Toni Brinker is the founder and CEO of Operation Blue Shield, an organization creating comprehensive outreach programs to connect, educate and empower community stakeholders (citizens, for profit institutions, NPO’s, schools, churches, 1st Responders, law enforcement, public state /local government, former military, DOJ, FBI, and CIA) in a common goal of positive, forward-thinking social infrastructure change. As a dedicated philanthropist, Mrs. Brinker has devoted her life to helping others.

She comes from humble beginnings, having been raised in both the Texas Panhandle and the American Deep South. Mrs. Brinker’s charitable and community contributions are vast and heavily involved in business, political and philanthropic efforts including; Dream Dallas Campaign for Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, The Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas, Dallas and Advocates for Community Transformation (ACT Dallas). She is a founding member of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and serves on the advisory boards of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, the Baylor Health Care System Foundation, Texas Heart Institute, Amergy Bank-Dallas and Oklahoma State University.

The widow of restaurateur Norman Brinker, she often represents Brinker International at speaking engagements and is a featured at the Nation’s Restaurant News Association annual conference. She supports SMU’s Norman Brinker Endowed MBA Scholarship and the Culinary Institute of America Norman Brinker Legacy Endowed scholarships.