Year-end Giving Guide 2017 by Amarillo Magazine

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GIVING GUIDE

ne of the most impressive characteristics of the city of Amarillo and the people of the Panhandle is the spirit of generosity we all share. From donating time as volunteers to providing financial support for charitable organizations, Amarilloans have never been shy about getting involved. What’s behind that generosity? The answer is complex, but one significant aspect is our city’s isolation. Located hours from large cities like Dallas or Denver, the people of Amarillo have long understood that, well, we’re pretty much on our own. If we want high-level arts institutions, we’re

going to have to establish and support them ourselves. If we want to take care of our poorest, hungriest, or sickest residents, the responsibility is ours. We give because we have a heart for giving, but we also give out of necessity. That independent spirit of generosity always seems to expand as the holidays approach. This issue’s Giving Guide introduces you to a few local nonprofit organizations that are doing wonderful things in Amarillo. They could use your endof-year financial support. They could use your volunteer hours. Let’s be honest: They would really love a combination of both.

Amarillo Area Foundation

he history of the Amarillo Area Foundation dates back to 1957, when civic leaders began working to fund and establish Amarillo’s medical center. Sixty years later, the Foundation’s total assets rank it among the top 50 percent of national community foundations in the United States. While the Amarillo Area Foundation distributes funds in a variety of ways – including grants to nonprofits and scholarships for area college students – it is far more than a fundraising or grant-making entity. AAF works to strengthen nonprofit organizations and foster giving opportunities throughout the Panhandle, all for the purpose of improving quality of life for local residents. “It’s so much more than just the grant side,” explains Katharyn Wiegand, vice president of community investment at AAF. “We can help donors support whatever their passion is, and wherever it is in the Panhandle.” With the help of AAF, donors can establish a scholarship fund, a donor-advised fund, a specific field-of-interest fund and more. “A lot of times donors just don’t know how to start.” For instance, individuals or companies that wish to launch a philanthropic foundation may be hesitant to do so because of the paperwork and legal requirements. The Amarillo Area Foundation allows those donors to accomplish their goals efficiently and effectively without the administrative headaches. “We handle all the back office for donors and give them access to a really strong investment portfolio,” Wiegand says. Beyond fund creation, individuals that want to donate can become Foundation Members with an annual gift of $250. Corporate Memberships begin at $500 a year, and offer a vast number of opportunities to support nonprofit needs in the Panhandle. “The generosity of local residents helped sustain AAF for the past six decades,” says Wiegand. “Your support can help Panhandle communities for the next 60 years and beyond.”

> How to Help • Become a Foundation Member • Apply for grants or scholarships • Find more information about becoming a donor 90

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Amarillo Area Foundation 801 S. Fillmore St., Suite 700 | 376.4521 amarilloareafoundation.org

Amarillo Children’s Home To restore the identity of children so they can realize their great value and be a blessing to others.

n March 1, 1924, Dr. R. Thomsen and a group of likeminded community leaders opened the first campus of the Presbyterian Home for Children. Today, that organization is known as Amarillo Children’s Home, but it still pursues its mission of caring for foster children in the Panhandle. Tucked away in the Wolflin neighborhood, Amarillo Children’s Home houses more than 40 kids, who come from an array of desperate, dangerous situations. The tree-filled campus holds seven cottages, in which a married couple serves as house parents full-time, aided by an assistant house parent. House parents work with younger kids to learn basic skills and develop trust and healthy relationships with others. Older kids are able to gain more personal freedom in the Transitional Living Concepts (TLC) Cottage. “We have a 100-percent graduation rate for kids who go through our TLC program, and every one of the seven graduating seniors from 2017 are enrolled in higher education in the Amarillo area,” says ACH President Darrin Murphy. None of this vital work could be possible without the volunteers and donors that support Amarillo Children’s Home every day. Amarillo Children’s Home could not exist without the generous support of the Amarillo community. “Seventy-five percent of our income comes from the Amarillo community. People oftentimes don’t realize that about us. We are highly dependent on Amarillo and have been for 93 years,” says Murphy. “The kids we have are incredible, with incredible stories that they are turning around. They go to Amarillo public schools, they work in the community, and we are highly involved in the community. The financial commitment that [donors] make to Amarillo Children’s Home is a commitment they make to help us build into kid’s lives. It’s not just housing; it’s about restoration and redemption of kids and their stories.”

> How to Help • • • •

Donate Attend an event Pray Volunteer

Amarillo Children’s Home 3400 Bowie St. | 352.5771 amarillochildrenshome.org

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Amarillo Zoological Society

he Amarillo Zoological Society is a 501(c)3 friends group of the Amarillo Zoo, and has long prided itself on supporting the development and improvement of the beloved Amarillo Zoo. Started in 2007, its mission is to “promote the development, improvements, and awareness of the Amarillo Zoo and its mission.” Run by a board of directors, AZS works to support the continued growth and expansion of new zoo exhibits and programs. Over the past 10 years, the society has been invaluable in raising funds and support for two major projects at the zoo. The first is the Cindy and Michael Terk Herpetarium. Opened in 2009, the building houses 26 exhibits, featuring native and exotic reptiles and amphibians found throughout the world. It also worked to build the Bill and Alice O’Brien Education Center, a 3,670-square-foot educational building opened in 2013. In light of the zoo’s continued commitment to education, the next Amarillo Zoological Society project is the expansion and renovation of the children’s zoo. “There are several areas of the zoo that are old and in need of updates, but the children’s zoo area is where we are going to focus on first,” says Curator Rhonda Votino. The multi-phase plan will begin in early 2018. A brand-new walk-through barn will become the showpiece of the new children’s zoo area, housing species native to the Panhandle. Other improvements are planned, as well. The children’s zoo will include a large parrot exhibit, and the expansion of an Australian-themed area. As a piece of Amarillo history and a popular tourist attraction, the Amarillo Zoo is truly a gem in the Panhandle. The Amarillo Zoological Society’s work to preserve and improve it is an invaluable service to the community. The society welcomes contributions and volunteers, and is currently accepting applications and nominations to fill vacant board slots.

> How to Help • • • • •

Donate Volunteer Become a board member Attend an event Become a partner

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Amarillo Zoological Society PO Box 8581 | 381.7911 amarillozoo.org

America: Celebrate Honor & Serve “Our debt to the heroic men and women in the service of our community and country can never be repaid. They have earned our gratitude, respect and support.”

merica: Celebrate Honor & Serve is a nonprofit organization located in Amarillo, Texas. Its mission is to lead the proactive public and community in support of our military, veterans, law enforcement, fire, first responders, their families, and the families of our Fallen Heroes in our community and across the Texas Panhandle. “As citizens, we have the privilege and patriotic responsibility to honor those who serve, defend our freedom, and protect our country and community,” says Jack Barnes, USN Retired, and member of the Board of Directors. America: CHS’s secondary mission is to educate the next generation regarding the important lessons of service, patriotism, and respect for our flag and great country. America: CHS spotlights freedom and the American flag every day, encouraging the general public to participate in special events honoring those who serve and wear the uniform across this community. Patriot volunteers are welcome to join the America: Celebrate Honor & Serve – Red, White and Blue Team No. 1 at events throughout the year. For more information on local events, visit america-chs.com. Join the America: Celebrate Honor & Serve – Red, White and Blue Team today!

> How to Help

America: Celebrate Honor & Serve P O Box 15565 | Amarillo, Texas 79105 681.1418 america-chs.com

• Financial support from generous citizens is genuinely appreciated.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Texas Panhandle

n 1961, a group of committed civic leaders saw a need to support the children of Amarillo, and formed a coalition to start the first Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in the Panhandle. From the initial seven child/volunteer matches, the organization has grown to serve more than 300 children in Amarillo, Canyon, Perryton, Spearman and Gruver. Big Brothers Big Sisters is always looking for people eager to positively impact a child and improve the community at the same time. And right now is no different. Big Brothers are in high demand. For a few hours, a couple times a month, you can give a child the invaluable gift of your friendship. By simply changing their perspective of what the world can offer, you can literally start changing their lives. And sometimes it’s as simple as playing video games, going to a museum, or just hanging out together. BBBS strives for matches that are not only safe and well suited to each child’s needs, but also harmonious and built to last. A volunteer application can be found on the agency’s website, www.panhandlebigs.org. The entire matching process, from the initial screening to the final pairing – and beyond – is made possible by community financial support. As Emily Nance, Executive Director, states, “We don’t charge a fee to parents or volunteers, so we rely on donors to continue our mission to make a positive impact on children’s lives.” By donating to Big Brothers Big Sisters, you are joining its mission of positively affecting children in the community. Every day, BBBS works tirelessly to change the perspectives of children and give them an opportunity to achieve great things. But without donations, Big Brothers Big Sisters couldn’t offer its mentoring services.

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Donate Volunteer Become a Big Brother or Big Sister Attend an event

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Texas Panhandle 2110 S. Western St. | 351.2210 panhandlebigs.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo

or more than 80 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo has been a place where youth ages 5 to 18 could find friends, activities, mentors, and opportunities in a safe, welcoming environment. “What I love most about the club is when you see those kids come through the door and the smiles on their faces because they know there’s someone who’s going to accept them exactly as they are and where they come from,” says CEO Dr. Kimber Daniel. Five core programs keep kids engaged at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo: character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, sports and fitness, and recreation and the arts. The activities that fall under each of those categories are numerous, which means there’s something for everyone’s area of interest and skill. “We focus on these things: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character and leadership. They may go to the computer lab. We have a cooking club, and a community garden with chickens and goats. We have a photography club and a dance studio in collaboration with the Lone Star Dance Academy. We have wrestling, basketball, track, soccer,” says Dr. Daniel. Last year the Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo lost a quarter of a million dollars in funding, which translated to the closing of two sites. While those participants were transferred to the main club on Lincoln Street, it meant activity rearrangements and inconveniences that no one wants to undergo. In addition to grants and donors, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo relies on community support to continue providing quality and safe programs to kids in the area. “When those kids come in and hug you every day and tell you how their day went at school, you have no idea what that feeling is,” says Dr. Daniel. “It’s the best part of my day.”

> How to Help • • • •

Donate Become a member Volunteer Become a curriculum teacher

Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo 1923 S. Lincoln St. | 372.8393 maverickclub.org

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Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle

atholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle has a long history with the area, seeking to serve those most in need of help. They have changed and grown alongside Amarillo – most recently, the organization took the name Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle in 2012. One of the shining stars of CCTXP is the Food Project, a program that assists individuals and families living on a low or fixed income. Executive Director Jeff Gulde points to this as one of the agency’s most recognizable programs. “Over 600 clients are able to come into our grocery store each month and pick out the food that they actually want to eat,” he says. The Emergency Youth Shelter houses up to 24 children ages 5 to 17. This partnership with CPS is, as Gulde explains, “a way to bridge the gap from Point A to a better, more positive Point B.” Children placed by CPS are able to stay at the shelter up to 90 days, and are provided with a caring, homelike environment, as well as all the essentials they may need. CCTXP also contracts with probation departments and mental health authorities, and provides beds for runaway or homeless youth. The Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle Citizenship and Immigration Program is the only nonprofit citizenship and immigration service provider in the Texas Panhandle. In the Refugee Resettlement Division, CCTXP’s case workers, all of whom are former refugees, work with the organization to help new arrivals to America. Refugee clients attend ESL classes and training on societal and employment skills necessary to succeed and become self-sufficient in their new country. Another program of CCTXP, Amarillo Interpreting and Translation Service, provides these services both internally and externally, offering help with more than 20 languages. “We have a few ways to help – financially is always a great way, and they can donate through our website, www.cctxp.org, or volunteer. We love donations of food and toiletries; the food usually goes to our Hunger Project and toiletries go to our youth shelter and our resettlement clients,” says Gulde.

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Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle 2801 Duniven Circle | 376.4571 cctxp.org

Center City of Amarillo

tarted in 1991, Center City of Amarillo seeks to revitalize the downtown area by hosting events, such as High Noon on the Square, and offering grants to local businesses to increase curb appeal. The overarching goal is to create a stronger downtown through historic preservation and economic revitalization. Executive Director Beth Duke says Center City wants to make downtown “everybody’s neighborhood.” “We work closely with the City of Amarillo, but we have to raise the majority of our own support. We have members and donors from all over because they know a thriving downtown is important for attracting visitors and new businesses,” she says. “I’ve talked to recruiters from different companies, and when someone is looking for job, they want to see the downtown. If it’s thriving, there’s opportunity there.” Officially, the boundaries of Center City of Amarillo are the railroad tracks to the north and east, I-40 to the south, and Washington/Adams to the west. Center City also manages the Amarillo Community Market and the Amarillo Cultural District of the Texas Commission on the Arts. Center City is a Texas Main Street City. Center City relies on volunteers since there are only two full-time staff members. Volunteers are vital to the success of every event the organization hosts and supports. Financial donations are always welcome. “People can join Center City at any level. The money goes to underwrite special events. Even though there’s free admission, there’s always costs involved. We also have a big investment in our downtown banner program, and some of the money goes to help supplement facade grants. We’ve given more than a million dollars in facade grants,” says Duke. “We’re always happy to accept donations from those who want to see a vibrant downtown.”

> How to Help • Donate • Become a member • Attend an event

Center City of Amarillo 1000 S. Polk St. | 372.6744 centercity.org YEAR-END GIVING GUIDE • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ceta Canyon Camp & Retreat Center

he beautiful scenery of Ceta Canyon Camp & Retreat Center has had a life-changing influence on many of its visitors. Through hosting summer camps, church retreats, leadership retreats and more, Ceta Canyon impacts the lives of more than 9,000 people on an annual basis. Ceta Canyon sits on 436 acres, with a beautiful pond and large waterfall. According to Executive Director Mike Wentz, “We started a new strategic plan in 2012 and one of the things we wanted to expand was our outreach.” Ceta Canyon hosts more than 1,400 students each year, and works with local schools to help them achieve their TEKS requirements through outdoor education on site. Thanks to the great community support, the board and staff recently raised more than $420,000 for its new Nature/Outdoor Learning Center with a primary focus on enhancing the outdoor education programs with area schools. Groundbreaking for the new facility will begin in the coming months. Other organizations can also take advantage of the facility and campgrounds. “We collaborate with the Wesley Community Center to bring out elementary age kids for a day camp. These campers were able to attend camp thanks to our scholarship funds.” Ceta Canyon’s programs can’t succeed without support from donors and volunteers. Yearly fundraising dinners bring in much of the annual giving budget, which goes to camp scholarships and to underwrite the already low-cost programs that run year round. Volunteers come in to maintain structures, clean up the campgrounds, paint, and maintain trails. More than just another place to go, Ceta Canyon offers an experience unlike any other. With something for everybody, it’s a true retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern living. “The cool thing about coming down to camp is how peaceful it is,” says Wentz. “You might have the birds or the sound of the waterfall, but it is quiet and without distractions. I really believe this is God’s oasis in the Panhandle.”

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Donate Volunteer Attend an event Become a mentor

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Ceta Canyon 37201 FM1721 | Happy, Texas | 488.2268 cetacanyon.org

College Success Initiative

any of Amarillo’s young people have the drive and discipline to succeed in college. But because they grow up in poverty, they don’t see college as an opportunity – or even an option. The College Success Initiative grew out of a desire to promote college education among these students. Over the past few years, guided by Executive Director Lanitra Barringer, CSI has taken dozens of students on an annual Spring Break bus tour, visiting large state universities like the University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University, in addition to Texas Southern University and Wiley College, historically black colleges. “Sometimes they just need to see the campus and know there are options outside of Amarillo,” Barringer says. Involvement extends beyond those college tours. CSI offers mentorship, monthly college preparatory sessions, community service opportunities and career “Success Shops” at Palo Duro High School and the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL). For 2017 and 2018, the organization has expanded beyond the bus tour to include more frequent college tours – and thus more interaction with students on-campus. “We found that many of the college students were offcampus when visiting during Spring Break,” says Barringer. Campus tours and tailgating trips to football games at West Texas A&M University and Texas Tech have given young CSI participants – who range from sixth graders to high school seniors – an opportunity to interact with those students in a university environment. Beyond the tours, qualifying students will have the opportunity next year to participate in a summer educational tour to Washington, D.C., where they will visit colleges and museums in the nation’s capital. Community donations help cover the majority of the expenses of these tours, from hotel stays to transportation and meals. “And we are always looking for volunteers to help,” says Barringer. Volunteer roles include assisting with college prep or mentoring new college students.

> How to Help • Become a mentor • Volunteer • Donate

College Success Initiative 322.2553 collegesuccessama.org YEAR-END GIVING GUIDE • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Faith City Mission

aith City Mission began in 1951 as a shelter and dining outreach for Amarillo’s homeless population. In the 66 years since, it has expanded into a full-service organization for men and women who find themselves in crisis situations. “We’re more than just a soup kitchen,” says PR Administrator Madison Bass. Faith City offers a variety of benevolence and recovery programs. Two of its largest are Hope for Men and Hope for Women, which support men and women struggling from drug and alcohol addiction. These 12-month discipleship programs walk with participants through the recovery process while meeting basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. “We help them get their GED if they need to, find a job, go to school, or transition back into the world after they finish the program,” says Bass. A residential program known as “Rez” assists single women and/or mothers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. “We take in them and their children, and provide counseling and financial classes to help them be independent and not end up back on the streets,” she says. Currently Faith City’s Rez program supports nine women and 10 children. Faith City also offers a work program for men who have full-time jobs but nowhere to live, a “missionite” program that provides shelter and on-the-job training for men with special needs or disabilities, and daily emergency food service. “We provide around 80,000 meals a year,” says Bass. That’s breakfast, lunch and dinner, served every Monday through Saturday. “We take the people who don’t have anything or anywhere to go and make sure they leave Faith City with something tangible,” says Bass. Most of all, she explains, “We don’t want to be a temporary fix for the homeless. We want to help make their lives successful.”

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Donate Serve guests in the dining room Help with chapel services Sort donations

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Faith City Mission 401 SE Second Ave. | 373.6402 faithcity.org

Family Care Foundation

ince its inception 20 years ago, Executive Director Tamara Tucker has been advocating for those in the community with crucial health care needs, from the uninsured and underinsured to individuals on Medicare and young people in the school system who fall into a gap. With no red tape and no staff, Tucker, along with a board of directors and provider partners in the Panhandle, is dedicated to helping anyone that needs it. “We work with case managers at the hospitals and counselors at schools who refer people to us,” she says. “People can also just email and explain what they need.” The needs go wide and far. The scope of coverage includes anything from inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient procedures to prescription glasses and hearing aids. Dental services are common needs, as well as assistance equipment such as walkers and in-shower stools. Tucker’s professional health care background gave her a keen view of how many people go without supplies they need because costs are high and insurance companies can create challenges. At the Family Care Foundation, the staff goes straight to the source, be it a doctor’s office or a medical equipment company and asks, “What’s your cash price?” “I write checks every Friday,” she says. “There’s no other hoops, especially with the school kids. These counselors know they can call me if someone needs to see a doctor today. I can make that call and it’s a done deal.” The most efficient and helpful way to support the Family Care Foundation is through a financial donation. Since the price of treatment, services or equipment is always bottom line, Tucker knows how to stretch a dollar. “What does $100 do? We can buy two walkers with $100. We can buy multiple prescriptions and a nebulizer for a student with $100. I can get four eye exams for $100,” she says. “We have some great partners in town because the medical community knows the need.”

> How to Help • Donate • Become a sponsor • Attend an event

Family Care Foundation P O Box 15203 | 622.9473 familycarefdn.org

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Family Support Services

> How to Help • • • •

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Donate Become a volunteer advocate Become a special event volunteer Help promote the agency

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he goal of Family Support Services is to help underserved populations, such as veterans, sexual assault/domestic violence survivors, at-risk families and children, and those with language barriers, with services including counseling, crisis prevention and intervention, advocacy, and education. “We serve 25,000 people a year and offer many services that aren’t provided by anyone else,” says Chief Development Officer Joette Campbell. “We’re trying to fill niches and make sure essential services are available to all who need them.” On any given day, Family Support Services receives phone calls from someone who’s in a domestic abuse situation and needs shelter or counseling, a veteran who needs assistance with housing, job training or PTSD, or Northwest Texas Hospital or The Bridge to provide advocacy for a sexual assault victim. Most services are provided at no cost. Licensed professional counselors and social workers provide services on a sliding scale to make high-quality counseling affordable and accessible. “We served more than 1,600 counseling clients in fiscal 2017,” says Amy Hord, Director of Behavioral Health & Wellness. “We are reaching out to people who are vulnerable to enrich their lives and to keep them safe and healthy. We have a real commitment to to a healthy, stable, violence-free community.” Open since 2014, the Veteran Resource Center at FSS exists to help veterans, dependents, and surviving spouses with whatever needs arise, as well as to be a touchstone for those who benefit from the camaraderie of being with fellow veterans. When it comes to education and prevention, the focus is on breaking cycles of physical abuse, substance abuse, and emotional abuse by teaching effective communication skills. Chief Executive Officer Jim Womack says the education division was the smallest part of the organization five years ago, but now it’s the largest. “We’ve learned that if you can reach children and parents who are at risk early on, the children are much more likely to avoid peer pressure, substance abuse, and unhealthy relationships later in life. We partner with local schools, churches, and other agencies to help make people’s lives better” he says. While state and federal grants, United Way, and fees cover most services, Family Support Services depends on the community to help fill in the gaps in funding. “We can’t provide our broad scope of services without the community’s support,” says Womack. “We don’t want to let anyone fall through the cracks.”

Family Support Services 1001 S. Polk St. | 342.2500 fss-ama.org

Heal the City

eal the City Free Clinic has come a long way since Dr. Alan Keister enlisted his medical colleagues to begin seeing patients in 2014. Back then, the organization operated out of Generation Next Church and a small house on Tennessee Street. It treated around a thousand patients that first year, many of whom lined up around the block to see a doctor or receive medication. Now that the organization has moved into the former Midtown YMCA – which it is in the process of remodeling – Heal the City projects that it will have treated 7,000 patients by the end of 2017. “We’re in the middle of a capital campaign to finish out the building so we can fully fund our programs and serve patients in a bigger way,” says Chelsea Stevens, Heal the City’s clinical director. With a goal of $5.4 million, the campaign launched in August and has raised more than $2 million to date. Once completed, the 20,000-square-foot facility will include a fully stocked pharmacy, 14 private exam rooms, triage spaces, and a laboratory on the south end. The north side of the building will transform into a community wellness center with a jogging track and space for health education and cooking classes. Heal the City takes a holistic approach to wellness. Providing free exams and insulin for diabetic patients is only part of their journey to better health. “When I write the prescription for their diabetic medications, I’m going to write a prescription for them to come and exercise in the wellness center,” says Keister. In addition to its Monday-evening clinic, October saw Heal the City open a midweek program, Shalom, for patients with chronic illnesses. “Patients with illnesses like diabetes or high blood pressure can schedule appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with a nurse practitioner,” says Stevens. “We’re now a four-day clinic.”

> How to Help • Donate • Volunteer

Heal the City 609 S. Carolina St. | 231.0364 healthecityamarillo.com

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Kids, Incorporated Amarillo

enerations of Amarillo children and their parents – thousands every year – have played or coached youth sports through Kids, Incorporated. Founded in 1945 by Cal Farley and C.C. “Bus” Dugger, Kids, Incorporated is an independent nonprofit organization and one of the nation’s largest comprehensive youth sports programs. And while countless local residents have volunteered as Kids, Incorporated coaches, many don’t think of making financial contributions to the organization. “Donations from individuals or businesses are so important to us,” says President and CEO Jimmy R. Lackey. “Around 18 percent of our budget comes from donors and special events.” Participants pay fees to join Kids, Incorporated basketball, soccer, indoor soccer, volleyball, football, track, softball, tennis and cheerleading teams. But not every family in Amarillo can afford those fees. “One out of every 12 kids needs some form of financial assistance,” Lackey says. “We do it discreetly, so they’re not ever treated differently. Coaches, players or other parents don’t know about it. But gifts from the community provide that margin of difference so we never have to turn a kiddo away.” Lackey himself benefited from a 50-year friendship with a youth sports coach in Dumas, and constantly hears from local adults about the profound influence a Kids, Incorporated coach had on their childhood. “Our seasons are pretty short, but over that four-to-six weeks you can make an enormous impact on a kid,” he says. “Some children just don’t have that kind of adult mentor in their lives. We receive a number of gifts from individuals who do it to honor someone who coached them 30 years ago.” In addition to youth sports scholarships, donations to Kids, Incorporated allow for the purchase of new equipment and help youth sports stay affordable for all children. “Those private contributions keep us from having to increase fees,” says Lackey.

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Donate at supportkidsinc.org Join the monthly draft giving program Become a Kids, Incorporated coach Become a sports official

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Kids, Incorporated 2201 SE 27th Ave. | 376.5936 kidsinc.org