About Beacon of Hope

Alan Jackson’s work with Hearts and Hands for Humanity over the past decade ignited a deeper calling to expand his impact. Beacon of Hope was born from that inspiration—an opportunity to do more, reach more, and provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. His passion lies in lifting others and creating real, lasting change in communities around the world.

With over 30 years of business experience, including leadership in the construction industry, real estate, and financial planning, Alan brings both vision and execution to the mission. His humanitarian work has taken him on more than 40 trips to Eastern Africa, where he has been directly involved in life-changing projects that provide essential resources to those in greatest need.

One of the most defining moments in Alan’s journey is witnessing clean water flow for the first time from a newly drilled well—seeing mothers line up with buckets, knowing their children’s lives have just changed. These experiences fuel his vision for Beacon of Hope: to raise significant resources for charities, uplift families out of poverty, and create opportunities for people—especially the next generation—to become deeply involved in giving. To Alan, hope is the belief that something better is always possible. Outside of his humanitarian work, he enjoys playing the drums and sharing his experiences through his book, Say Yes to the Lord, If You Dare.

Tish Jackson finds deep joy in serving others and being part of something meaningful. Beacon of Hope represents everything she loves—helping, connecting, and creating something truly impactful for those in need. Her heart for service has been shaped through years of experience caring for others in both her personal and professional life.

With 17 years working in a hospital setting and a lifetime of service through motherhood and community involvement, Tish brings a compassionate and understanding presence to the team. As a mother of five, she has learned the true meaning of selfless love, patience, and dedication—qualities that shine through in everything she does.

A defining moment in her life came when someone anonymously funded her opportunity to serve a mission—an act of generosity that forever changed her perspective. Since then, she has carried a deep desire to pay that kindness forward. To Tish, hope means new beginnings—a reminder to keep moving forward no matter the circumstances. She dreams of Beacon of Hope impacting thousands of lives, both through meeting needs and inspiring others to serve.

Austin Jackson joined Beacon of Hope with a simple but powerful motivation: the desire to help others. His background in the United States Marine Corps, combined with his experience managing complex operations, has instilled in him a strong sense of discipline, leadership, and responsibility.

He brings a structured, solutions-oriented mindset to the team, with strengths in personnel and process management that help turn vision into action. Austin is especially passionate about supporting veterans, understanding firsthand the sacrifices made and the importance of ensuring they receive the care and resources they deserve.

Austin’s vision for Beacon of Hope is bold and clear—to help lift hundreds of families out of poverty and create opportunities for lasting change. To him, hope is the belief that no matter the circumstances, things can improve—and that belief is what drives meaningful action.

Mandi Jackson has always felt a pull to be part of something bigger—something where she could influence lives while giving back in a meaningful way. Beacon of Hope has become that space for her, allowing her to serve alongside her family while living out her passion for making a difference in the lives of others.

Her journey has been shaped by a wide range of experiences, including nearly a decade as a firefighter—her dream job—where she found deep fulfillment in showing up for people on their hardest days and helping make them better. Today, her work in real estate has added another layer to her perspective, teaching her how to create solutions that benefit everyone involved. Mandi brings resilience, strength, and a natural ability to connect with others, paired with a lighthearted energy that uplifts those around her.

A defining moment for Mandi came during her time in Tanzania, where she gave a young girl her very first book and witnessed the overwhelming gratitude that followed. That experience reshaped her understanding of abundance and reinforced her desire to give. As a single mother, she carries both strength and compassion into everything she does. To Mandi, hope is light—the sun breaking through a storm—and she envisions Beacon of Hope as a global community that brings that light to people and places that need it most.

Barkle’s bio

Joni’s bio

Emily Jackson was inspired to join Beacon of Hope through her deep belief in compassion, connection, and creating opportunities for others. She has always been motivated by helping people feel seen, supported, and valued, and she sees Beacon of Hope as a meaningful way to bring that kind of impact into communities that need it most.

Her strength lies in her ability to build genuine relationships and provide consistent, thoughtful support. Known for being approachable and dependable, Emily brings a calm, steady presence that helps others feel understood and cared for. She is especially passionate about supporting veterans and their families, inspired by her husband’s service, as well as uplifting young mothers who may not have the same support systems she was fortunate to receive.

As a wife of 13 years and a mother to two daughters, Emily understands how challenging it can be to balance life’s responsibilities with the desire to serve. She believes Beacon of Hope creates a pathway for people—especially young individuals and families—to give back in ways that are accessible and meaningful. To her, hope is the belief that change is possible, even in difficult circumstances, and it’s what keeps people moving forward together.

Logan Jackson joined Beacon of Hope with a simple but powerful goal: to be part of the solution. Deeply grateful for the blessings, opportunities, and people in his life, Logan is passionate about helping others experience hope, support, and transformation in their own lives. He believes that even small acts of compassion and service can create meaningful ripple effects in the world, and he is driven by a desire to help make a lasting difference for as many people as possible.

With a background in finance and marketing, Logan brings both strategic insight and strong people skills to the organization. He has a natural ability to relate to others, inspire action, and connect people to a bigger vision and purpose. His passion for service is especially connected to Hearts & Hands for Humanity and the life-changing impact the organization has already created through its humanitarian efforts. Seeing that impact firsthand has strengthened his commitment to helping others and continuing to build solutions that create real change.

To Logan, hope means seeing the light at the end of the tunnel — believing that transformation and better days are possible even during difficult times. Through Beacon of Hope, he hopes to encourage others to step into service, become part of the solution, and help create a world filled with greater compassion, generosity, and opportunity.

Skyley Jackson joined Beacon of Hope with a heart centered on family, compassion, and service. As a proud mother of two with another baby girl on the way, Skyley finds daily inspiration in the love, connection, and purpose that come from building a life rooted in family and community. Those experiences have shaped her strong desire to uplift others, lead with empathy, and make a meaningful difference through acts of kindness and support.

Professionally, Skyley is known for her strong work ethic, reliability, and positive, solution-focused mindset. She values clear communication, consistency, and creating positive experiences for the people she works with. Whether supporting a team or navigating challenges, she brings professionalism, warmth, and a steady commitment to doing quality work in every environment. She is especially passionate about supporting Hearts & Hands for Humanity, a cause she feels deeply connected to and one she believes is making a lasting impact in the lives of those in need.

To Skyley, hope means believing that things can improve and choosing to keep moving forward with faith and purpose. Through Beacon of Hope, she hopes to lead with love, help others feel seen and supported, and inspire people to create positive change through compassion, service, and genuine human connection.

Nate Bristow’s passion for service was shaped through his missionary work in the Philippines, where he saw firsthand how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting impact. That experience inspired him to be part of something that helps people feel supported and gives them hope during difficult times.

He brings a disciplined, team-first mindset shaped by his service in the Air National Guard and his experience in high-responsibility roles. Nate is known for his strong work ethic, reliability, and commitment to showing up for others with consistency and care.

Nate is especially passionate about helping individuals and families navigate difficult seasons, as well as supporting underserved communities and service members. For him, hope is rooted in faith—trusting that there is a greater plan even when life doesn’t make sense. He hopes Beacon of Hope becomes a source of strength and forward momentum for people everywhere. Outside of his work, Nate enjoys rugby, BYU sports, and building life with his wife, Sydnee.

Sydnee Bristow was inspired to join Beacon of Hope after more than a decade of involvement in humanitarian work, where she witnessed the powerful difference that dedicated support and resources can make. She is passionate about connecting donors with nonprofits in a way that amplifies impact and creates meaningful, lasting change.

With extensive experience in nonprofit initiatives, donor relations, and community engagement, Sydnee brings both insight and intentionality to her work. She has a unique ability to understand the needs of both those giving and those receiving, allowing her to build connections that are thoughtful, strategic, and purpose-driven.

A defining moment in Sydnee’s journey came when she witnessed a community receive access to clean, safe drinking water for the first time—an experience that reinforced her commitment to humanitarian work. She is especially passionate about supporting initiatives in Africa that focus on education and essential resources. To Sydnee, hope is the belief that change is always possible, even in difficult circumstances. Outside of her work, she enjoys traveling, photography, and capturing meaningful moments with the people she loves.

Payton Jackson is a service-oriented individual with a strong commitment to helping others. He has demonstrated excellence across multiple areas of his life. Upon graduating from high school, Payton had already completed college-level coursework and was a member of the National Honor Society. He also distinguished himself in athletics, competing in track and field and qualifying for the state championships in the hurdles for two consecutive years.

In addition to his academic and athletic achievements, Payton maintained a strong work ethic, dedicating many hours to employment after school while balancing his other responsibilities. Driven by a deep passion for service, he chose to postpone his college education to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is currently serving with dedication in the Ghana Kumasi Mission in Africa.

Payton looks forward to returning and contributing to Beacon of Hope while pursuing a law degree, where he will continue to apply his talents, discipline, and enthusiasm to serve and uplift others.

I am honored to serve on the Beacon of Hope board, bringing a deep commitment to service, compassion, and community-building. As a wife, mother of four adult daughters, and grandmother to seven, I have rooted my life in building a strong, faith-centered family and extending that foundation to others—often opening our home to those in need of support and stability.

My strengths include fostering connection, providing practical care, and creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and supported. These values closely align with Beacon of Hope’s mission, and I am passionate about creating opportunities for individuals and families to experience encouragement, dignity, and lasting impact through nonprofit outreach.

With a background in clerical and bookkeeping work, I also bring organizational skills and attention to detail that support the organization’s integrity and effectiveness. In addition, my 45 years of involvement in music, along with years of service in children’s ministry and participation in humanitarian work in Africa, have shaped my heart for service across generations and cultures.

I deeply value hospitality and the power of gathering people around a table to create meaningful connection and community—something I believe is at the heart of lasting change and hope.

Rex Kimball is the founder and president of Mirex Marketing, an Arizona-based digital marketing agency that has served local businesses and nonprofits since 2014. He has over 10 years of training and experience with multiple marketing technologies; most notably for Beacon of Hope he is a WordPress specialist and a Google Certified SEM in multiple specialties (search, display, measurement, etc.). Rex’s heart for service runs deep—he has served nonprofit organizations as a marketer, sat on nonprofit boards, and even founded his own organization, NPO Musketeers, which was established specifically to help other nonprofits with their Google for Nonprofits accounts.

Rex initially met Alan and Tish Jackson while traveling on a humanitarian safari with Hearts and Hands for Humanity in October 2025. On that trip he saw first-hand the amazing positive impact that their clean water wells and humanitarian efforts bring to the people of East Africa. Their life-saving efforts are giving children and families hope for a new future and they are transforming communities. While Rex was a little disappointed that Alan Jackson was not actually a world-renowned country singer, and that their daughter Sydnee Bristow was not actually a secret government agent with multiple aliases (at least not to our knowledge and probably for our own safety), Rex was also able to witness that the Jacksons are a family of compassion. They have hearts with a desire to give, and he wanted to continue to serve with them. Soon after that trip he built the website for Hearts and Hands for Humanity. From there he became involved with Beacon of Hope.

To Rex, the word “hope” means motivation for people to change—to change themselves, their environments, their communities—from something less now to something more which they can envision it being in the future. It is a force that stirs people to take action towards something they believe can happen. Outside of his professional and nonprofit work, Rex serves actively in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a loving husband and a dad to three kids.