About Us
Our Story
Our Story
Building strength of body, mind, and character through martial arts.
Building strength of body, mind, and character through martial arts.
Born From Purpose
Born From Purpose
The Mighty Hands Foundation was founded in 2025 out of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu – J3 Academy, after recognizing a powerful and consistent pattern: individuals who trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regularly experienced profound healing beyond the physical.
The Mighty Hands Foundation was founded in 2025 out of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu – J3 Academy, after recognizing a powerful and consistent pattern: individuals who trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regularly experienced profound healing beyond the physical.
Students struggling with trauma, PTSD, abuse, instability, and financial hardship began finding confidence, emotional regulation, and renewed purpose. What started as training became transformation.
Students struggling with trauma, PTSD, abuse, instability, and financial hardship began finding confidence, emotional regulation, and renewed purpose. What started as training became transformation.
We created The Mighty Hands Foundation to intentionally serve those populations—ensuring access, safety, and dignity for individuals who might otherwise never have the opportunity to train.
We created The Mighty Hands Foundation to intentionally serve those populations—ensuring access, safety, and dignity for individuals who might otherwise never have the opportunity to train.
Our Foundation
Our Foundation
Rooted in Values
Rooted in Values
The Mighty Hands Foundation was founded on principles of service, compassion, humility, discipline, and restoration—values that guide how we serve individuals and the community.
The Mighty Hands Foundation was founded on principles of service, compassion, humility, discipline, and restoration—values that guide how we serve individuals and the community.
We believe every person is created with God-given worth and purpose. Our work reflects Christ's call to serve the vulnerable, restore the brokenhearted, and steward strength responsibly.
We believe every person is created with God-given worth and purpose. Our work reflects Christ's call to serve the vulnerable, restore the brokenhearted, and steward strength responsibly.
Our programs are open to people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences. We serve without discrimination and lead with dignity, respect, and care for every individual.
Our programs are open to people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences. We serve without discrimination and lead with dignity, respect, and care for every individual.
"He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze."
— Psalm 18:34
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Service
Service
Dedicated to protecting and empowering others
Dedicated to protecting and empowering others
Compassion
Compassion
Meeting people where they are with dignity
Meeting people where they are with dignity
Community
Community
Building stronger neighborhoods together
Building stronger neighborhoods together
Excellence
Excellence
Commitment to quality in all we do
Commitment to quality in all we do
Integrity
Integrity
Honest and transparent in every action
Honest and transparent in every action
Restoration
Restoration
Helping people heal and rebuild strength
Helping people heal and rebuild strength
Leadership
Our Team
Our Team
President
Erica Williams
Erica Williams
Erica Williams leads The Mighty Hands Foundation with a deep commitment to service, discipline, and restoring strength in others. Her life has been shaped by perseverance, sacrifice, and a calling to protect and care for those who are vulnerable.
Erica Williams leads The Mighty Hands Foundation with a deep commitment to service, discipline, and restoring strength in others. Her life has been shaped by perseverance, sacrifice, and a calling to protect and care for those who are vulnerable.
From a young age, Erica learned the value of resilience through athletics, competing at the state level in wrestling and later representing the United States internationally on the Junior Olympic Developmental Luge Team. These experiences taught her that true strength is built through consistency, humility, and mental toughness—not just physical ability.
From a young age, Erica learned the value of resilience through athletics, competing at the state level in wrestling and later representing the United States internationally on the Junior Olympic Developmental Luge Team. These experiences taught her that true strength is built through consistency, humility, and mental toughness—not just physical ability.
In 2002, Erica joined the United States Navy as an FMF Corpsman with the Marines, serving both stateside and in Afghanistan. Her military and medical career exposed her to trauma, hardship, and human suffering, deepening her compassion and reinforcing her belief in the importance of dignity, protection, and community support. After being medically evacuated, she continued serving others as a nurse.
In 2002, Erica joined the United States Navy as an FMF Corpsman with the Marines, serving both stateside and in Afghanistan. Her military and medical career exposed her to trauma, hardship, and human suffering, deepening her compassion and reinforcing her belief in the importance of dignity, protection, and community support. After being medically evacuated, she continued serving others as a nurse.
As a coach at Gracie Jiu Jitsu – J3 Academy, Erica witnessed firsthand how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can restore confidence, structure, and hope—especially for those impacted by trauma or instability. As a purple belt and women's and kids' coach, she mentors students in both skill and character.
As a coach at Gracie Jiu Jitsu – J3 Academy, Erica witnessed firsthand how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can restore confidence, structure, and hope—especially for those impacted by trauma or instability. As a purple belt and women's and kids' coach, she mentors students in both skill and character.
As President of The Mighty Hands Foundation, Erica brings these experiences together to create safe, empowering spaces where training becomes transformation. Under her leadership, the foundation exists to forge protectors, empower the vulnerable, and help individuals build strength that lasts—on and off the mat.
As President of The Mighty Hands Foundation, Erica brings these experiences together to create safe, empowering spaces where training becomes transformation. Under her leadership, the foundation exists to forge protectors, empower the vulnerable, and help individuals build strength that lasts—on and off the mat.
Daniel Pittman
Daniel Pittman
Dan Pittman is a former U.S. Marine who deployed in support of combat operations in Afghanistan, a journey that cemented his lifelong commitment to service. Now an executive at a healthcare medical imaging manufacturer, he channels that same dedication into his role on the Mighty Hands board.
Dan Pittman is a former U.S. Marine who deployed in support of combat operations in Afghanistan, a journey that cemented his lifelong commitment to service. Now an executive at a healthcare medical imaging manufacturer, he channels that same dedication into his role on the Mighty Hands board.
Dan believes deeply in the empowering discipline of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he has practiced since 2001. For him, its value is both personal and proven: as a father to five children—three adopted and two biological—he has witnessed each one gain confidence, resilience, and community on the mats.
Dan believes deeply in the empowering discipline of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he has practiced since 2001. For him, its value is both personal and proven: as a father to five children—three adopted and two biological—he has witnessed each one gain confidence, resilience, and community on the mats.
Dan champions the core philosophy that the social and emotional benefits of Jiu-Jitsu are as transformative as its physical benefits, driving Mighty Hands' mission to empower the most vulnerable in our society.
Dan champions the core philosophy that the social and emotional benefits of Jiu-Jitsu are as transformative as its physical benefits, driving Mighty Hands' mission to empower the most vulnerable in our society.
Secretary
Robert Frank
Robert Frank
Rob Frank serves as Treasurer for the nonprofit, bringing over 24 years of experience as an investment advisor. He has lived in Milton for the past nine years, where he is deeply rooted in the community and committed to serving others with integrity and consistency.
Rob Frank serves as Treasurer for the nonprofit, bringing over 24 years of experience as an investment advisor. He has lived in Milton for the past nine years, where he is deeply rooted in the community and committed to serving others with integrity and consistency.
A father of four, Rob values discipline, responsibility, and long-term planning—both professionally and personally. Outside of work, his time is spent working hard, lifting weights, and training in Jiu-Jitsu, pursuits that reflect his belief in perseverance, accountability, and continual self-improvement.
A father of four, Rob values discipline, responsibility, and long-term planning—both professionally and personally. Outside of work, his time is spent working hard, lifting weights, and training in Jiu-Jitsu, pursuits that reflect his belief in perseverance, accountability, and continual self-improvement.
Rob's financial expertise, steady leadership, and commitment to personal growth make him a valuable steward of the organization's mission and resources.
Rob's financial expertise, steady leadership, and commitment to personal growth make him a valuable steward of the organization's mission and resources.
Empowering vulnerable individuals and communities through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based therapeutic training, trauma-informed self-defense education, and global outreach.
Live Stronger
© 2026 Mighty Hands Foundation. All rights reserved.
Empowering vulnerable individuals and communities through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based therapeutic training, trauma-informed self-defense education, and global outreach.
Live Stronger
© 2026 Mighty Hands Foundation. All rights reserved.
Empowering vulnerable individuals and communities through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based therapeutic training, trauma-informed self-defense education, and global outreach.
Live Stronger
© 2026 Mighty Hands Foundation. All rights reserved.