowledge and resources to recognize and support those struggling with a mental health condition.
Meghann Budenski
Thrive Education Manager
With more than six years in the classroom, Meghann is dedicated to helping others thrive. This is her driving force for advancing the Foundation’s mission to help families and young people recognize the signs of mental illness. Meghann is passionate about supporting students and their families navigate mental health concerns and believes education is the first step to overcoming stigma. She is devoted to teaching mental health and suicide prevention and advocating for its awareness in schools and communities in North Texas.
Lindsey Encinias
Peer-to-Peer Support Manager
Lindsey thrives on thoughtful connection through writing and speaking about her personal experiences with mental health conditions. She communicates with purpose and authenticity about losing her father, who died by suicide, when she was a teenager. Inspired by her two young children, Lindsey is passionate about suicide prevention advocacy and mental health wellness conversations beginning in our schools. She believes opening the door of communication with students will change how they view mental health.
Amy Pool, M.Ed.
Senior Thrive Education Manager
Amy is the primary liaison with the Foundation’s Thrive strategy school partners. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the education system, including classroom teacher, program coordinator, building administrator, campus principal and special education consultant. Amy has an unwavering passion for her students and is especially interested in pursuing a future educational model that puts a renewed emphasis on social and emotional learning.
Mental Health Resources
Elizabeth Jurado, LMSW, CFSW
Associate Director of Mental Health Resources
Elizabeth leads the Foundation’s mental health resources team to connect North Texans to vital resources through the Foundation’s Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. She has experience working with children, families, and individuals as an agent of support and guidance. Her professional life includes a commitment to serving the needs of low-income families. Elizabeth is especially sensitive to the mental health needs of the Hispanic community and serves as an advocate to those who don’t speak English.
Lizzie Davis Holley, M.Div., LMSW
Mental Health Resources Manager
Lizzie works to connect North Texans to vital resources through the Foundation’s Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. She is a licensed master social worker with more than eight years of experience in mental health, case management, program management, and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals, families, and communities facing mental health struggles, poverty, and food insecurity. Her expertise allows her to provide critical support and guidance to those in need.
Maggie Wolters
Bilingual Mental Health Facilitator
Maggie works with the Foundation's community partners to facilitate Charlas con un Cafecito, Spanish-language mental health education and support groups for female caretakers. She has extensive experience working and volunteering with nonprofit organizations that help provide affordable health care for low-income families and individuals with special needs. Additionally, Maggie is passionate about promoting culture and the arts, particularly within the North Texas Latino community.
Communications and Events
Julia Beckel
Senior Events and Marketing Manager
Julia manage the Foundation’s annual fundraisers, mental health conference, and other special events. She also manages the Foundation’s social media channels and assists with other creative and graphic design projects. With a nonprofit background, Julia is committed to making a positive impact through compassion and faith. A native of Dallas, she is dedicated to mission-driven work that uplifts the North Texas community, advocating for effective mental health education and suicide prevention.
Administrative and Operations
Kristien Graffam
Office Administrator
Kristien first came to Grant Halliburton Foundation as a mom seeking support for her child’s mental health challenges. Inspired by the Foundation’s mission, she began volunteering weekly to give back and support other Coffee Days moms and families. Now a dedicated team member, Kristien coordinates clerical and administrative tasks, assists with donor acknowledgment letters, and helps with event and conference logistics. She also works closely with the Vice President of Finance and Operations, providing support with financial and operational tasks as needed.
