We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Travis & Brittany Perry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Travis & Brittany below.
Hi Travis & Brittany , thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
We actually started in 2017 with a shared passion for inspiring children to believe in themselves. Travis began as a book author while working as a special education teacher, supporting students who often struggled with self-confidence and belief in their abilities. To empower these children, he wrote affirmation books, teaching them about the power of positive words and self-belief. His first book, I Am, encouraged children to embrace their potential and inspired others around them to do the same.
At the same time, I (Brittany) was a first-grade inclusion teacher in a Title I school, working with students who faced challenges both academically and at home. These students often depended heavily on their teachers because they lacked foundational skills or support. Travis and I would come home and reflect on ways to pour positivity and belief into these students—something we also prioritized with our own children, Triston and Tahj.
After publishing his first book, Travis encountered challenges with his publisher. Determined to overcome these obstacles, he revamped and republished I Am in 2019 under his own publishing company, Perry Tree Publishing. This milestone fueled our desire to do even more for students in our community. Travis wrote additional books focused on life lessons, aspirations, and skills children could use to thrive independently.
Building on this momentum, we decided to formalize our efforts to support students and families. In 2021, we officially established the Dream Big Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower under-resourced children and their families by providing social-emotional learning, literacy tools, and other initiatives that address barriers to education.
As educators, we understand that challenges outside the classroom—whether at home or in the community—often hinder a child’s ability to succeed academically. Through the Dream Big Foundation, we take a holistic approach to addressing these barriers. We empower families to create supportive learning environments at home, while collaborating with schools to ensure students receive comprehensive support. By bridging this gap, we aim to prepare well-rounded, confident students who are equipped to succeed in life.
From publishing books to launching the foundation, each step has been fueled by a shared vision of helping children dream big, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
We are Travis and Brittany Perry, the founders of the Dream Big Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering under-resourced children and their families through literacy, social-emotional learning, and resources that foster confidence and achievement. Our journey began with our experiences as educators—Travis as a special education paraprofessional and Brittany as a first-grade inclusion teacher. Working in Title I schools, we encountered students who often struggled with self-belief, lacked foundational skills, and faced barriers beyond the classroom that impacted their academic success.
Driven by a passion for helping children overcome these challenges, Travis began writing affirmation books to inspire students to believe in themselves and recognize the power of their words. His first book, I Am, was the foundation for Perry Tree Publishing, and it has since expanded into a series that teaches children life lessons and skills to achieve their dreams.
Together, we wanted to go beyond the classroom and create a lasting impact in the community. This vision led to the creation of the Dream Big Foundation, which takes a holistic approach to breaking down barriers that hinder student success through literacy and SEL avenues. Our work doesn’t stop with children—we also provide resources and support to families, helping them create environments where education is prioritized and confidence is built at home.
Some of our proudest moments include launching The Hygiene Hut, which provides students with immediate access to basic hygiene products, hosting Bookmark Breakfasts to promote literacy and family engagement, and organizing our annual Back-to-School Event, which supplies students with bookbags and essentials to start the year with confidence. Seeing the gratitude from families and the excitement on students’ faces when they feel supported reminds us why we do this work.
What sets us apart is our firsthand understanding of the challenges students face and our commitment to addressing these issues both inside and outside the classroom. Our goal is to equip children and families with the tools they need to thrive and to create a community where every child believes they can achieve greatness.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Managing a team and maintaining high morale in the Dream Big Foundation is rooted in fostering a shared vision, promoting open communication, and showing genuine appreciation for each team member’s contributions. As a smaller nonprofit organization where all time and efforts are voluntary, ensuring that everyone remains deeply connected to the mission is crucial for sustaining commitment and engagement.
We prioritize creating an environment where team members feel aligned with the purpose of empowering under-resourced children and their families. Open communication is key—we encourage honest conversations, feedback, and the exchange of ideas to ensure everyone feels heard and valued. Recognizing that every contribution, no matter how small, plays a vital role in the organization’s success is an essential part of maintaining motivation.
Additionally, we take the time to acknowledge and celebrate milestones, such as the launch of impactful initiatives like the Hygiene Hut, our Bookmark Breakfasts, and Back-to-School events. These celebrations not only highlight the importance of the work we do but also remind everyone of the tangible impact we’re making in the community.
Ultimately, it’s about cultivating a culture of collaboration, shared purpose, and gratitude. When people feel vested in the mission and see the real-world difference their efforts make, their commitment remains strong, even in a volunteer-driven structure.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
The book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell significantly influenced Travis’s entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy, particularly through its concept of the “10,000-Hour Rule.” Gladwell’s idea—that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to achieve mastery in any field—deeply resonated with Travis and shaped his approach to his career, writing, and the founding of the Dream Big Foundation. When Travis faced challenges, such as the setbacks with his initial publishing efforts, he leaned on the idea that mastery was not instantaneous but the result of consistent, deliberate practice. Instead of being discouraged by obstacles, he embraced them as opportunities to grow and improve.
This philosophy carried over to his entrepreneurial mindset. Travis viewed the 10,000-hour rule as a reminder that success in any venture—whether publishing books, starting a nonprofit, or impacting the community—demands time, effort, and unwavering commitment. It underscored the importance of persistence and patience, especially when building something meaningful from the ground up.
The book reinforced his belief in the power of effort and the importance of creating opportunities for others to succeed. By instilling the value of hard work and resilience in children, he hopes to inspire them to pursue their passions with dedication and determination, understanding that mastery and success are achievable through consistent effort over time.
Sarah Jakes Roberts’ books Woman Evolve and Power Moves have had a profound impact on Brittany’s philosophy and entrepreneurial thinking. Both works offer a powerful narrative about overcoming challenges, embracing personal growth, and walking boldly in one’s purpose, all of which deeply resonated with Brittany as a leader, educator, and co-founder of the Dream Big Foundation.
In Woman Evolve, Roberts emphasizes the importance of shedding past mistakes, reframing struggles, and stepping into the fullness of who you are meant to be. The book helped her cultivate a mindset of resilience and growth, enabling her to embrace the vision of the Dream Big Foundation with confidence and clarity. Power Moves further strengthened Brittany’s entrepreneurial thinking by drawing her attention to intentional action and bold leadership. The book’s emphasis on making strategic decisions, harnessing one’s strengths, and building a legacy deeply aligned with her aspirations for the Dream Big Foundation. Brittany adopted the principles of focusing on impact and using her influence to serve others.
Together, these books shaped Brittany’s philosophy of leadership and service, grounded in faith, perseverance, and purpose.
Both Travis and Brittany view books as essential tools for continued personal growth, drawing inspiration and wisdom to guide their lives and work. Whether it’s gaining entrepreneurial insights from Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell or embracing empowerment and resilience through Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve, books are one of the things that fuel their passion, help shape their philosophies, and help them evolve as leaders and individuals committed to making a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dreambigfoundationinc.org
- Instagram: the_dreambigfoundation
- Facebook: DreamBigFoundationSav
- Twitter: the_dreambigfoundation
