Mission Statement
Our ultimate mission is to break the cycle of addiction by mitigating the material and emotional losses of adolescents who are displaced due to their parent(s)' struggles with substance use disorders. We do this by mobilizing and supplementing available community resources in real time and providing comfort items that encourage self-care and healthy coping strategies.
The Service Gap
Many groups and organizations are striving to develop and deliver creative and individualized recovery programs for those with substance use disorders. However, our experiences in this sphere have brought to light a significant service gap where children and caregivers are concerned. Whether they're grandparents or other family members, foster carers or friends of the family, the guidance and resources available to them at this time are scattered and underfunded.
The Need
• Approximately 2,000 Massachusetts children were placed outside their homes by DCF due to their parents’ substance use disorders in 2019
• Even when DCF provides stipends to cover clothing and care needs, these budgets are a drop in the bucket of what kids this age need to be successful
• Some resources exist for children who need certain items, but there are barriers to receiving items, such as long wait times and few delivery options
*Provided by research published in 2019 by The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Our Founding
The organization was founded in 2020 in memory of two men who exemplified empathy, love of family, and willingness to support those in need without judgment. Ken Levine and John Chaput's lives were both deeply affected by substance use disorders and both of their life stories included children whose lives were disrupted by alcoholism and addiction. We strive to inspire others to be “Like Ken (and John),” hence our name.
Danielle (Nichols) Button
Finance executive with over 20 years of experience in the bio-pharmaceutical and technology industries; former foster parent. Graduate of Boston Latin School.
Dan Goldsbury
Boston (MA) Public Schools (BPS) School Counselor with 15 years of experience leading urban programs aimed at helping students reach their personal and educational potential; DCF foster and adoptive parent.
Catrell (Booker) Hoban
Community organizer with 7 years of experience on parent boards and committees established to enrich the educational experiences of children in the Dedham (MA) Public Schools.
Christina (Martin) Pendleton
Educational consultant with 30+ years of experience working to benefit at-risk children in a variety of urban settings in the US and the UK.
Deanna Cataldo Salemme
A native Bostonian and a graduate of Boston Latin School. an attorney, realtor, and mother of four, including a child that she and her husband adopted from foster care.
Anwell Tsai
Entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the music education space; passionate supporter of ideas and entities who contribute to the happiness and success of children.