For more than two decades, Brad Johnson has been a generous supporter and advocate of The Children’s Place, serving on the Board of Directors as a member and later chair in the early 2000s.
Most recently, Brad was inspired to help bring a facility dog to The Children’s Place, and after two years on the waiting list at Duo Dogs, Duo Dog Coleman joined our team last fall. Duo Dogs, a national ADI accredited nonprofit based in St. Louis, trained Coleman and cared for him his first two years of life, but the Johnson family generously cover Coleman’s ongoing expenses along with stipends for his staff handlers.
“The Legacy Award is for those who have made a lasting impact, and I cannot think of a better honoree than Brad,” said Ann Thomas, President & CEO of The Children’s Place. “His efforts have touched all levels of the organization and spanned over two decades. His enthusiasm and support for a facility dog inspired and ensured we had the resources to make this long-term commitment. Duo Dog Coleman brings daily joy to the children, families as well as the staff. Brad recognized years ago that a facility dog would make a difference, and his vision is now our wonderful reality.”
A Kansas City native, Brad spent his career working on Wall Street in New York and living in Paris and Santa Fe. Returning to his hometown, Brad was initially encouraged to get involved at The Children’s Place after invitations from Susie Heddens and Deborah Quirk, longtime supporters of the agency. Brad told us he was impressed by The Children’s Place’s mission of helping young children who have experienced traumatic events, and he has been inspired by the incredible commitment of the staff to this intensive and challenging work.
While serving on the board of directors, he was part of an effort by the staff to align the organization’s work with the latest evidence-based best practices. During his board tenure, he had dreamed of bringing a facility dog to The Children’s Place, but that dream remained unrealized until recently.
Active in our Board Alumni Club, Brad learned at a gathering of former board members that The Children’s Place had initiated an application with Duo Dogs to bring a facility dog to our team. He and his children Maren and Ford were delighted to contribute financially to help bring Coleman to The Children’s Place.
In a true legacy of impact, Ford has also stepped forward as the next generation involved at The Children’s Place, having served on our Young Ambassador Board from 2022-2025.
Thank you to the entire Johnson family for their legacy of impact at The Children’s Place!
The Legacy Award will be awarded at the Gratitude Bruncheon on August 27. Meet the other honorees of Gratitude Bruncheon 2026 here.
