Remembering Jim Brasunas: A Devoted Advisor, Sponsor, and Friend
Jim and his long-term sponsee, Narayan.
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend, First Advisor, long-time sponsor, and board member, Jim Brasunas. Jim is survived by his loving wife, An, his children, and his grandchildren. Our hearts are with them as we remember the remarkable life of a man who helped shape Mitrata from its very beginning.
From the earliest days, Jim was one of Mitrata’s First Advisors, a small group of dedicated, talented, and wise people who helped Dr. Christine Schutz plant the seed of what would become the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children. With incredible generosity and vision, Jim played an essential role in building a solid foundation for our mission: making a difference, one child at a time.
Jim brought not only heart but also business expertise. His professional background in nonprofits and start-ups made him an invaluable resource as Mitrata transitioned into its own nonprofit organization. When Christine began to transform Mitrata into a functioning nonprofit, Jim offered his skills and experience freely. Thanks to his guidance, Mitrata officially became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2005, an achievement that continues to sustain our work today.
Over the next two decades, Jim remained a steadfast supporter, serving more than 10 years on the board and over 20 years as a child sponsor. His belief in Mitrata’s mission never wavered. He traveled to Nepal three times, two of those visits to meet his sponsored child, with whom he shared a beautiful lifelong bond.
In his own words, Jim recently reflected on that journey:
“In early 2001, a small child showed up at Mitrata. He was from a dysfunctional and impoverished Kathmandu family with little hope for a safe and secure path to becoming a healthy and self-supporting Nepalese citizen.
I began sponsoring this young boy. He had some adjustment issues early on, being put into a structured environment with a few other kids that he really didn’t know. Mitrata at this time was quite a bit smaller and less stable than it is now...
With the continuing support of the wonderful BSF staff, he overcame his emotional challenges and went on to graduate from high school and from Mitrata. Now, 25 years from those first days, he is a 29-year-old school teacher, quite happy, a big football fan, and we keep in touch regularly. The Mitrata ‘family’ is a wonderful and growing community that provides a lot of mutual support, even after graduation.”
Jim’s dedication went beyond sponsorship. During one of his visits to Nepal, he led an engaging map-reading workshop for our secondary school students at the Contact Center. True to his thoughtful and curious spirit, Jim turned what could have been an ordinary geography lesson into an unforgettable adventure. The children learned to read legends, understand layers of history and culture within maps, and, most memorably, how to fold them back up again. His gift for making learning joyful continues to live in their memories.
Jim’s generosity also extended to securing Mitrata’s future. As a member of the Nancy Williger Legacy Circle, he chose to give a meaningful gift during his lifetime to establish the Mitrata Sustainability Fund, ensuring that the Mitrata he helped found would continue to thrive for generations to come.
In his later years, Jim shared that his passion for Mitrata had become a family tradition, with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter joining him to sponsor a young girl in Nepal. His mother, too, became a longtime child sponsor. That simple act, four generations helping another child halfway across the world, captures Jim’s legacy perfectly: one of compassion, curiosity, and enduring belief in the power of connection.
“Jim was more than a founding advisor; he was a pillar of wisdom and kindness. He helped lay the groundwork for all we do today. His belief in the potential of each child inspired us from the very beginning, and his generosity of spirit will always be part of Mitrata’s story.”
As we remember Jim, we honor a man whose generosity and lifelong commitment changed countless lives. Mitrata would not be what it is today without his vision, his faith, and his friendship.
We honor Jim for believing in Mitrata and in our children, and for showing us all how one person’s steady kindness can ripple across generations. We extend our deepest sympathies and love to his family during this difficult time of loss.
