The origin story of Branching Out Family Services and The Good Works Project doesn’t begin in a boardroom or with a strategic blueprint. It starts with a mother, a handmade T-shirt and a calling to build something radically different for a child who didn’t belong in a system unprepared to support him. Cherrie Vierra, founder and executive director, transformed that moment into a life’s mission—shaping a safe space for families like hers and lighting the path forward for countless others.
Vierra didn’t just create a nonprofit—she created an ecosystem of healing. Over the past three years, Branching Out Family Services has grown into a thriving organization with programs rooted in compassion and action. What began as a personal endeavor has evolved into a cornerstone of support for families navigating behavioral health, trauma and developmental challenges. Her Titan 100 Honoree recognition reflects a rare combination of heart, resilience and visionary execution.
Growth at Branching Out Family Services hasn’t been measured in spreadsheets alone. It’s visible in the lives transformed, in systems made more humane and in communities given tools to thrive. Vierra didn’t replicate existing frameworks; she reimagined what care should look like—personalized, equitable and strength-based. Her leadership culture demands adaptability, patience and boldness in equal measure.
Preparing her workforce for the next era of family services means cultivating not just skills but spirit. Vierra invests in emotional intelligence, mentorship and innovation. Her team is empowered to take initiative, lead with empathy and respond to shifting needs with confidence. What sets her apart is her insistence on embedding wellness into every layer of her organization—from how employees support clients to how they care for themselves.
Her passion requires no reigniting; it’s present in every interaction. She draws energy from the impact she witnesses daily and multiplies that enthusiasm through storytelling, collaboration and mentorship. When barriers arise, Vierra meets them with clarity and conviction, rallying her team around a mission that is deeply personal yet universally needed.
Accomplishments under her leadership are many. Expanded reach, program diversification and regional recognition highlight a trajectory of strategic, sustainable growth. But ask Vierra what matters most, and she’ll point to the moments—when a child smiles again, when a parent finds hope or when a team member steps into their leadership. These are the victories that fuel her commitment.
What makes Vierra a standout in her field isn’t just innovation or operational savvy. It’s the audacity to challenge what’s broken and the persistence to rebuild it from scratch—with dignity, with courage and with love. She has turned a single moment of need into a movement, elevating not just an organization but an entire approach to care.
That kind of leadership doesn’t just serve a community—it transforms it. That’s the impact of Vierra. That’s the mark of a Titan.
