From the very beginning, Mrs. Lena Pope involved her community in her mission to support children and families. You have helped us carry on her legacy. We are so grateful for the ways you have supported our mission to equip children, families, caregivers, and community with a strong foundation through counseling, education, and behavior interventions. What started with a group of women in the Martha Sunday School class at Broadway Baptist Church grew to include Fort Worth families and well-known community leaders.
Lena Pope has been serving children, families, and our community for 93 years. Today, we do that through:
- Two NAEYC-Accredited Early Learning Centers
- Chapel Hill Academy, a tuition-free charter school
- Counseling services for all ages
- Substance Use Program for ages 18 and up
- Partnerships with Tarrant County Juvenile Services
In the 50 years I have worked at Lena Pope, I believe we’ve always had a bond with our community. Lena Pope has worked to be a place of integrity, a place you can count on to follow through on our commitments. I think the integrity of our agency comes from treating people respectfully, providing high-quality services, making wise financial decisions, being good stewards of our resources, investing in our leadership, and having an involved Board of Directors. Our integrity as an agency allows us to continue serving children and families in need, without interruption.
We are grateful for each one of you that has contributed over the years. Our impact has been richer together.
Looking Back
In the early days, support for Lena Pope happened in a lot of ways, sometimes through service organizations like the Junior League. Local banks threw a Christmas party for the children, and everyone dressed up for the special occasion. We once got a call about a truckload of fish that needed to be donated (it’s a long story!), and the relationship that began that day turned into a merger with Youth for Tomorrow, which doubled our organizational size. A community member suggested Lena Pope as the Tarrant Area beneficiary for DFW Restaurant Week, and that relationship has continued for over 20 years.
We’ve been fortunate to have volunteers, board members, and former clients who give of their time and effort to support us in every way. There were years when we struggled financially, and it was our community bringing Christmas gifts, coats, or school supplies for the children. Donors like you support similar programs today, including our holiday assistance program and school supply drive. Support from our community has always allowed us to provide additional wrap around services to help everyone we serve thrive.
Why You Should Support Lena Pope
The need in our community continues to be greater than the resources available in Tarrant County to provide services. There are challenges in our society that are constantly changing, and many issues that need our attention. Our community needs organizations like Lena Pope to be there to equip children and families with a strong foundation.
There are many ways to support Lena Pope outside of making a donation or including Lena Pope in your will or estate plan. You can mention our name in conversation or share us as a resource with others.
I’m a regular donor to Lena Pope because I see what it does to make a difference. I’ve made a legacy gift and joined Lena Pope’s Circle of Hope because I want to support this organization for generations. I have watched our teams be good stewards of all our resources and seen how our staff appreciates that support.
When you can tell someone else about WHY Lena Pope matters to you then it helps other people get involved with Lena Pope and encourages them to learn about our services and our place in the community. If you’re not sure what our services are, I invite you to come visit us and go on a tour! In order to better support our community, we need each of you to be a Lena Pope ambassador in this community.
In my opinion, it’s the day to day that makes Lena Pope, and our community, special. In my 50 years here, I’ve seen a conversation that may have felt small, turn into something life-changing for the children and families we serve. I’ve seen joy on the faces of children and families who are involved in making their future brighter. I have been faithful with the trust I’ve been given over the years to help lead this organization. Lena Pope is in my blood, and I will carry it with me into my next season of life. It’s been a joy to watch you embrace our mission, and I look forward to seeing how this community supports Lena Pope for the next 50 years!