A Letter from the CEO
Dear Friends,
Looking back on 2024, I am filled with gratitude and awe at the impact we’ve made together. This year has been a season of growth, resilience, and hope. We have expanded our reach, sharpened our programs, and embraced new challenges with a continual commitment to serving kids and families who come from the most challenging backgrounds.
In Luke 15, Jesus teaches through parables that emphasize God’s heart for the lost. When I read this chapter, I’m reminded of how God personally loves each and every one of us — and that every person is made in the image of God. He is deeply concerned for those who wander, and He joyfully celebrates each person who finds their way back to Him! This is our guiding mission at Mentoring Alliance. We embrace and serve kids and families — those often overlooked or struggling — because every individual is worthy of love and celebration.
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Impact
Our Reach and Growth
As our eyes look towards expansion, we want to ensure that our existing ministry is healthy and prepared for growth. In 2024, our goals were to strengthen our existing regions, our headquarters infrastructure to support more regions, and our fundraising engine.
Strengthen Existing
Regions
GREATER TYLER
• 2,041 Kids
• 24 Campuses
AFTER SCHOOL
SUMMER CAMPS
MENTOR CONNECT
LAUNCHED 2 NEW AFTER SCHOOL SITES
• 636 Kids
• 6 Campuses
AFTER SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS
MENTOR CONNECT
LAUNCHED 2 NEW SUMMER CAMPS SITES
Tackling the Problem
The United States has the highest rate of kids living in single-parent households in the world, with over 18 million children growing up without a father figure.
4X
More than 70% of school dropouts are from singleparent homes. (NPA Report)
Kids from singleparent homes are 4X more likely to live below the poverty line
(U.S. Census Bureau)
• 72 Kids
• 1 Campus
LAUNCHED SUMMER CAMPS
ADDING A SECOND SITE IN 2025!
90 %
70 %
90% of kids and teens living in the streets are from single-parent homes. (CDC)
The problem is a lack of stable, equipped adult role models and mentors for kids in the communities we serve. Mentoring Alliance is dedicated to filling this gap by mobilizing godly people into the lives of kids and families, to provide tangible help and eternal hope.
GREATER WACO GREATER ABILENE
Strengthen Infrastructure to Support Growth
We have taken a deep dive into systems and processes so that growth within existing regions and expansion into new regions doesn’t increase a burden on the ministry. To date, we have overhauled our financial controls to reduce expenses, consolidated our IT systems to increase productivity, and most importantly, started building reporting systems that allow us to listen and gather data from our families in order to provide the best experience for those we serve. This may not be attractive to write about, but this work has been critical for setting us up to succeed in the coming years.
Strengthen Fundraising Engine
This year, we witnessed significant growth in our financial support, with a 30% increase in overall fundraising revenue. In fact, first-time donors contributed an impressive $689,000. As this message reaches more and more individuals, we see such giving, especially in new communities, as an invitation, endorsement, and challenge — to go deeper and continue the impact.
Challenges
The landscape of public schools today is uncertain, and as we grow, we are learning to be more agile than ever. Our district partnerships no longer look uniform, and with every partnership comes unique challenges that we tackle alongside the superintendent. As these leaders discuss with us fears related to funding and requirements of the state, we are learning on a new level how to engage in conversations about federal/state grants, house and senate bills, and public schools of the future.
Even in uncertainty, there is shared trust and a commitment to serving families well, and these challenges have strengthened our relationships with existing partners. In many ways, the challenges of 2024 have proven our resilience as an organization and have expressed to superintendents our willingness to adapt and our continued presence in the midst of change.
kids served across 8 districts in 3 regions in the last year� 2,749
30%
increase in overall fundraising revenue compared to last year�
gospel conversations with our students 21,703
A Journey of Hope and Restoration
Deneek, a bright young boy in our Waco After School program, has experienced remarkable growth in his faith and emotional development. His mom, working tirelessly to rebuild their lives after her release from prison, has been a steadfast partner in this journey. Despite challenges, including his dad’s incarceration, Deneek’s participation in our programs has led to a profound transformation. He gave his life to Jesus at camp, and his mom sees him as a “new creation.”
Inspired by her son’s love for reading Scripture, Daneek’s mom has also grown in her faith, grateful for the opportunity to reclaim lost years. She shares with tears of gratitude that MA has helped her take back the “years that the locusts have eaten” — years of Daneek’s life that she missed while in prison. This beautiful journey of restoration is a testament to the power of faith, family, and the transformative impact of our programs.
Read more Impact Stories on page 14.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future
Already for 2025, we have plans to launch After School in Midway ISD (Waco) and add an additional summer camp in Abilene ISD. We expect our summer camp enrollment in 2025 to reach over 1300 kids per week, compared to 890 in 2024!
Like in Luke 15, we want to care for every sheep that has been entrusted to us in the communities we already serve. Yet our eyes and hearts can’t help but wonder about the “one” out there who is lost, whose life would be transformed if we were to “go after the lost sheep” until we find it.
We are in active conversations with school districts and communities that believe in our mission and its potential impact. We have structured our ministry for growth to accommodate the increasing interest from communities eager to become the next MA city.
It is incredibly humbling to find myself in different communities explaining our mission and impact, and for superintendents and potential funders to look back at me with an expression of hope, eagerness, and possibility.
Your role in this journey
As you read through these pages, I hope that you will see yourself as a treasured partner and friend in the work of this ministry and as a thread of hope and presence in these stories. We could not do this without you, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I consider your continued trust, prayer, and partnership.
Because every child is worth it and the gospel compels us.
Sincerely,
Kevin East President, CEO and Mentor
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”
1 THESSALONIANS 2:8
Tangible Help� Eternal Hope�
Mentoring Alliance exists to mobilize godly people into the lives of kids and families, to provide tangible help and eternal hope.
At Mentoring Alliance, we strive to follow the example Jesus set as he led his ministry here on earth. We want to give people real, tangible help and point them to their Eternal Hope.
Our staff and mentors show kids who their Eternal Hope is by faithfully discipling them. We want the kids we serve to leave our programs knowing Jesus loves them and that He is someone they can put their trust and hope in.
Tangible help comes through our three mentoring programs: After School, Summer Camps, and Mentor Connect. After School and Summer Camps provide parents with affordable childcare in a nurturing environment that promotes growth and learning. Mentor Connect gives children from single-parent homes a godly, trusted adult who will walk alongside the child for several years, encouraging them and guiding them in their relationship with Jesus.
Our Core Programs
Mentoring Alliance After School partners with local school districts to provide quality, educational programs for children when the school day ends. Students are provided academic support, a healthy snack, purposeful play, social emotional learning activities, and Bible Study.
Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps offer a thrilling daycamp experience at local public schools where campers enjoy endless fun with water slides and go-kart races. Academic regression is reduced with 90 minutes of daily math and reading instruction by certified teachers.
Mentoring Alliance provides mutually transformative relationships through one-onone mentorship as individuals and families share life together. These one-on-one connections empower students, promoting growth in faith, confidence, and better decision-making.
Shaping Futures
Mentoring Alliance has defined three priority outcomes for our programs. We aim to see every child we serve make significant progress in these areas:
Vibrant Faith
We share the love of Jesus with every child we serve through teaching scripture and building discipling relationships.
Emotional Resilience
Academic Success
We inspire kids to reach their full academic potential and to build confidence at school — even in the summer!
We give kids the tools they need to face hard moments, overcome big emotions, and make good choices.
Stories of Lasting Impact
This year, we’ve seen remarkable transformation in the lives of the kids we serve. Each of these stories highlights the unique journey of one of our kids who, through the support and guidance of a caring mentor, has grown in confidence, faith, and resilience.
Jazmire & Quazmire
When Jazmire and Quazmire arrived at camp, they were full of curiosity, wonder, and endless amounts of energy. However, our staff quickly noticed that these two boys struggled to manage their emotions, especially when things didn’t go their way. They were among our youngest campers and had a lot to learn about sharing and patience. Small disappointments — like not being called on during Bible study, sharing crayons, or waiting for their turn on the go-karts — would often lead to frustration.
Their counselors created a personalized behavioral plan for these boys to combat the issue, encouraging them to set daily goals and teaching them to handle disappointments maturely. Counselors offered rewards for meeting their goals and helped them process their emotions when things didn’t go as hoped. This structure, combined with the counselors’ reassurance that they were in a safe space, empowered these boys to grow emotionally. By the end of camp, Jazmire and Quazmire were better able to make friends, share, communicate with others, and carry themselves with newfound resilience.
Sloane
When Sloane first transitioned to Robinson ISD last year, her parents worried about how she’d adjust. She has highfunctioning autism, so change has always been a challenge for her. But through the patient care of our staff, Sloane has grown to love After School. Our program has provided her with a safe space to make friendships and truly enjoy her school experience. She has also grown in confidence, leading her to actively participate and answer questions during academics and Bible study. Her counselor, Ms. Cat, shared that since coming to After School, Sloane has “really grown in her leadership and in helping her friends.” According to her mother, Sloane enjoys her time at After School so much that she doesn’t even want to leave at the end of the day.
As a quiet child growing up with many siblings, it was easy for Olivia to feel overlooked. Similar to many of the kids we serve, she needed someone outside her family who would see her, intentionally connect with her, and lead her closer to Jesus.
Meanwhile, Ms. Angela was praying for opportunities to serve her community when she discovered our Mentor Connect program through her church. When she and Oliva were matched as mentor/mentee, they bonded instantly. Since then, Ms. Angela has consistently shown up for Olivia, allowing her to feel comfortable opening up and asking questions about Jesus and His love for her. Through being mentored, Olivia has become a shining example of vibrant faith. She knows that no matter what, Ms. Angela will always be there for her.
2024 Impact At A Glance
Mentoring Alliance partners with Excellence in Giving (EIG) to annually survey the kids and families we serve. The results below reflect the feedback they provided to us. Additionally, we invite our partner school districts to share academic results with us to assess how our students performed compared to their peers.
of After School students make progress on their homework assignments�
MA students outperform their peers in 94% of academic assessments completed by the districts� 93% 72% 94%
of After School students are less likely to give up when homework gets hard�
Student Experience and Academic Growth
Learning Success Building Confidence Spiritual Growth
40% of kids report they like going to school more.
60% of campers feel more prepared to go back to school.
45% of parents report their child has fewer behavioral problems because of After School.
81% of kids try new activities even if they might not be good at them.
68% of kids feel safe to try something new or make a mistake at After School.
87% of campers report feeling loved.
84% of parents report their child talks about how much God loves them.
76 kids professed faith in Jesus for the first time.
84% of kids report they feel closer to God.
Tyler
This year, we were given the wonderful opportunity to launch two new After School locations in Lindale and Bullard, opening the door to serve 115 additional students in these communities. We also saw God working mightily in the hearts of our campers this past summer, leading 25 kids to make the life-changing decision to accept Jesus into their hearts at Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps. Additionally, 42 kids were matched with a mentor this past year, introducing them to deep, intentional relationships with godly adults who will impact their lives for years to come.
What our Superintendents are Saying
“Something that’s been extremely valuable for us is having an authentic, proven partner in Mentoring Alliance that can help us achieve improved student outcomes.”
Dr. Marty Crawford, Tyler ISD Superintendent
“In my 30 years of public education, I’ve never seen a more powerful, effective program for elementary students.”
Dr. Christopher Moran, former Whitehouse ISD Superintendent
17,756 gospel conversations with our students this year
Waco
This year, we launched two new Summer Camp locations, expanding from only serving Robinson ISD to now also reaching Midway ISD (Hewitt) and Waco ISD (Parkdale). We have also expanded After School into Midway ISD. Because of these new locations, we were able to serve 256 new kids this year. Every day, throughout academics, Bible study, and fun activities, our staff was able to love on these kids and point them to Jesus.
What our Superintendents are Saying
“Mentoring Alliance provides a dynamic, safe environment for our students that is both educational and encouraging! I could not be more pleased at the positive impact Mentoring Alliance has had on our students and their families.”
Dr. Michael Hope, Robinson ISD Superintendent
“The work of the Mentoring Alliance staff not only served the hearts and minds of the young people but also encouraged and exhorted my teachers and staff. They saw how the energy, positivity, and light of Christ affected kids, and it was inspirational.”
Dr. Chris Allen, Midway ISD Superintendent
3,254
gospel conversations with our students this year
Abilene
The hallways of Purcell Elementary rang with contagious joy as we launched our first Summer Camps in Abilene. We welcomed kids from the farthest reaches of the community for an unforgettable summer filled with water inflatables, fun academics, Bible studies, intentional mentoring, and more.
We have been making incredible strides forming relationships with the city of Abilene. We’ve even been given a second site for 2025 Summer Camps. This exciting expansion means we will have the capacity to serve twice as many kids next summer. That’s not all — our vision is growing, with plans to bring our after-school programs to Abilene ISD in the near future.
What our Superintendents are Saying
“Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps program has been a highlight of innovation for the students of Abilene ISD. As I visited the program this summer, my heart was warmed by the energy being poured into our students every day. From the red carpet welcome to the water games and academic time, our students were loved and cared for with the kind of devotion that any parent would be proud of! I cannot wait to see more Abilene ISD students positively impacted by Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps in Abilene!”
Dr. Joe Waldron, Abilene ISD Deputy Superintendent
gospel conversations with our students this year
“But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.’”
LUKE 9:47-48
Mission Forward
We plan to become a premier nationwide provider of Christ-centered mentoring programs that are excellent, impactful, and affordable for all families.
2024 Financial Highlights
23-24 Operating Revenue
23-24
Select Data
The financial statements presented in this report are unaudited. Audited financial statements will be available on our website by January 31, 2025.
Explosive Growth in 2024
As funding has grown, so has spending on programs benefiting kids and families — an increase of 19% over the last year.
Honesty & Transparency
FUNDRAISING REVENUE
$4,381,733
$5,745,383
$4,907,712
TOTAL REVENUE
$7,386,371
$8,804,776
$7,654,712
PROGRAM EXPENSES
$4,974,478
$7,556,664
$6,118,191
As a Christ-centered ministry, Mentoring Alliance is committed to integrity. Each year, we submit our operations and financials for evaluation by several respected third parties, including these:
Mentoring Alliance received Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating.
Mentoring Alliance meets all 20 criteria for charity accountability.
As a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Mentoring Alliance meets the seven standards of responsible stewardship.
Letter from the Board Chair
Do you know how much you matter to God? Enough for Him to lay down His life for you.
In a time when it seems everyone is confused about who they are and what they’re worth, it’s important to hold onto that truth. God loves us, and we matter to him. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you’ve done, you matter to the Creator of the universe.
This is the message we bring to the kids and families we serve. Every single one of them is loved and cared for by God so much He was willing to lay down His life for them so that they might be saved. These kids and families matter to God therefore, they matter to us. Through God’s grace, we have the rare opportunity to bring the gospel into public schools. Not all our families attend church, but we can minister to their kids in all three of our programs by providing mentors who will share not only the Gospel with them but their lives as well.
“Through God’s grace, we have the rare opportunity to bring the gospel into public schools.”
That’s why Mentoring Alliance exists: to mobilize godly people into the lives of kids and families, to provide tangible help and eternal hope.
Starting in Tyler, we’ve now grown to serve Abilene, Bullard, Chapel Hill, Lindale, Waco, and Whitehouse.
In 2025, we’ll continue expanding our reach to provide tangible help and eternal hope to even more kids and families in our communities. We are also exploring opportunities in other cities and regions as we seek to faithfully follow His lead. I can’t wait to see how God will work through all of us in the upcoming year.
I hope you will join us in being the hands and feet of Jesus in 2025.
Dr. Dan Gold Chairman, Mentoring Alliance Board of Directors
2024 Board of Directors
Dr. Dan Gold
Chair | Gold Eye Clinic, Owner
Justin Lindley
Secretary | Ramey & Flock, Attorney
Jet Schuler
Treasurer | Caregivers Home Health Texas, Co-Owner, President/CFO
Victoria Calderon
Cross Cultural Communications, Founder
Kemi Ingram
Community Connector
Ken Lackner
The LMT Wealth Management Group, Managing Director
Greater Tyler Advisory Council
Dr. Rick Rogers
Bill Evans
Rowdy Nutt
Jeff Millslagle
Shannon Glenney
Charles Burns
Dr. Johnita Ward
Jon Jenz
Kevin Rushing
David King
Al Flanagan
Chris Craddock
Timothy McGowen
Mandi Adams
Sonia Marin
Andy Guinn
Louise Dyer
Executive Director Greater Tyler: Matt Edwards
Ken Waits
Mewbourne Oil Company, President & CEO
Megan Tarrant
Clements Fluids, CEO
Roy Martinez
PARK 4 Consulting
Jim Nipp
The Genesis Group, President
Thomas Neuhoff
Herd Family Office, CFO
Leslie Rhea
Community Volunteer
Zach Sheets
Front Porch Coffee Co & Bakery, Owner
Greater Waco Advisory Council
Ben Doskocil
Ashton Gustafson
Toby Barnett
Everett Phipps
David Sykora
James Russell
Bradford McMillan
Kemi Ingram
Leslie Rhea
Erin DuBois
Adrica Boffman
Jenna Kinkeade
Jordan Bledsoe
Executive Director Greater Waco: Amie Reynolds
Greater Abilene Advisory Council
Matthew Sullivan
Alex Eagle
Jasmine McCabe-Gossett
Sonja Bessent
Robert Floyd
Jordan Robison
Zach Sheets
Executive Director Greater Abilene: Dr. Travis Craver