About Us

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 Camilla Ritchey started the Brighter Sky Foundation in 1998 and has guided the organization ever since. The Foundation’s goal is to get social workers and wellness counselors into public high schools and middle schools to support students whose life trajectories threaten their graduation. One of the projects she's proudest of involved placing a caseworker in the municipal court system who worked to protect disabled students from expulsion. Camilla has lived most of her life in San Antonio. She has acted professionally in New York, has a Master’s degree in Theater and an MBA. When she can, she travels. When she can’t, she farms.

As Camilla Ritchey's daughter, I've been involved with the Brighter Sky Foundation for my entire adult life. I have  a profound appreciation for the impactful role of social workers. Since taking on a more active role in 2020, I've worked to expand the geographical reach of the Brighter Sky Foundation. In addition to finding ways to establish and support our social workers, I work as a physician assistant in psychiatry. Despite trying out life in 5 other states, Texas will always be home. I love running, hiking and paddling around Austin and will make any excuse to bake cookies.  

Roy has been Vice President since the founding of Brighter Sky.  He has been on site at various schools talking with Principals and meeting Social Workers as they surveyed their new surroundings.

Roy has a B. A. in Sociology from University of New York at Albany.  For forty year he has been a General Contractor and owned a remodeling company.  He enjoys fixing anything and traveling with his wife, Camilla.

Dawn was the first beneficiary of the Brighter Sky Foundation grant. She worked towards improving the lives of students at Alamo Heights High School for over 24 years before retiring in 2021. Dawn is a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of post-graduate experience in a variety of clinical settings with adolescents and adults. Since retiring from AHHS, she has been focusing on her private practice clients.  She has successfully helped people from all walks of life. She takes pride in working with a diverse population, and her students and private clients come from all ethnicities, religious affiliations, genders and sexual orientations. She has been married for over twenty years, and has three wonderful boys under the age of fifteen. 

Mr. Michael Brooks is a retired veteran of the US Army, who served honorably for 25 years. He was an

Air Assault and Airborne Paratrooper, who completed two tours in Iraq, two deployments to Sarajevo

Bosnia, and participated in the conflict “Just Cause” in Panama. Mr. Brooks has earned numerous of

awards for heroism and meritorious service, to include 2x Bronze Stars and a Legion of Merit. Last but

not least, he has a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

After becoming a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), he became a school Social Worker in

Harlandale ISD, in San Antonio, TX. Separately, Mr. Brooks is a motivational Speaker for all ages on

topics of Goals/Dreams, Educational Excellence, Resiliency, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Leadership,

Time Management and Parenting Skills. Mr. Brooks is married and has three daughters.