The South Central Province PURPOSE Foundation and the LOVE A CHILD Initiative is the vision of the 25th South Central Province Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Mr. Donald L. Woolridge, Sr. His passion for helping children was born out of his desire for every child to have what he had – a home that provided stability, security, time to think and create, and an expectation that he would contribute to the world.
“One must truly take time and consider what it means to make a difference in a child’s life. Every child deserves a chance. Every child deserves a childhood. Every child deserves to feel safe and secure. Every child deserves the support needed to thrive and be successful. Every child deserves a home.”
The vision for the PURPOSE Foundation was born out of a desire to provide all of these things that our children are deserving. Its mission is to assist those parents for whom a self-sustaining lifestyle is beyond their abilities. We will provide resources to homeless children in public school systems to ensure their families transition towards self-sustaining futures.
I define homelessness as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” This includes situations such as, staying with friends or relatives due to economic hardship, living in hotels, motels, trailer parks, or camping grounds without a choice, underneath highway overpasses, neglected brush adjacent to neighborhoods, staying in emergency or transitional shelters, and living in public spaces such as parks or abandoned buildings.
Approximately 2.5 million children are homeless annually in the United States. In the 2020–2021 school year, 1.1 million public school students were identified as experiencing homelessness. Of these students, 76.8% lived temporarily with others due to loss of their own housing, 10.9% lived in shelters and 7.8% lived in hotels or motels. Furthermore, homelessness disproportionately impacts Native, Black, and Hispanic students. While 2.2% of all students were identified as experiencing homelessness, this percentage included 1.3% of white students and 0.9% of Asian students. By comparison, over 3% of Black and Hispanic students and over 4% of Native students experienced homelessness.
This is unacceptable.
I have heard it said that the cure to homelessness is a home. I agree wholeheartedly. With your help, we will make a difference in the lives of our children. They deserve it.”
Donald L. Woolridge Sr.
25th South Central Province Polemarch
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.