Meet Brandon Board of North Richland Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Board.

Brandon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In late 2021, a local pastor recognized a growing need in the community: many students were going without basic necessities required to succeed in the classroom. Determined to address this gap, six months of research and planning followed, ultimately leading to the creation of an organization dedicated solely to supporting students’ academic success.

On September 1, 2022, The T.R.E.E. was officially founded.

Brandon Board joined as CEO on November 1, 2022, bringing with him 22 years of nonprofit leadership and experience. Under his guidance, the organization quickly built strong partnerships with multiple school districts, including BISD, FWISD, KISD, and NISD.

Since its founding, The T.R.E.E. has delivered more than 2.5 million support services, made possible by a small but dedicated staff and a large, committed team of volunteers. Together, we continue working to ensure students have the resources they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with any new organization, one of our greatest challenges was building a strong foundation of trust and support within the community we serve. Establishing credibility takes time, especially in the nonprofit sector. When seeking financial support from donors, one of the biggest obstacles we faced was not yet having a long track record to clearly demonstrate how funds were being used and the impact they were creating.

Because of this, we intentionally dedicated our first year to building meaningful relationships, operating with transparency, and showing the community that we were committed to delivering on our promises. By consistently demonstrating integrity and results, we began earning the trust and confidence of those who partner with and support our mission.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
T.R.E.E. in The T.R.E.E. of North Texas is an acronym that stands for Teaching, Reaching, Educating, and Empowering. These four pillars guide everything we do and reflect our unwavering commitment to student success.

The T.R.E.E. is one of the only organizations solely dedicated to supporting students so they can succeed in the classroom. Our mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that no student goes without essential resources due to circumstances beyond their control.

We provide a wide range of educational and supportive services, including tutoring, mentoring, nutritional assistance, clothing, and hygiene support. From the very beginning, we have prioritized meeting students’ needs with dignity and discretion, ensuring they receive support without drawing attention or stigma among their peers.

In addition, our summer enrichment program, KIDS Camp, is 100% focused on maintaining academic progress and preventing summer learning loss. We are incredibly proud to share that participating students achieved a 100% rate of educational growth this past summer.

Through every program and partnership, our goal remains the same: removing barriers and empowering students to thrive academically and personally.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
While we wish the need were decreasing, we recognize that over the next 5–10 years the demand for our services — along with those of many other nonprofits — is expected to grow significantly. As our community’s population continues to expand, so does the number of students and families requiring additional support.

Even as a young organization, The T.R.E.E. is committed to being here for the long haul. We are dedicated to growing responsibly, strengthening our partnerships, and continually adapting to meet the evolving needs of our community. Whatever challenges lie ahead, we will remain focused on our mission and steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every student has the resources they need to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thetreeofnorthtexas.org
• Other: staci@thetreeofnorthtexas.org and brandon@thetreeofnorthtexas.org