by Mrs. Liza Say and Mrs. Gina Brooks
Who We Are and Why
Who We Are and Why
The current board of directors represents a group of servant leaders who possess a driving passion for making a difference in our local communities and our country by helping their fellow Americans. A primary focus of this group is honoring our country’s Veterans with a focus on improving the access to, and quality of care for our Veterans.
As our team has planned and developed over the past several years, Dr. David Miller-Martini challenged us (Liza and Gina) to design a logo for a Foundation. We looked at each other and immediately said that “It has to be a lighthouse” even though we had never previously had a conversation about it. You can imagine our surprise when this opportunity came up for our Foundation to establish a healing retreat for Veterans’ in Tionesta with an actual functioning lighthouse and a Veterans’ memorial park already in place.
Our founding board members, pictured in front of the Lighthouse, realized the existing need for improving our understanding of the care and services Veterans require for overcoming the disabling effects of PTSD and/or substance use disorder. Addressing the needs of Veterans with PTSD and/or substance use disorder is essential for numerous reasons ranging from fulfilling societal obligations to promoting mental health, preventing suicides, and fostering a supportive and compassionate community.
From this perspective, the founding members’ mission became very clear, which became the development and delivery of innovative holistic healthcare models that integrate faith, nature, mind, body, and spirit to produce individualized treatment and care plans. These plans will possess the potential to provide a realistic and achievable path toward recovery and improved quality of life for Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and/or substance use disorder.
Founding Interim Board Members
Mr. Tom Spence, Interim President / Chairman of the Board
Mr. Tom Spence was born, raised, and has spent the majority of his life in Clarion County Pennsylvania.
Currently he resides in Shippenville, along with his loving and supportive wife and two children. He has 25+ years of experience employed in the banking industry, and earned his finance degree at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Tom has always been a servant leader, serving on numerous boards, at many different capacities. Both of Tom’s grandfathers served in World War II and his uncle served in the Vietnam War, which provided him with a deep sense of commitment to all Veterans.
Tom is honored to be part of this wonderful project, servicing those that have served us Americans.
Dr. Miller-Martini, Interim Vice-President / Vice Chairman of the Board
Dr. Miller-Martini grew up in a small town in Northwest Pennsylvania with his 4 siblings and parents Rita and Clyde Miller who still reside in Ridgway. Dr. Miller-Martini is happily married to his wife Natalie and they have three daughters. Dr. Miller-Martini graduated from Ridgway Area High School and pursued a BA in Chemistry at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY. After earning his undergraduate degree he joined the United States Air Force where he received his commission while stationed at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, TX.
While a commissioned officer, he pursued a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio. After earning his Ph.D. he undertook classified assignments in the Asian-Pacific and Middle Eastern theaters of operation. While in Asia, he enrolled in the Kellogg Business Program at Northwest University where he earned his MBA degree. His professional journey includes roles such as Principal Investigator and International Business Development Officer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Biotechnology Research Institute; Director of Entrepreneurship at Grove City College; Associate Director of Global Engagement at Penn State University; and Executive Director of the Northwest Alliance (Ryan White Program) at Clarion University. More recently, he served as the Director of Operations for the HIV Cure Center/Qura Therapeutics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Throughout his overseas service, Dr. Miller-Martini witnessed, first-hand, numerous atrocities against humanity and developed an in-depth understanding of the impact of unaddressed trauma on the progression of PTSD and substance use disorder in military members and Veterans. Having experienced the loss of three (3) team members who took their lives after returning home, he is passionate about collaborating with professionals to develop a more comprehensive and holistic treatment model for Veterans dealing with PTSD and/or substance use disorder.
Mrs. Gina (Clark) Brooks, Founding Board Member
Mrs. Gina (Clark) Brooks grew up in Knox, PA where she currently resides with her husband, Mr. Eain Brooks. Gina is a “momma” of three, a Gigi of one and has been a public school teacher for 26 years.
A traumatic event and subsequent brain injury in 2013 was a catalyst that set into motion a powerful force for positive change. Gina began to research and take classes in holistic energy healing, meditation/mindfulness techniques, metaphysical practices and stress reduction to help her to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Gina now teaches energetics and wellness classes evenings and weekends. She is very passionate about using her talents to help veterans through The Cost of Freedom Foundation because of her dad, Donald “Curly” Matthews – 1st Marine Division, RTO in Vietnam. As a child Gina didn’t understand that the alcohol abuse and dysfunction in her family was the effect of PTSD. She would have given anything for him to have had a holistic center to aid him in his healing.
Gina is confident that this beautiful space will not only heal Veterans, but will also transform families and/or prevent the devastating effect of generational trauma.
Mrs. Liza A Say, RN, BS, CHC, Founding Board Member
Mrs. Liza Say was born and raised in Lebanon County, PA. Her husband and their 2 children moved to Clarion County 14 years ago.
Liza is a Registered Nurse, with 20+ years experience both clinically and administratively within our healthcare system. Over the last few years, she has transitioned out of the conventional healthcare model.
The current system functions on prescribing medications and treatments for symptoms. This “sick care” system does not provide individualized care, aimed at treating the root cause of disease. Liza Say believes true health care, treats the whole person, not just the symptoms or disease.
She is honored to be a part of The Cost of Freedom Foundation, where our approach is to implement individualized care plans that address the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect a person’s health.