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Friday Harbour Board Announcement: Introducing our New Board Treasurer

Friday Harbour is pleased to share the announcement of Brian Hungerford, CPA CMGA, as our new Board Treasurer on the Executive Committee. This is a significant step forward to our achieving our mission, Healing Cancer One Night At A Time.

Presently, Brian is the Founder and CEO of Houston-based H4D Consulting, established in 2021. He has industry experience across the Oil & Gas, Medical, and Real Estate spectrum. Brian brings over two decades of corporate finance, accounting, consulting, and leadership experience to Friday Harbour.

Stepping into this role, he succeeds the remarkable Mrs. Debbie Neville, who has been an integral part of our journey. Debbie remains to continue her focus on corporate matching donations while simultaneously aiding Brian in his transition. We look forward to his boundless dedication and fresh perspective in helping us achieve our aggressive goals. In fact, first is helping to raise $70,000 this October at our golf classic, Tee it Up To Heal Cancer.

Brian has a no-nonsense, resourceful spirit with a foundation rooted in compassion. Consequently, a commitment to help disrupt this space aimed at relieving the burden of the cancer journey. His support for our cause is not only reflected in his professional accomplishments but also his personal passions. For example, traveling with family, enjoying a great meal, and exploring wine help fuel his commitment to others. We welcome Brian as our newest do’er, donor, and door opener to assist in growing our Houston-based, Nation-driven nonprofit.

His presence adds an invaluable dimension to our team as we forge ahead on our ambitious missions. One of which is to expand our presence to five cities by the end of 2024. His leadership will help us as we provide solace, support, and sanctuary to those seeking care at cancer centers within the Texas Medical Center and beyond.

With this announcement from the Board and myself, please help us welcome this outstanding leader to Friday Harbour as Board Treasurer on the Executive Committee!

Brian Hall

President, Founder & Networking Sorcerer

Friday Harbour @ the Shane Smith and the Saints Concert

Raising the roof and raising awareness of the burdens of cancer is a never-ending journey, but it helps to have a rockin’ good time with people who are compassionate and have a dash of rhythm.

Recently, the smokey, rockabilly and harmonizing sounds of Austin-based Shane Smith & The Saints raised the roof in front of a sold-out crowd at Goode Company Armadillo Palace near Rice Village in Houston.  The newly upgraded back porch provided a unique environment for the soulful, bone chilling harmonies of The Saints and a great place for the FridayHarbour.org team to spread the message among the captivated Texas music crowd.

“As the President of FridayHarbour.org I can’t help but thrive on the healing power of music,” said Brian Hall.  “I’m overjoyed with the growth of our friendship with Shane Smith & The Saints as I’ve watched them perform from Dublin, Ireland to Denver, Colorado. There’s always been a special connection.”

The mission of Friday Harbour is to ease the burden of the cancer journey by providing free temporary lodging to patients and their families with the goal of providing 1200 free nights in 2018. The Friday Harbour team made hundreds of potential volunteers and donor connections, including an invitation to share our message in The Heights during a family hosted Harbour’s Around Houston event.

“Meeting Brian and his team at the concert was the highlight of my night. As a healthcare professional, I loved hearing about the Houston-based organization and the impact it was having in the cancer community,” said Hallie Ager. “I am inspired by their story and knew I wanted to be involved in some way.”

How can you get involved? Join our journey in healing cancer “One Night At A Time.” Follow Shane Smith & The Saints at their next concert, buy their music and support them on their journey of healing through music. Follow FridayHarbour.org on social media, volunteer online, or simply make a donation of $100 which will provide two nights of lodging for a patient/family on their journey to heal from cancer.  Let’s make beautiful music together!

Rice MBA Capstone Program Final Presentation

A recent Rice University Capstone study shines the light on the magnitude of cancer patients, roughly 10,000 a month who seek treatment at MD Anderson’s Cancer clinics, and the urgent need for short term lodging for patients, families and caregivers which has been Friday Harbour’s mission for nine years. The Jones Graduate School of Business Capstone course provided an opportunity for students to use their skills to help Houston community organizations address “real world” critical strategic issues.  For Friday Harbour, the 501c3 is focused on providing more free hotel rooms to help ease the burden of the cancer journey. Since its inception, it has provided more than 2,000 rooms and last year booked 400 hotel rooms. The target is 1,200 rooms for 2018 and within the first four months they have provided 220 rooms.

“We are honored to be chosen for the Rice Capstone project which infused Friday Harbour with a wise and practical road map for significant growth,” said Brian Hall, Founder and President of Friday Harbour. “As we mix that with the passion and drive of our volunteers and board members it will result in healing thousands on their cancer journey.”

The Capstone study also provided tactical improvements for three opportunities for volunteers and donors to get involved. From Doers– those who volunteer with the charity, to Door Openers – those who host Beacons Around Houston receptions and Donors– those who make a commitment through the monthly Beacon Donors program.  

“It was a pleasure to be the Rice Capstone team assigned to work with Friday Harbour and to win “The Owl” award for our research,” said MBA student Stephanie Antosh. “We spent the semester really understanding the details of not only the organization itself, but also researching the non-profit market and the patients who are in need of assistance during their cancer journey. We strongly believe Friday Harbour’s mission of providing short-term lodging has a place here in Houston which is one of the largest cancer centers in the world.”

During a recent board meeting, the team discussed the research which showed that in order for Friday Harbour to expand upon its mission, a strategic direction along with an accompanying multi-year implementation plan will need to be executed during 2018. For cancer referrals, a stronger relationship with social service agencies and caregivers will also be developed.

“Friday Harbour emerged from Capstone Spring 2018 with fresh strategic insights, powerful new relationships and a refreshed commitment to ‘Healing Cancer One Night at a Time’,” said Juan Carlos Giron, Jr.  “As a board member, I owe Rice University a sincere debt of gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such an amazing program, connect with so many unique and insightful individuals and experience the many special and challenging moments that confirmed the importance of the work that lies ahead.”

Congratulation to one of our Rice Capstone Teams winning the Owl Award best overall project as measured by

the cumulation of scores from all 5 previous deliverables and Final Presentation.