Tommy Van Zandt

“We’re so grateful. Reallly grateful for this community, and, gosh, really grateful for so many things. These tears aren’t sad tears, they’re just — I just want people to have hope. Whatever is going on in their lives — it’s not the end. In fact, it may be the beginning. Trials can actually be the opening for really figuring out who you are, and digging deeper. I think a part of Tommy’s positivity — even though he’s always had that — is that he knows he got a second chance at life, and knows he very well could not have. To have that chance to look around and truly be grateful for what you do have — it’s really a gift that he does have that. And we’ve both [been given a gift] by seeing just the best of people.”

— Robyn Van Zandt “[After the accident,] our family is closer now than ever before. We communicate more, and we say ‘I love you’ often. Robyn has also become one of my heroes. We have a profound appreciation of the goodness of the many people who have helped and encouraged us. For many of us in our family and in the community around Tommy, it has deepened our faith that, with God’s help, there can be a triumph of spirit through any tragedy. Perhaps through the book, that circle of people will widen farther than we can imagine. I think that is why God urged me to write Flipped.”

— Mark Saviers “Beyond his talent and inspiration, we are all moved by his faith. His faith in God, his love for his family, and his true and loving heart are his most obvious characteristics. When I think of Tommy, I smile and laugh. He has an amazing sense of humor, and he always makes everyone around him feel comfortable and special.”

— Johnelle Hunt “From day one [of Sage Partners], we decided that we were going to do things the right way — we wanted to treat our clients the way that we wanted to be treated. We knew the best way to satisfy our clients’ needs was to do things with integrity. We always felt that if we did things the right way, and the way things should be done, that would generate success for us, and we could turn around and give that back and help contribute to the community, our families and our clients’ families.” — Bryan Shaw