3 minute read
Love For Kids Inc.: Empowering Communities and Changing Lives
Love For Kids Inc.: Empowering Communities and Changing Lives
For over half a century, Love For Kids Inc. has been dedicated to supporting low-income families with children in need, believing that a strong community begins with nurturing its youngest members.
Founded in 1975 by Bill Barrett, a compassionate local businessman, and Alan Powdermaker, CEO of Circle R Ranch, Love For Kids was born out of a simple yet profound desire to make a difference. What started as a Christmas party for 200 at-risk children has blossomed into a comprehensive organization serving thousands of families each year.
Children are often the most vulnerable members of society—they need support and care that guides them through growing up and allows them to reach their full potential. Love For Kids’ mission is simple yet powerful: to provide resources, support, and opportunities for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. With multiple programs touching the lives of 36,000 families annually, Love For Kids goes above and beyond to meet the diverse needs of the community.
One of the most heartwarming initiatives of Love For Kids is its annual holiday event at the ranch, where 1,500 children are treated to a day filled with joy, laughter, and the simple pleasures of childhood, complete with a gender and age-appropriate gift. Additionally, Love For Kids ensures that children have shoes and blankets to keep them warm and comfortable, allowing them to focus on their education and dreams for the future.
In the spring, the organization hosts a special day for 200 children with special needs and their families, offering activities from petting zoos to horseback riding. Moments like these remind us of the transformative power of compassion and community.
By working closely with community members, charities, private donors, special needs advisors, and educators, the organization maximizes its impact and ensures that every child receives the support they deserve. Through innovative programming and dedicated volunteers, Love For Kids promotes awareness and social responsibility across all ages, inspiring future generations to pay it forward.
Volunteer Rebecka's Empowering Story
“I grew up as a welfare child in a single-parent home with Sturge Weber Syndrome, a rare disease that touches around 34,000 Americans,” said Rebecka, a Love for Kids volunteer. “Because of similar groups during my childhood, I attained two college degrees, a 19-year marriage with a lovely child, became an advocate for children with similar conditions, and now work with kids like me, making a difference despite 25 medical conditions.
“There are many kids’ non-profits I could work with in the Dallas Fort Worth area; however, I chose Love For Kids, Inc. They dedicate a higher-than-average percentage to their programs for the children they serve. I’m proud to dedicate my time to helping children like myself so that, hopefully, others will find the inspiration to have more productive lives, just as I did.
“Seeing the difference the non-profit makes each year at events is inspiring. The coming together of the community to ensure that kids can have a chance at childhood makes every effort worth it. I would not trade a child’s smile, a parent’s special moment, a family’s opportunity to eat, or a volunteer’s delight in helping others for another career after nine years of working with Love For Kids, Inc.”
