20th Annual Hope in the Morning Breakfast
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. | Country Club of Lincoln
On April 16, 2026, Mourning Hope will host the 20th annual Hope in the Morning fundraiser. This invitation-only event brings together business and philanthropic leaders, elected officials, corporate partners, community members and grief professionals for an educational and motivational breakfast.
Mourning Hope exists because everyone deserves to grieve in a supportive and understanding environment. Because the death of a family member often brings financial instability, along with other life-altering changes, Mourning Hope’s services are available at no cost to participants, and no one is ever turned away.
Receiving no insurance reimbursement for programming, Mourning Hope depends on private donations from individuals, businesses, service clubs and foundations. To continue offering our programs and services to the bereaved in our community, we need your support.
If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please download and review the partnership opportunities form linked below. Ready to add your name or organization to our incredible list of sponsors? Click the option below to complete your form and donation online!
Featured Speakers
This year’s Hope in the Morning program will feature several voices, each offering a unique perspective on grief, resilience, and hope—reflecting the many stepping stones that shape the journey forward.
Below, meet our keynote speaker and event host, who will help welcome our guests and offer opening and closing reflections.
Dr. Brook Griese
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Brook Griese is an artist and licensed clinical psychologist who has devoted her life to promoting resilience and growth in children and adults who have experienced trauma, loss, and adversity.
In 2002, Brook and her husband, Brian—an NFL quarterback at the time—co-founded Judi’s House in memory of his mother, who died when he was 12. Since then, the family bereavement center has served more than 16,000 youth and caregivers, while reaching many thousands more through the national research and education initiatives of the JAG Institute. This Colorado nonprofit works to elevate childhood bereavement as a public health priority and expand equitable access to support that helps prevent complications of unaddressed grief.
Brook spearheaded the organization’s research and trauma-informed programs and served as CEO before transitioning to her current role on the Board of Directors. She has also served on several nonprofit boards and government advisory bodies, and was honored to receive the 2019 National Alliance for Children’s Grief Excellence in Service Award.
Brook finds her greatest joy in the mountains of Colorado with Brian, their two teenagers, and their miniature golden retriever. There she enjoys painting in her studio and skiing and hiking among the aspen groves.
Jack Mitchell
Event Host
Jack Mitchell grew up in Lincoln, graduated from Lincoln East High School, and earned his law degree from the University of Nebraska. After several years practicing civil litigation at a local law firm, he decided to pursue his long-term dream to be on talk radio. In 2006, he took over the morning show at KLIN, now known as LNK Today with Jack & Friends.
Since then, Jack has combined his perspective as an attorney with his love for making people laugh and his passion for the Huskers and the Lincoln community to build a top-rated morning show. In 2025, he expanded his role to include afternoon host, taking over KLIN’s Drive Time Lincoln, airing weekdays from 5–6 p.m.
Jack’s well-known “walks of shame” across Lincoln—his penance for making bad weather predictions on-air—have become regular fundraisers for local causes, including Mourning Hope.
Jack is married to Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County. They have two children: Johnny, a junior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Norah, a freshman at Lincoln East High School.
Outside of the radio station, Jack enjoys being an overly emotional Husker fan, creating YouTube videos and podcasts for the I-80 Club (a local sports media venture he co-founded), collecting vintage stereo equipment, cooking, and working toward his goal of building a music playlist for every imaginable occasion.
Thank You to Our 2026 Hope in the Morning Partners:
- Champions of Hope
- Sustainers of Hope
- Stewards of Hope
- Companions of Hope
- Additional Support Provided By:
- Jenny and Kelly Amend
- Capital Heating and Air
- The Ron and Chris Harris Charitable Trust
- Trey and Shari Pittenger
- Runza
- Print Sponsor
- Video Production Sponsor
