A Foundation Built From Compassion

Continuing Service Through Hope, Action, and Community

The Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders Foundation was created from love, compassion, and a commitment to continue the spirit of service Kennedy lived every day. While Kennedy's full story is honored on a separate page, this Foundation carries forward the values that inspired so many: kindness, courage, generosity, and a willingness to serve others.

As a nonprofit organization, the Foundation exists to bring people together around meaningful community work. Through youth recognition, educational outreach, family-centered support, remembrance efforts, and charitable service, the Foundation turns grief into purpose and purpose into possibility.

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Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders Purple Heart foundation emblem

Why the Foundation Matters

The Foundation is more than a memorial effort. It is a growing platform for community involvement, youth leadership, education, family support, and public service. Its work is rooted in Kennedy's compassion and strengthened by the people who believe that giving, mentoring, and showing up for others can change lives.

Every grant, donation, partnership, and volunteer effort expands what is possible. Support helps create programs that teach children about service, recognize young leaders, uplift grieving families, honor sacrifice, and build stronger connections across schools, churches, businesses, civic groups, veterans, and families.

Built for Community Impact

The Foundation's scope is intentionally broad because service takes many forms. Some needs are educational. Some are emotional. Some are civic. Some are charitable. Our work creates room for people of all ages and backgrounds to be part of something hopeful, practical, and lasting.

This approach helps the Foundation meet the expectations of grant opportunities and fundraising partners by showing a clear mission, visible leadership, community reach, measurable program areas, and a strong pathway for future growth.

Purple gradient background representing hope and possibility

When People Give, Hope Grows

A Future Built by Many Hands

The Foundation represents what can happen when a community chooses to respond with love. Each program, award, outreach effort, and act of remembrance is a way of saying that Kennedy's compassion continues to move through others.

When donors give, young people are encouraged. When partners serve, families feel supported. When volunteers show up, communities become stronger. This is the promise of the Foundation: to create spaces where service becomes hope, and hope becomes action.

Leadership & Stewardship

Meet the Foundation Team

The Foundation is guided by a committed leadership team and board members who help carry the mission forward with accountability, compassion, service, and a shared commitment to community uplift.

Oneida Oliver-Sanders

Founder / President

Shawn Sanders

Co-Founder / Co-President

LaTicia Gilliam

Secretary

Patrick Simmons

Board Chair

Kawanda West

Finance Manager

Emily Oliver

Programs Chair

Javoris McIntyre

Website Manager

Michele Shaw Brown

Fundraising Chair

Mandy Lingenfelter

Member

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