Brandy Nunes: Redefining Healthcare with Heart and Purpose

Written By: Chloe Alfery

Brandy Nunes is a woman who leads with heart.

Brandy is a passionate business woman, supportive wife, and dedicated community leader based in Colorado Springs. She co-owns ‘Nunes Partners’ alongside her husband, Leo Nunes. Nunes Partners offers a creative free-market approach to healthcare. In this interview, Brandy details her involvement in co-owning an award-winning health insurance agency. She also shares details about the annual fundraising event that her company, Nunes Partners, is hosting this November to raise funds for prostate and gynecological cancer awareness.

The Origin of Nunes Partners and Its Community-Focused Mission

“I never thought I would end up in health insurance because I don’t like that conversation just as much as anyone else.”

Brandy’s husband, Leo, was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. At the time, she was in her 40’s and they were both working at the same business. At first, they were relieved to know that they were signed with their company’s health insurance. They soon found, however, the one time it was required, it would cost a fortune. “We’re not sick people,” she stated.  “We're young, and we’re paying all this money for something we don’t use a lot and the one time we need it, it cost us $10,000. There has got to be a better option.”

After staying with the same company for two more years, they settled on making the big move from Texas to Colorado and starting over. She said they found a new passion: to offer the financial protection they had lacked with their previous company’s healthcare plan. To get their start they walked door to door in business neighborhoods. This way, they were able to cultivate significant connections by pitching their new out-of-the-box healthcare plan, which segments the individual needs of each employee to possible clients.

Whether someone is young or old, sick or not, employers have the freedom to offer their employees a way to pick and choose which plan suits them. For example, if someone is young and healthy, they aren’t pressured to pay for a $500 all-encompassing medical plan. Instead, they are able to opt for an eighty dollar plan.

“I explain it like cutting the cord to cable, and instead having Hulu and Netflix. I can build the plan that I want with the budget that I need, and that fits. You can do the same with healthcare now.”

The Nunes’ want employers to be able to adjust based on what each individual employee needs, versus only using one of the general plans that they know of.

Nunes Partners is dedicated to honoring the unique circumstantial plans that each individual requires. This way, they are able to offer healthcare that brings true value, and simultaneously allows employers to save money.

Finding Her Voice Through Storytelling

Brandy also explained how Kristen Faith Sharpe, the founder of Boss Babe Networking, has changed how they share their own story with others. 

“Kristen made us realize that it is okay to speak out on our accomplishments.” 

She didn’t previously grasp the impact they could make on their community. But, Kristen made them realize how powerful it can be, as a business owner, to open up about personal hardships. 

“[She] makes me feel okay to brag about what we do.”

She also points out the connections that Kristen has made through her personal initiative. 

“Who I don’t know, she usually does know. Because, it truly is who you know. She’s amazing, what she does for young women is inspirational, and how she constantly lifts others up.”

Turning Awareness into Action: The Story Behind ‘No Cancer November Casino Night’

This November 14, Brandy Nunes and Leo Nunes are hosting their “No Cancer November” Casino Night for the fourth year in a row. This event’s proceeds benefit Sue’s Gift and ZERO Prostate Cancer. Over the past three years of hosting it, they’ve donated over $22,000 worth of donations.

She details the importance of holding this annual event: “We are bringing people together to have difficult discussions about things we don't want to talk about.”

By focusing on building funds for prostate cancer and gynecological cancer, more awareness is applied to this less talked about illness. Prostate and gynecological cancer have a stronger stigma. “Nobody wants to talk about any cancer below the waist.” But, as there are seven different kinds of gynecological cancer, this is a vital discussion to have.

In early 2021, Brandy had a cervical cancer scare when her exam came back abnormal. “My doctor’s words were literally, you were one step away from cancer.” 

“We don’t check our car in before the check engine light comes on, when we were already supposed to be doing our maintenance.”

She then went on Facebook to describe her experience. After opening up about her story, her friends reached out to her, revealing that they had gone through similar scares. “People need to be open and talk about the conversation surrounding this stuff.” People are open in their support of breast cancer awareness month, but they are not as communicative about September, the month that spreads awareness for prostate and gynecological cancer.

Brandy’s cancer scare led to her involvement with Sue’s Gift, a non-profit that offers financial assistance and a mentorship program for women with gynecological cancer. This organization helps women pay their bills, and grants them a support system to lean on one another.

Initially, Brandy and Leo did not realize they would be hosting “No Cancer November” more than once. The first time around, they hosted it only a month after Leo got diagnosed with prostate cancer in August. 

Brandy had attended an event hosted by Sue’s Gift where a silent auction event was held. She bought a pack that no one else had bidded on, an in home poker party paired with blackjack and a dealer. The pack cost them $60 dollars, and it was organized to take place in a networking business club, which was a renovated garage. Sixty people came, and half of them were unofficial volunteers. There were three casino tables laid out. In all, $4000 dollars was raised.

“We thought, maybe this could actually be something.” 

What started on a whim turned into an annual happening. Their last event in 2024 was held during a 3-day blizzard, but seventy people still attended to show their support. This time, over $10,000 dollars was raised. Not only was plenty of money raised, an outlet was granted for people to tell their stories and spread awareness.

Because, as more people are getting diagnosed at younger ages, these types of difficult conversations are pivotal to have. 

“My husband was diagnosed at 49 and they don't even start testing men until 55.”

Similarly for women, mammograms aren’t usually tested until 40 years of age. There is a set age that individuals are tested at, but many forms of cancer can be contracted much earlier.

Rooted in Resilience and Responsibility

“I don’t come from a lot, I’m your simple girl from Texas. I work really hard because of how I grew up, my parents were not from a lot of money, and they were not very educated. My mom was taken out of school in sixth grade to take care of her brothers and sisters, so she didn’t get a formal education for a lot of her life.” 

She emphasizes how growing up with these circumstances cultivated her duty to create a powerful impact on her community.

This value is instilled into her daily practice through her business and her cancer awareness advocacy. To add, her and her husband adopted a waterway. Meaning, they took on the responsibility of caring for it, and they continuously hold two water clean ups a year.

“We try to represent being better people by being good stewards of this planet, and to each other, and try to inspire other people to do more.”

All In for Cancer Awareness

This year’s “No Cancer November” Casino Night will be held on November 14th. There is unlimited food and drinks and attendees are granted $200 dollars to gamble with.

“We have doubled our sponsors from last year, and our goal is to donate $20,000 dollars this year. I feel very confident that we’re going to get there. It is $89 dollars to attend.”

Building a Healthier Future for Small Businesses

Lastly, Brandy detailed her vision for the future of Nunes Partners: “To support more small businesses we need more people, because it would be a disservice to not educate [them] on these things. Because, more people need to know.” To build upon their grassroots movement, they are looking to onboard more team members, to expand on their new and innovative free-market healthcare system approach.