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.
LEAD Mentor Program
The Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) Program was founded in 2025. One mentor, five students and an aspiration to achieve what was not thought possible.
Pairing business professionals with high school students, LEAD mentors and mentees are given opportunities to attend different leadership centered events around the community to strengthen their networks and refine their leadership skills. Ranging from law firms to construction sites the students are exposed to a variety of different career paths and opportunities.
“Being selected as a Charity Champion is an incredible opportunity for the LEAD Program and the students we serve,” said Rachel Martinez, senior director of workforce and talent at The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce oversees the LEAD program. “LEAD is all about connecting students with mentors, experiences and opportunities that help them see what is possible for their future. Being part of Charity Champions allows us to share that mission with an even broader audience while bringing more awareness to the incredible young people in our community. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to invest in the next generation of Waco leaders and help ensure that students have the support and connections they need to succeed.”
Martinez has witness the benefits of the LEAD program for local students.
“One of the most rewarding parts of LEAD is watching students grow in confidence,” she said. “Many of our students begin the program unsure of themselves or unsure of what their future might look like. Through three years of mentorship, they build relationships with adults who believe in them, experience careers and opportunities they may never have encountered otherwise and develop skills like communication, leadership, professionalism and self-advocacy. We also see students begin to dream bigger. Many are first-generation college students, and LEAD can be a bridge between where they are today and what they once thought might be out of reach. They start talking about college, careers, leadership and possibilities for their future — and then they begin making plans to achieve them.”
Students can join the LEAD program free of charge thanks to a dedicated group of sponsors that help pave the way for these young leaders to develop skills, expertise and confidence. Now LEAD has served over 500 students, holds a 98% graduation rate, and is proud to work with over 100 students every year. Additionally, through help from the Waco community, LEAD has been able to provide a record $104,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in the surrounding areas seeking higher education.
With the opportunities from Charity Champions, LEAD’s goal is grown in its outreach in the community.
If you are interested in supporting the next generation of future leaders through volunteering, sponsoring or funding a scholarship, visit LEAD’s site to see how you can make a difference in the community.
