A Look at Our 2026 Grant Recipients

In 2026, the Give It Away Foundation was able to award 11 grants to organizations doing meaningful work in their communities.

These grants supported children and families, animal rescue, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, organ donation awareness, and families facing serious illness. Each recipient serves a different need, but all of them share the same goal of helping people and communities when support matters most.

Giving Back to Hancock County Schools

One of this year’s grants was especially personal for Brittney Johnson.

Brittney grew up in Hancock County, Mississippi, and attended school in the Hancock County School District. Through the Give It Away Foundation, she and Jamey were able to clear outstanding meal debt for 550 students across all six schools in the district.

For families, school meal debt can become one more financial burden to carry. For students, it can create stress or embarrassment during a part of the day that should feel simple and routine.

“I grew up in the Hancock County School District, and I’m so proud to give back to my home community in this way,” Brittney said. “My goal was to remove this financial weight from hardworking parents and free students from any pressure they might feel when entering the cafeteria each day. I want the kids to focus on learning and just being kids!”

Supporting Children and Families

Several of the 2026 grants went to organizations focused on helping children and their families.

First Friday Kids Support Group provides backpacks filled with food for children in Polk County, Florida, helping make sure they have meals available over the weekend during the school year.

The Charley Foundation, based in Nashville, supports charities serving children with critical needs through events such as Rumble on the Row.

Lizana Youth Association provides sports programs and opportunities for children in Pass Christian, Mississippi, giving kids in the community a place to learn, play, and grow.

Wichita’s Littlest Heroes supports children living with life-threatening medical conditions and provides help and encouragement to their families along the way.

Together with the Hancock County School District grant, five of the foundation’s 2026 grants directly supported children and families.

Helping Animals and Veterans

Animals have always been an important part of Jamey and Brittney’s lives, so three grants were awarded to organizations working in animal rescue, rehabilitation, and therapy.

Mane Mission rescues and rehabilitates horses that are later used in equine therapy programs for veterans.

Nashville Pittie rescues and rehabilitates pit bulls in the Nashville area, helping approximately 50 dogs each year receive care and find new homes.

Animal Rescue Corps responds to large-scale cases involving animal abuse, neglect, puppy mills, and disasters. The organization provides emergency rescue, veterinary care, shelter, and continued support throughout each animal’s recovery.

These grants brought together several causes that are close to the Johnsons’ hearts, including animal welfare, pit bull advocacy, veterans, and the healing connection between people and animals.

Addressing Health, Housing, and Community Needs

The remaining three grants supported organizations serving people through some of life’s hardest circumstances.

The Stepping Stone Shelter serves people experiencing homelessness across 20 counties in southwest Kansas, providing support and resources to individuals and families in need.

Heart of the Motor, through Donate Life Kentucky Trust, uses documentary screenings to raise awareness about organ donation and encourage more people to register as donors.

The Nikki Mitchell Foundation supports people affected by pancreatic cancer while also raising awareness and helping fund the search for a cure.

The foundation’s grant to the Nikki Mitchell Foundation helped meet the urgent needs of a 31-year-old mother undergoing treatment for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer while caring for her young son.

“Supporting this patient and her family is a perfect example of why my husband and I started the Give It Away Foundation,” Brittney said. “To step in when it matters most, because we believe that no one should face life’s hardest moments alone.”

Continuing the Work

The Give It Away Foundation was created to help people, families, and organizations when support can make a real difference.

Jamey Johnson contributes one dollar from every ticket sold at participating shows to the foundation. Proceeds from the Give It Away T-shirt also go directly toward supporting future grants.

Every ticket purchased, shirt sold, and donation made helps the foundation continue this work and support even more recipients in the years ahead.