Irene Brennick

She has inspired corporate CEOs, millionaires, politicians, blue collar workers, high school students, and has encouraged a change in the direction of the lives of some gang members.

When her marriage ended and she was left with two small children and little capacity to support her family. In desperation, Irene dropped her pride and became a ‘welfare mom’ and received aid of non-profit groups and took classes at California State University, Northridge and held down a part time job while raising two, young children. Through perseverance, she graduated in 1994 with honors.

The rights to produce Irene’s life story were purchased by Kushner Locke Productions.
Within a few short years, Irene Brennick went from welfare mom to featured speaker for the United Way of Los Angeles and the Jewish Federation. She has addressed tens of thousands of people and her story has been featured in the L.A. Times, Daily News, and on television and radio.

LA Times Articles include: http://www.irenebrennick.com/degree-of-honor.html and http://www.irenebrennick.com/shattered-dream.html and Daily News Article: http://www.irenebrennick.com/volunteer-hero.html

In addition to sharing her life story, Ms. Brennick has been invited to speak on topics that include finding one’s purpose in life, welfare reform, and the importance of giving back. Irene is devoted to charity work, including visiting inmates at the Ventura County Jail.

Ms. Brennick founded the GOALmodels speaking program for at risk teens – a program that links students with the likes of Brenda Hampton (creator of the show 7th Heaven), Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, and Catherine Ryan Hyde (author of Pay It Forward). This weekly, interactive speaking program motivated youth to set and achieve positive goals in their lives. Through the program, students met successful people whom they may never have met if not for Irene. The two-way discussion was done in a non-threatening way and encouraged students to learn from, rather than envy, highly successful people. The speakers came from diverse cultures and all shared personal secrets for success as well as mistakes they’ve made and lessons learned. The main goal of the program was to inspire the students to overcome obstacles in their lives, just as the successful speakers had.

She has just published her first book, Bring Your Audience To Their Feet

Irene currently manages over 650 volunteers at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California and puts on health and education events as their Director of Community Services and has taught a course on public speaking called “Anyone Can Do It” at Ventura College. Her classes follow the steps from Bring Your Audience to Their Feet.

Irene’s two beautiful daughters have followed in her footsteps by choosing careers that help others. Ms. Brennick has overcome the difficulties of her past and has written and performs a musical tribute to the everyday heroes entitled, People Like You.

Irene has shared her story of overcoming adversity with tens of thousands of people, bringing audiences to tears and cheers. She has inspired corporate CEOs and millionaires as well as politicians, blue collar workers, high school students, and changed the lives of some gang members.

In addition to sharing her life story, Ms.Brennick is an active keynote speaker. She has continues to be invited to speak on topics that include finding one’s purpose in life, welfare reform, the importance of giving back , why mastering public speaking can change your life and more. If you are interested in having Irene speak at your next event, please contact Irene

Her own personal journey is quite moving and it is through her own challenges, struggle, victories and constant care for those who need it the most that provides her the strength to continue to give.
Here is a little bit about her own personal journey:
When her marriage ended, Irene Brennick was left with two small children and little capacity to support them. She received no child support, had no college education and no job skills in particular.
She received little family support and didn't even own a car. She took on three part-time jobs, yet many bills remained unpaid, which became a stressful situation.

In desperation, Irene dropped her pride and became a ‘welfare mom.’ She sought out the aid of non-profit groups and took classes at California State University, Northridge. Through perseverance, she graduated in 1994 with honors.

Within a few short years, Irene Brennick went from a “welfare mom” to a featured speaker for the United Way of Los Angeles and the Jewish Federation ( Click Here for LA TIMES story). She has addressed tens of thousands of people and her story has been featured in the L.A. Times, Daily News, and on television and radio. The rights to Ms. Brennick’s life story were purchased by Kushner Locke Productions.

You can read more about Irene in these sources. Click Here