ABOUT US
Our Mission:
Mission Statement: We exist to see the glory of God move forward in our city by partnering with local schools and churches to help meet the needs of our economically disadvantaged students.
Why We Do What We Do: As Christians we get the joy of imitating Christ by doing the things He would have done. This includes stewarding the resources God has entrusted us with to care for all of His children. We believe one of the best ways to do this is by partnering with schools and caring for the students in our communities.
Our Ministries:
Thanksgiving Meals: Our students get a 9 day break for Thanksgiving and this means that some students will have little to no food over this break. This ministry exists to deliver groceries to these families so they can eat them throughout the week or make it all for a giant Thanksgiving feast!
Our first year in 2022 we were blessed to be able to deliver 477 of these meals
In 2023 we were able to add 3 more schools and increased that to 954 meals
In 2024 we were able to deliver 1,000 meals to Fort Worth families
Uniform Drive: Our middle and elementary school students wear polos, khakis and jeans as uniforms. Some students do not have the resources for clothes that fit correctly which can challenge their ability to focus on school and friendships well. We were able to donate around 1,000 articles of clothing to 4 of our partner schools in January 2023 and plan to move this part of our service to the beginning of the school year so students can start the year off right.
Teacher Appreciation: Our teachers spend their lives caring for and nurturing our students, this Spring we plan to show them our support, we will be providing some of our partner schools with teacher goody bags so ask us how to get involved!
Our Board:
Justin Burns (Executive Director): Justin was born and raised in South Dakota, earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Sioux Falls before moving to Fort Worth for PA school. He now works as a family practice PA in Weatherford, Texas. In his free time he enjoys reading, coffee, golf and running.
Grant Michalak: Born in McKinney, Texas, Grant went to undergraduate school in Abilene and has been in Fort Worth the past 6 years now. He works as a family practice PA. He enjoys outdoor activities and projects around the house.
Stefanie Story: Stefanie was born in Rhode Island, but raised in Oregon. She went to NM State for Undergrad and WNMU for grad school. Stefanie now lives here in Texas with her sister, 2 dogs and horse. She teaches here in Fort Worth in our Title I schools and has a big heart for her students. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her horse, coffee and being on the lake.
David Kennedy: David currently resides in Fort Worth with his wife, daughter and dog. He works as a full-time band director teaching percussion from grades 6-12. David's passions include golf, music and serving the Lord. He is originally from Myrtle Beach, SC and has lived in Texas since moving here in 2012 to attend graduate school at Texas Tech University.
Mallory Kennedy: Mallory was born in the "bustling metropolis" of Anderson, Texas. She now lives in Fort Worth with her husband, daughter and fur child. Mallory is an Executive Assistant at MOREgroup. In her free time you can catch her cheering on her Aggies (who never fail to disappoint) and Astros, or attempting to learn golf from her Husband. She is passionate about serving others and is excited where God takes us on this opportunity!
Cody Howell: Cody was born and raised in the DFW area, he brings over 15 years of executive business leadership to the team. With this vast experience he brings significant help to our team as far as logistics, efficiency and strategy goes. He is passionate about his faith which drives his motivation and involvement in not only our organization but also multiple others. In his free time he likes to spend time with his friends, on the golf course and at the Rangers games.
Madeline Burns: Madeline grew up in the DFW area and made her way south for college where she graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2020. After a few years living in Baton Rouge, she felt God calling her to Fort Worth where she has lived since 2023. Madeline currently works in the marketing field and is excited to use her experience to further the mission of LOFW. In her free time you can find Madeline at a local coffee shop or estate sale.
