Building a successful fund begins with a strong foundation of guidance and stewardship. That’s why we assembled a powerhouse rural advisory council, deeply connected to the communities this Fund serves. Together, we’re committed to making impactful investments that truly resonate with the people they benefit.
About The Red Door Fund
Mental health challenges are often more pronounced in rural areas, where resources and support can be limited. The Red Door Fund for Mental Health is dedicated to changing this reality.
By increasing access to mental health resources, fostering understanding, and reducing stigma, the fund empowers individuals and families to navigate their mental health journey with dignity and hope. Through awareness campaigns and community investments, Red Door is building a region where everyone feels supported, accepted, and unashamed.
Red Door Fund for Mental Health Advisory Council Members
David Rodriguez - Wharton County
David serves as Director of Community Engagement for the Palacios Community Hub and has founded mental health and diabetic support groups across Wharton, Jackson, and Matagorda Counties. An LGBTQ-identifying farmer with deep agricultural roots, he brings lived and professional experience in rural health access, environmental health, and community advocacy. David is known as a trusted connector who works directly with residents to navigate mental health, chronic disease management, and access to care barriers in rural communities.
Tiffany Denham - Fayette County
Tiffany is an educator in her second career, previously serving 10 years with the Department of Family and Protective Services, including a forensic interviewer and legislative affairs specialist. She brings trauma-informed insight, Mental Health First Aid training, and firsthand experience supporting rural families navigating crisis, education barriers, and behavioral health needs. Deeply engaged in Fayette County schools and community theatre, Tiffany is passionate about youth belonging, equitable access to services, and strengthening sustainable community systems.
Pastor Lora Hardway - Caldwell County
Pastor Lora Franks Hardway, the youngest of 10 children of the late Reverend Hiawatha T. Franks and Thelma L. Arnold Franks, was raised in a pastoral family that served Methodist circuits across Texas for 42 years.
She dedicated her career to education, becoming the first African American administrator at several campuses, including Commerce Middle School, Bastrop High School, and Lockhart ISD, where she served as Campus Principal, Discipline Management Center Principal, and later retired in 2014 as Associate Principal of Lockhart High School. Beginning her career as an ISS Monitor, long-term substitute, and Reading and Language Arts teacher in Dallas ISD, Lora built her work on a philosophy of service-based leadership, believing education is the pathway to greatness and that children are the solution to society’s challenges.
She founded the Paul Wesley Franks Educational Foundation in 2010 to foster confidence and success in students and to train educators to lead with wisdom, humility, and love. In addition to her decades in education, Lora serves as Senior Pastor of Resurrection Life Church in Lockhart, Texas, and is deeply engaged in community leadership through counseling, mentoring, chaplaincy, cultural diversity training, homeless ministry, ministerial alliances, community food programs, and local government partnerships.
She is currently writing a book titled, His Favor For Life, and remains committed to serving others through faith, education, and community impact.
Vicki Hudec - Colorado County
Vicki Hudec brings more than 25 years of experience in education and a deep commitment to the well-being of children and families. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and has dedicated her career to teaching and supporting students within her community.
Raised in Schulenburg, Texas in Fayette County, Vicki’s roots run deep in rural Texas. She and her late husband, Keith, made their home in Weimar, Texas, where they raised their son, Taiton, who is now 24 years old.
Through both her professional and personal experiences, Vicki understands that mental health challenges can bring profound pain and grief to those facing them and to the families who walk alongside them, much like the impact of serious physical illnesses. This perspective has shaped her commitment to advocacy and service.
Vicki is a strong advocate for increasing awareness, funding, and access to mental health resources in rural communities. She is passionate about ensuring that families do not have to travel long distances or struggle alone to find the help they need. Through her work with the Red Door for Mental Health, she remains dedicated to fostering compassion, strengthening community support systems, and expanding access to care for those who need it most.
Kristin Herzik - Fayette County
Kristin Herzik is a community advocate and nonprofit supporter based in Schulenburg. She is actively engaged in efforts that strengthen community well-being and expand access to mental-health resources throughout rural Texas.
In this advisory role, she works with fellow council members, nonprofit partners, and community leaders to support grantmaking initiatives that fund counseling services, school-based programs, and community education designed to reduce stigma surrounding mental health.
Through her involvement with the Red Door Fund, Kristin helps guide strategic investments that strengthen local support networks and increase access to care for individuals and families in smaller communities where resources may be limited.
A strong believer in community collaboration and service, Kristin supports initiatives that foster resilience, improve quality of life, and build stronger systems of care for residents of counties in Central Texas. Her work reflects a deep commitment to philanthropy, civic engagement, and the long-term well-being of the communities she serves.
We Look Forward to Your Leadership
This remarkable advisory council is shaping the Red Door Fund’s vision of expanding mental health awareness and access in rural South Central Texas. Together, this council embodies the foundation’s commitment to empowering communities, building leadership, and fostering resilience in rural areas.