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Table Of Contents 2023 | Impact Report
Table of Contents 4
A Letter from the CEO
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A Village Made for Victory
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We Mentor Kids. It's What We Do.
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Greater Tyler
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Greater Waco
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Greater Abilene
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Blessed to Bless
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Steadfast Love
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Safe Space
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The Gift of a Mentor
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Impact At-A-Glance
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Financials
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Board of Directors / Advisory Council
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Letter from the Incoming Board Chair 3
From
2023 | Impact Report
m East to West A letter from the CEO
Dear friends, At Mentoring Alliance, we strive to do one thing really well: mentor kids. That’s by design.
accomplishments, but also look forward expectantly to the commission the Lord has for us in the coming year.
Children have a special place in the heart of God. In Luke 18:15-17, parents brought their children to Jesus so He might speak a blessing on them. But when the disciples began to rebuke them, Jesus stepped in, saying, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
Our mission as an organization is to mobilize godly people into the lives of kids and families, to provide tangible help and eternal hope. We want to share Life with every child we serve.
Since children are so precious to God, they should be to us as well and we should give them our very best. As we look back on 2023, it’s a time to celebrate great
Real Stories. Measurable Impact. The impact we’ve seen on families in the regions we serve has truly been incredible. Because of your partnership, many people in our communities have stepped into the role of a mentor and are sharing the gospel with the kids and families we serve.
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This past year, our mentors had more than 17,000 conversations or presentations about the gospel, more than 300 kids put their faith in Jesus and nearly 90% of all the kids we served felt they grew closer to God. This is amazing! Honestly, I was surprised when the data came back on the academic performance of those we serve. As measured from multiple school districts using various standardized test assessments, the kids in our programs scored better in 6 out of 7 of the assessments than the peers from their same schools. In fact, in our after-school program, our students in Tyler ISD saw a 267% increase in reading gains compared to their peers. We launched our first camp in Robinson ISD of our Greater Waco region this summer and had the opportunity to serve many new kids and families. After just one summer, our students measured a whopping 40% increase in reading gains compared to their peers. In addition, 100% of them self-reported that they felt loved by their counselor. Consider Pam and Tesa, a mentor/mentee match in our Mentor Connect program. Tesa grew up going to our summer camps and built a strong relationship with her mentor, Pam, who was able to be there for her when she lost her mom just before her high school graduation. Now, Tesa serves on our Summer Camps staff, sharing the gospel the way her counselors did for her.
2023 | Impact Report
We also have Marco and Angelise, brother and sister, who experienced their parents going in and out of prison until their father was tragically murdered. These traumatic events deeply impacted them, but our staff were able to be there and walk beside them and their grandmother, Victoria, showing them the love of Christ, even in hard times. Stories like these remind me why our work is so important. But these stories wouldn’t be possible without the work we’ve done behind the scenes. It’s not easy and hasn’t been without its challenges, but in 2023 we made tremendous progress in several areas.
Significant Accomplishments: A Look Back
Every year, our leadership team makes a concerted effort to listen to our entire staff and then set new, key strategic objectives to focus on as an organization. Here are some key results from some of our annual goals this past year: Goal: Establish a game plan for expansion Result: After multiple visits with key leadership of Abilene ISD, we announced we are now expanding into Abilene in the summer of 2024. Goal: Launch advisory councils in each of our regions Result: We now have an advisory council in Greater Tyler, Greater Waco, and we are currently forming one in Greater Abilene. Goal: Prepare our programs to scale to new regions Result: We have created written training manuals for all three of our programs. What we do is no longer passed down through oral tradition or simplistic tools, but written down so that it can be reproduced in other regions. Goal: Fill our open leadership positions with the right people Result: We implemented the WHO methodology for hiring “A-Players” and we have now hired new executive directors and key leadership in multiple regions with some phenomenal people.
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2023 | Impact Report
Growth Does Not Come Easy: Continued Challenges
Growth doesn’t come without some growing pains. As we continue to grow deep and wide in the communities we serve, one of the challenges we continue to face is figuring out what a multi-regional ministry looks like for us from the headquarters level to ensuring we’re providing consistent, quality programs across all our regions. While we’ve made great strides, there is still work to be done, and we’re ready. Staffing in our programs is one of our biggest challenges since COVID-19. Oftentimes we have a waitlist in our after-school programs because of staffing shortages. In Matthew 9, Jesus says to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” and we’ve experienced just that. We are revamping our recruiting strategies, working with digital contractors to attract people through online efforts and are further expanding our referral-based recruiting efforts all at the same time.
executive directors in Greater Tyler and Greater Waco, and opening After School in Chapel Hill and Robinson ISDs. We hope to keep growing those programs and our relationship with these school districts. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry. We’re excited to see what the Lord has in store for this next year. Because every child is worth it and the gospel compels us.
Sincerely,
Kevin East President, CEO and Mentor
Where God is Leading: A Look Ahead
I’m grateful for our board of directors who provide Spirit-led wisdom on the direction of this ministry. Last year, we set a 10-year target to be serving five regions by the fall of 2032 and we are well on our way, expanding into our third region, Abilene, TX, this coming year. We have begun building a new team in Abilene, starting with our executive director, and are set to launch two Summer Camps locations in 2024. We are hopeful to launch After School there in the fall of 2024. We’ve also expanded in our current regions, hiring new
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A Village Made For Victory "Mentoring Alliance is my village," says Marisela Escalante of Waco, Texas. As a single mother within the Mentoring
Alliance family, Marisela has seen the fruit of a godly community surrounding even just one child. Through public school board partnerships, collaboration with church volunteers, extended higher education networks and local private business investment, our organizational mission materializes from multi-organizational means. We are stitched together by one calling that is greater than the sum of our parts. One body made up of many hearts. In this village, God is our victory.
2023 | Impact Report
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We mentor kids. It's what we do. Mentoring Alliance exists to mobilize godly people into the lives of kids and families, to provide tangible help and eternal hope. Our Christ-centered mentoring programs are designed to help kids thrive – because every child is worth it. Our three programs, After School, Summer Camps and Mentor Connect are designed to help kids achieve academic success, vibrant faith and emotional resilience. Through intentional oneon-one mentoring, we help meet the needs of each child and their family.
Mentors change everything. 2023 | Impact Report
Year-Round Impact Mentoring Alliance After School ensures that students in local schools have a safe place to go while continuing to learn and have a blast once the school day ends. Our after-school programs offer quality educational support for kids beyond the classroom along with an optional Bible study, healthy snacks, fun and games and positive, one-on-one mentoring. As each child arrives at Summer Camps, they walk the red carpet while our staff cheers them on so they start every day knowing they’re loved and cared for. Our camps are filled with fun games and activities, water inflatables, dance parties, Bible studies and worship, and up to 90 minutes of math and reading lessons each day. These academic sessions are taught by local teachers to help them retain what they learned during the previous year, and have proven to help our kids be more prepared going into the next school year. In Mentor Connect, we match each child with a mentor to help them form Christ-centered relationships that will last a lifetime. These mutually transformative relationships not only benefit the child and their family, but also the mentor, sparking unity in Christ, spiritual growth and a brighter future.
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2023 | Impact Report
Growing deep and wide in the communities we serve 15
Greater Tyler
Life on Life,
FOR LIFE
Mentoring Alliance has matched more than 500 Christ-centered adults into the lives of kids and their families as a means for providing the tangible help and eternal hope that our mission statement promises. 2023 | Impact Report
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here is so much to celebrate here at Mentoring Alliance in Greater Tyler. I’ve been a volunteer mentor in our Mentor Connect program for more than 10 years. During this time, I've had the privilege of having a front-row seat to witness the mutual transformation that results from “life on life, for life” relationships. During that time, Mentoring Alliance has matched more than 500 Christ-centered adults into the lives of kids and their families as a means for providing the tangible help and eternal hope that our mission statement promises. Since joining Mentoring Alliance full-time back in 2020, that front-row seat has expanded to see the After School and Summer Camps programs up close and personal. I’ve gotten the chance to witness
the dedication of our full-time staff as they serve hundreds of part-time/college staff and while they care for the kids in our programs. Many of these kids come from challenging bakgrounds. Having a consistent adult pouring into their lives, day in and day out, week in and week out, really is a life-changing experience for everyone involved. My favorite part of watching Summer Camps in action is when the parents pick up their child at the end of the day. Within a short distance from the school, many of the kids are literally falling asleep in the back seat of their parents’ car. Their little bodies are so tired from spending an entire day running, dancing, eating, napping, reading, working math problems and taking part in their Bible study time. They’ve traded a day plugged into their personal devices, for a day actually being a child again and engaging with an enthusiastic community of servant leaders whose sole purpose is to love them in Jesus’ name.
childhood. The trauma he lived through is so common with many of our kids today. When I asked him why he thought he’d be a good fit on our team, he said he knows what it's like to be invisible. He believes that he has the ability to make sure each and every child under his care would be “seen.” Mentoring Alliance has the privilege of serving some of these kids year-round through all three of our programs. Many are involved for 37 weeks in After School and nine weeks at Summer Camps. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be walking alongside these kids and their families here in the Greater Tyler community. We couldn’t do this without the commitment and investment from all of our church partners, investors, school districts and parents!
"We couldn’t do this without the commitment and investment from all of our church partners, investors, school districts and parents."
One of our current part-time college staff members shared his life story with me. He was a product of the foster system his entire
To God be all glory!
Matt Edwards Executive Director of Greater Tyler
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2023 | Impact Report
Greater Waco
The Kingdom is Now
After two years of Mentoring Alliance at work in Waco, we can look back and celebrate all that God has allowed us to be a part of so far, and at the same time we look ahead and see opportunity.
We look back and see 139 kids who participated in our first summer camp in Robinson ISD, 100% of whom responded “yes” when asked at the end of camp if they feel that their counselor loves them. We also see a 40% increase in reading gains among children who attended summer camp versus peers who didnt attend. But we look ahead and consider how many more children need to feel this sense of love and safety, and the academic boost that comes from being in camp. We look back and see the 200+ kids we now have in our after-school programs, experiencing not only a safe place to go after school, but also social emotional learning activities and Bible studies that encourage and equip them. But we also look beyond this and see a community with twenty school districts, which are overwhelmingly economically disadvantaged with countless youth who are caught in the forceful tide of social media influence and depression.
We look back and see 23 mentor matches and single parents in tears, knowing that their child has another adult in their lives who can help them reach their potential. But we look ahead and see the devastating effects of poverty in our community, and we see wonderful parents who are crying out for more positive influences in their kids’ lives. As we close out 2023, we pause to take a deep breath and admire how God has worked, and we find ourselves rolling up our sleeves to get to work because we know that this is just the beginning. As a parent of four children in Waco ISD schools, where 94% of children are considered economically disadvantaged, and as an active community volunteer, our family lives up close and personal to the challenges our friends face on a daily basis. We rejoice in the GED being acquired and the first time a friend makes the A Honor Roll, and we weep when a family member is deported or a child’s trauma from home manifests at school. This work is deeply personal for myself, my husband and my children.
In the gospels, Jesus reminds us to pray now for the kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven, and then He shows us how to do it – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. As Christfollowers, we believe that the kingdom is now, so we draw close to the needs in our community, pouring out our lives to serve, wiping away tears, restoring dignity, all while celebrating and reminding them all along the way that God is generous, kind and present. To serve these children who bear the image of their Creator, the parents who are working tirelessly to create opportunities for them and school districts who bear the weight of preparing them for adulthood in more ways than one is the privilege of a lifetime.
Amie Reynolds Executive Director of Greater Waco
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W E AV I N G H O P E I N TO T H E FA B R I C O F A N E W C O M M U N I T Y
Greater Abilene
2023 | Impact Report
Mentoring Alliance Expands into Greater Abilene Here at Mentoring Alliance, we are blessed with the opportunity to continue growing and expanding. We can’t wait to begin serving in Abilene starting summer 2024, kicking off with our Summer Camps in Abilene ISD. In my role as the newly appointed Executive Director for Greater Abilene, I am filled with an unparalleled sense of enthusiasm as we dive into the work of establishing a perennial sanctuary for children and families, offering not only immediate assistance, but also the enduring solace of eternal hope. Active engagement within our community is not merely a choice, but a theological imperative, an essential conduit for effecting a necessary change in the lives of our neighbors. The intertwined nature of my dual engagement as a dedicated city council member and steadfast deacon at The Well church in Abilene has woven a tapestry of reverence for this city and its resilient families. My wife, Caroline, and I have rooted ourselves in Abilene with our two children attending elementary school in Abilene ISD. We are eager witnesses to the divine orchestration of our lives and our community as we embrace this new chapter. A significant proportion of the children in our community
come from single-parent households, where the need for reliable childcare is critical. Safe, reliable childcare is a necessity in the face of this stark reality: Abilene ISD's statistics reveal that 65% of its students come from economically disadvantaged families. Necessary care for our kids shouldn’t be a financial burden. Mentoring Alliance serves families regardless of their economic status through financial aid because every child matters. Abilene is a place that serves a diverse population of students speaking more than 50 languages. This convergence of cultures and identities presents us with an opportunity to extend the tapestry of love and support to these children and their families, a spiritual calling manifesting within our own backyard. As we grow and kick off our program over the next year, I plan to do everything humanly possible to ensure that Mentoring Alliance thrives in every aspect of the ministry in the beautiful community of Abilene. Abilene is a place where bonds of compassion run deep, a place where mutual investment evokes an outpouring of love and benevolence. This is a place that cares deeply for its people, and when the community sees that you are invested in them, they show love and care in return. Dr. Travis Craver Executive Director of Greater Abilene
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2023 | Impact Report
Telling many stories to tell one – His redemptive story 23
D E S S E L B 2023 | Impact Report
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DJ & GABE When six-month-old DJ was brought to his greatgrandmother Vicky’s house, she never expected to be raising another child long-term. But, God’s plans are greater than our own. As the years passed, DJ began to feel anger that was difficult to control, impacting his school performance and social interactions. Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps offered DJ a chance to learn about Jesus, learning to love from His example and relate to others in a healthy and peaceful way. His counselors, specifically Mr. Gabe, have truly epitomized the example of biblical maturity. “I’m blessed to be able to bless him,” Mr. Gabe says with tears. Knowing that godly male role models want to share life with DJ has encouraged him to share that love with others.
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2023 | Impact Report
Marco and Angelise
e v o L
For every child, a stable, two-parent household is paramount to healthy, emotional development. Unfortunately for Marco and Angelise, that wasn’t a reality. With both parents in and out of the prison system, leading up to the tragic murder of their father, their grandmother, Victoria stepped in to raise them. Marco and Angelise were deeply impacted by these events. But upon enrolling in Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps and by the steadfast love of Christ, the fears, frustration and anxieties slowly melted away into childhood joy, faith and hope once again. “I have proof that I am being helped and that my babies are special,” gushes Victoria.
“And I love y'all for being there for my babies. Thank you so, so much.” 27
SAFESpace Lexie Jenkins In the summer of 2022, 7-year-old Lexie could hardly cope with the tragic loss of her father. At school that fall, Lexie wanted to isolate herself from her classmates. Her counselors could see the pain Lexie was in. Slowly, with lots of love and understanding, they helped Lexie open up by creating a safe place to share her hurt and pain. The staff at After School and Summer Camps began to see improvement in Lexie’s interactions with her friends and a renewed joy in her spirit. Lexie even recently shared the gospel with her peers and now encourages her mother as well. With a big smile, her mom delights to share, “She sometimes tells me that everything is going to be ok!”
2023 | Impact Report
The Gift of a Mentor After losing both parents and her husband within seven months, Pam felt God leading her to serve others. Mentoring Alliance Mentor Connect matched her as a mentor to Artesia (nicknamed Tesa) who was also a camper at Summer Camps. They always have a blast together. Unfortunately, Tesa experienced the tragic loss of her mom, Stephanie, before her high school graduation. “Having a friend like Ms. Pam is such a gift,” Tesa beams with joy. “We’ve been through the same thing.” God has continued to work miracles, as Tesa is now in her first year of college and works as a Summer Camps counselor. “As a kid, I never knew there was so much responsibility in life,” Tesa recalls. “Now, I feel that responsibility. It makes me a little bit nervous, but also excited for what’s to come!”
“Having a friend like Ms. Pam is such a gift,” 29
2023 | Impact Report
Because every child is worth it and the gospel compels us 31
2023 Impact At-A-Glance
MA Students Outscore Peers in 6 out of 7 School Assessments 2023 | Impact Report
MA SUMMER CAMPS
PEERS
MA SUMMER CAMPS
PEERS
MA SUMMER CAMPS
PEERS
MA AFTER SCHOOL
PEERS
MA SUMMER CAMPS
PEERS
MA AFTER SCHOOL
PEERS
MA SUMMER CAMPS
PEERS
The information provided is based on reported survey data from several hundred students and parents. Research and insights provided by Excellence in Giving philanthropic advisory.
52%
92%
83%
Reduce their tendency to give up quickly when homework is hard
Made a significant progress on their homework assignments
Made A's and B's on their report card, an increase from before they joined After School 33
2023 | Impact Report
$910,964 $631,248 $6,118,191 TOTAL EXPENSES: $7,660,403
$7,654,7 12
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2023 Board of Directors Justin Lindley | Chair Ramey & Flock PC, Attorney
Ken Lackner | The LMT Wealth Management Group, Managing Director
Megan Tarrant | Secretary Clements Fluids Management LLC, CEO
Roy Martinez | PARK 4 Consulting Jim Nipp | The Genesis Group, President
Chris Craddock | Treasurer Providence Consulting Group, Principal IT Project Consultant
Vicki Raabe | Community Volunteer Leslie Rhea | Community Volunteer
Dr. Dan Gold | 2024 Incoming Board Chair Gold Eye Clinic, Owner
Jet Schuler | Caregivers Home Health Texas, Co-Owner, President/CFO
Andy Guinn | Ebby Halliday Realtors Zach Sheets | Front Porch Coffee Co & Bakery, Owner
Greater Tyler Advisory Council
Greater Waco Advisory Council
Dr. Rick Rogers Thomas Neuhoff Bill Evans Rowdy Nutt Jeff Millslagle Shannon Glenney Charles Burns Dr. Johnita Ward
Ben Doskocil Erin DuBois Ashton Gustafson Sterling Hill Kemi Ingram Everett Phipps Leslie Rhea David Sykora
2023 | Impact Report
Dr. Stan Ward Victoria Calderon Dawson Barksdale Jon Jenz Kevin Rushing
Letter from the Incoming Board Chair After age 12, my dad was no longer part of my life. By age 16, I was completely on my own and living in a treehouse, way off the grid. It was about a 13-mile hike to where I lived. I mean, I was as lost as lost can be until God found me. When I came to know Him, I said, “Lord, what do you want to do with my life?” And He gave a broken sinner like me the privilege to take the gospel to places where people weren’t necessarily taking it, to find others who were as lost as I was. I remember when the Iron Curtain came down and being on mission in Romania right after their liberation from Russia. We were being followed by the secret police. We entered a street corner with a box of Bibles to hand out to the people waiting in line for bread and milk because the stores didn’t have any. These people would get out of line and eagerly come up to us to get a Bible. I’d never seen that kind of
spiritual hunger before in my life. I think that’s what’s happening in our cities and communities today. The public school has become one of the greatest mission fields. Today, people know that they’re being failed by the systems in place to protect them. However, we have the opportunity to come in and serve people right where they are. Jesus said, “Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you can find.” While there's a lot of great ministries, I believe that this one is inviting every family in our neighborhood to step out in faith and receive a message of hope. And when you observe what’s happening in this ministry, just look at the favor God has given us. I think this is truly close to His heart. So, whether you’re going on this mission, or giving to it, we’re blessed to be able to go where God is calling us. Dr. Dan Gold, Incoming Board Chair
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2023 | Impact Report
"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." - Luke 18:16 39
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