Divided we fall, together we stand. After their 125th anniversary, TFNB made a decision that would unite the Waco community. To make a lasting impact, TFNB partnered with Central Texas nonprofit organizations to highlight and support groups that are supporting others. Charity Champions was born in 2014, selecting the year’s Charity Champions out of a vast pool of nominations sent in from across Central Texas.
The selected charities receive an awareness marketing campaign and leadership training covered by TFNB. The marketing the organizations receive starts immediately: Pictures taken with Baylor University’s football mascots and Head Coach Dave Aranda, a 30 second video with TFNB’s marketing team that airs on both the jumbotron and TV, as well as an interview on the KWTX segment “Tell Me Something Good.”
Through these marketing efforts, the Charity Champions receive exposure from over 500,000 viewers. This exposure has helped the selected organizations grow in a manner that was previously thought impossible.
In addition to the viewership, Charity Champions receive training from experts in five different professional development sessions. Previous Charity Champions are also welcome to attend these sessions, as TFNB has made it a mission to continuously support the charities that were given the title, stating that, “Once a Charity Champion, always a Charity Champion.” The selected winners of the current year also receive a marketing intern and a grant writing intern for the year, through a partnership with the federal work-study program at Baylor University.
Many of the charities have even come together in solidarity with one another, emphasizing their stances on unity and philanthropy. Building together, supporting each other and helping our neighbors in times of need are qualities that strengthen our community and show what it means to be a good human. Congratulations to the 2026 Charity Champions!
Read more about the work of Charity Champions in our 2024 article, Help for the Helpers.
Nominate a 2027 Charity Champion here.
Hope Mommies
The Central Texas chapter of Hope Mommies has provided community support, resources and services to families all around the greater Waco area experiencing the loss of infants and pregnancies.
From resources such as “Hope Boxes,” gift boxes curated for grieving mothers and families during times of loss, to community programs designed to pull people out of isolation and connect those with similar stories, the work of the local chapter continues to be a force within the community.
After remaining inactive for a period and on the brink of closing last year, Lisa Morgan stepped up to take on the role of chapter president of Hope Mommies Central Texas, revitalizing the nonprofit to continue its impact in the community.
Within a week of being active chapter president, the work of the charity received recognition as a TFNB Charity Champion.
“Being selected as a charity champion is incredibly meaningful and an undeniable miraculous answer to prayer for our Hope Mommies Central Texas chapter,” Morgan said. “I’m so humbled that God has entrusted me with caring for the grieving mothers and families in the Central Texas area. I told the Lord that if He had chosen me and our family to care for and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the broken-hearted mothers and families in Central Texas that this was His chapter, and I asked him to bring it all together, and to provide everything we needed.”
When Morgan initially took on the responsibility as chapter president, she did not feel qualified for the role. Nonetheless, Morgan said she felt God called her to take the step of obedience and learned to trust Him to provide a way to continue the Hope Mommies mission.
“The Hope Mommy Central Texas chapter was not mine to hold or control or have fear takeover,” Morgan said. “I had no idea how to fundraise, make connections or even where to start. I prayed constantly, even just working through the night supplying hope boxes to hospitals. My prayer was that God would provide community awareness, fundraising to cover cost of boxes and gatherings, resources, volunteers and people who had a heart to serve and love on the Hope Moms in our chapter.”
On June 1, Morgan began her term. By June 8, she had received the email that Hope Mommies had been nominated as a Charity Champion.
“Honestly, all I could do was cry in gratitude after that call and praise God for his faithfulness,” Morgan said.
Morgan is hoping that through Charity Champions and the many resources and opportunities they’ve provided that more churches, hospitals, businesses and people in the community will find out about the nonprofit and partner with them and their mission.
“Our chapter serves Hope Moms in the areas of Killeen, Belton, Temple and Waco, and cities vary within about 50 miles of those, and it’s such a big area,” Morgan said. “We want everyone to know we’re here as a support when a mother they love or themselves are going through the loss of their baby. One in four pregnancies ends in loss, and the loss of a child is something no one should walk through alone. When you love someone walking through one of the darkest seasons in their life, it’s hard to know how to support them.”
One simple way people can reach out to and help a grieving friend or family member is to partner with Hope Mommies to send them a “hope box” during their time of loss.
“Since February, we’ve delivered over 200 boxes in the Central Texas area, and have requests constantly coming in to supply them,” Morgan said. “The hope boxes contain beautiful self-care items, lotion, candle, chap sticks, tea, a mug and little gifts like that. It has a Bible journal, biblical resources and a handwritten invitation into our Hope Mommies community. I actually received three of these boxes personally after we lost our son, Cody, and they were from completely different people. They were some of the most comforting things that my heart received during that time by just knowing that I wasn’t the only one and I didn’t have to go through this alone.”
The Hope Mommies community hosts in person gatherings, shares stories and continues to reach out and connect as a support system. On October 15, national pregnancy and infant loss awareness day, the chapter is hosting its annual Wave of Light event to light candles and honor lost babies.
“It’s these really quiet, the beautiful opportunities that while you may not see a visible impact,” Morgan said. “It’s the seed of hope planted. In the light of Jesus carried by other hope moms into the darkness and touching at broken hearts, which isn’t a measurable gift.”
