Mesa, Ariz., Nov. 1, 2025 – Meraki Partner, Brad Cooper and his team at Cooper Financial Group surprised Hollye and Christopher Johnson and their two young daughters, Amari and Kyra, with 12 months of mortgage payments through the Gradient Gives Back Foundation.
The Johnsons, both U.S. Air Force veterans, each served multiple overseas tours — Hollye in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, and Chris with three tours across his ten years of service. After buying their home in Arizona, Chris was unexpectedly reassigned out of state, leaving Hollye to raise their newborn while recovering from injuries sustained during her recent tour and unable to work.
When Chris returned, they welcomed their second daughter and made the difficult decision to separate from the military in hopes of creating more stability. Civilian life, however, brought new challenges. Promising jobs fell through, forcing them to rely on credit cards and leaving them buried in debt. Chris, who holds a degree in avionics, recently secured a one-year aviation contract, but the job requires a two-hour round-trip commute. Hollye, who holds bachelor’s degrees in divinity and social work/behavioral science, is pursuing her master’s degree while completing a required internship. Balancing childcare, work, and education has put enormous strain on the family, compounded by costly home repairs and the rising expenses of raising two children.
Despite it all, Hollye and Chris have remained deeply committed to their faith, family, and community. They actively serve in children’s programs, security, and outreach — modeling resilience and generosity even during their own season of hardship.
The Johnsons’ heartwarming story caught the attention of local media. Watch the coverage from Arizona’s Family News HERE.
