OUR STORY
Founded in 2017, the Hawkins Family Foundation is a manifestation of our walk of faith and realization of a decade long dream to bring joy and hope to the underserved and discarded in our society.
Our desire to bring love and justice to the disadvantaged has opened our eyes to many areas of need, but most prominent in our hearts have been illiteracy, food insecurity, life skills and healthcare support.
The initial focus of our foundation has been to bring joy and confidence to school age children in underserved areas through our “Heroes for Literacy” (HFL) program. HFL supports growth in reading skills, creative writing, imagination and artistic expression using comic books and the super hero genre to pique the children’s interest and encourage their spirits.
In the fall of 2020, the pandemic made us aware of how many school age children’s most consistent source of food and nutrition each week is the free and reduced meal program provided during the school year. Although schools were shifting to remote learning or operating on a hybrid (remote/in-person) schedule, the children were still receiving breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. However, food insecurity for the kids is a pervasive and gut-wrenching problem. In response to this dire need, we have facilitated successful fundraising campaigns to purchase grocery certificates for the children of our partner school and for school support staff members who are also in need.
Through my wife Karen’s experience as a nurse, we have realized how many people who suffer needlessly because they don’t have the knowledge or support system needed to successfully address their healthcare needs. We have seen people have to cancel needed surgeries, miss therapy and physician appointments, be unable to pick up vital prescriptions, or be unable to convalesce and recover from procedures in comfort and security, because their homes have not properly set up. Our vision is to put together a team of volunteers to function as advocates and help people navigate the world of healthcare.
Our prayer for The Hawkins Family Foundation is through showing others how we love our neighbors, we can inspire individuals and groups around our nation to love generously in their local communities. We invite you to join us on this journey to bring hope and justice to the under loved and underserved by taking action to help improve their quality of life.
We are blessed and deeply grateful to be able to give our time and resources in service of humanity.
With love and respect,
Kevin Hawkins
MISSION
By offering programming resources and support to the local communities.
VISION
To serve all families regardless of color, economic situation, ethnicity, state of health, nation of origin, political affiliation, religious expression or sexual orientation, for the benefit of generations to come.
The Hawkins Family Foundation was founded to bring hope and justice to people in our underserved neighborhoods by promoting literacy, art, and imagination through programming in local schools and community centers. By creating, developing and delivering consistent quality programs to the people in these disadvantaged communities, we at The Hawkins Family Foundation believe we can help elevate their quality of life.
Through promotion of these offerings, we believe we can increase public awareness of the social and economic inequities in certain areas of our municipalities, and inspire citizens, politicians, business people and lawmakers to step up in service of those who have been marginalized and discarded. Through our programs, we believe we can touch hearts and minds to bring much needed investments of money and materials to help implement positive changes to the atmosphere of these diminished areas, and thereby transforming the culture of these neighborhoods.
Our vision is to continually show love and foster hope in people by offering them our time and resources to provide them with enrichment and growth opportunities through programs in their local communities. Our goals are to encourage people to dream and evolve, to call forth and nurture their gifts and abilities, and to show them they are able, worthy, worthwhile, and loved.
KEVIN HAWKINS
Chairman & President
Kevin Hawkins is the Board President and Co-Founder of The Hawkins Family Foundation. He is a professional mediator, specializing in cultivating healthy working relationships and elevating the quality of life for labor and management in their working environment. Mr. Hawkins also spreads the good word as an ordained Pastor. Kevin is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame, with a BA in Psychology. He resides in South Bend, Indiana with wife, Karen, and their young adult daughter, Selina, and son, Spenser.
KAREN HAWKINS
Vice Chairperson
Karen Hawkins is the Board Vice-President and Co-Founder of The Hawkins Family Foundation. Karen earned a Nursing School at College of Southern Nevada, the largest public higher education institution in Nevada. Ms. Hawkins enjoyed a 25-year career as a surgical nurse and a scrub technician in the operating room. Now retired and one that has always placed her faith first, she is dedicated to take on another form of impacting the health and lifestyles of those in need – this time, primarily our youth. Karen resides in South Bend with husband Kevin, and is a proud stepmother to Selina and Spenser.
JEFF CARPENTER
Board Member
Jeff Carpenter is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned a BA in Marketing. He was an invaluable member of the only Final Four men’s basketball team in the school’s history. Post ND, Mr. Carpenter experienced a successful career as a futures trader. However, he made a transition to give back in his true passion, in which he currently acting as an AAU basketball trainer, providing guidance on the finer points of the game, Jeff resides outside Chicago in beautiful Oak Park with his wife Janice and his sons, Fred and Tucker.
PETER J. AGOSTINO
Board Member
Attorney Pete Agostino is also a Notre Dame alum and co-owner, Anderson, Agostino & Keller, PC. As a lawyer and his extensive experience working with other nonprofit community service organizations Pete was instrumental in help us form the THFF. He served previously on the Pastoral Council for Christ the King Parish, two 3 year terms; long time executive director and former president and scholarship chair for Italian American Heritage Society of ND/Michiana. Pete makes South Bend home, with his wife of 3 decades, Kathleen, and are proud parents to 4 children and 3 grandchildren.
TAMI LANGE
Board Member
Tami Tavis Lange is a cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame, earning her degree from the College of Arts and Letters with a concentration in Economics. Tami began her career in commercial lending in Chicago and continued in banking when she returned to South Bend to support her husband who was attending law school. Tami is an education steward. She teaches economics to adult students at a community college, and serves as an instructor of public safety and health awareness to elementary and middle school children. In addition, Ms. Lange served her community high school as head coach of the girls varsity swimming team, and for many years as a volunteer in support of a locally funded restaurant, serving daily meals to the homeless. Tami’s three adult children and two grandchildren reside in Chicago, while she calls Tampa home with her husband, a Notre Dame classmate.
ROBERT L. SIMPSON
Board Member
Robert Lawrence Simpson is a business development executive with one of the leading global professional services firms in the insurance and financial industry, headquartered in Chicago. He is a brand steward, shaped during his two plus decades leading integrated sales and marketing in the consumer package goods industry. One of 18 siblings, Mr. Simpson earned a BA in Communications from Marquette University, located in his hometown of Milwaukee, WI. When he is not working, he serves as an advisor for small businesses. Robert calls Evanston, IL home, where he lives with his wife, India, and his teenage daughter, Taylor, and sons Alex and Christian.
KYLE OCONNOR
Board Member
Kyle OConnor is an entrepreneur, blogger and podcast host from South Bend, Indiana. Kyle founded Alpha Dog Agency in 2013 to help local business owners maximize their online presence. Kyle is the host of South Bend Beat, a top-rated podcast that interviews local business owners and influencers. Kyle also founded Point Guard University, a basketball training company located in South Bend that hosts camps across the country. He is a partner in Athletes Media Group, a digital platform that allows professional athletes to tell stories from their playing days. Kyle was recognized as a 40 Under 40 member in the South Bend area in 2020, highlighting local leaders and influencers. Kyle is an avid sports fan, especially of the Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He loves to travel and a good show to binge.