TFI Holiday party

A Night of Crowns, Community, and Becoming

As the holiday season came to a close, we gathered not just to celebrate, but to witness the power of community. Mentors, TFI parents, students, staff, partners, and families filled the space with conversation, laughter, shared food, and shared purpose. The potluck-style celebration reflected the love in the room and the relationships built over time.

One of the most powerful moments of the night was watching our Kings suit up. With donated shoes, pants, jackets, shirts, and ties, each young man chose pieces that felt right for him. Through community partnership, the suits were professionally cleaned, allowing students to step into something intentional and dignified. The transformation was immediate. Posture lifted. Confidence settled. They did not just wear the suits. They embodied them.

Parents watched with pride and emotion as they saw their sons not as boys, but as young men stepping into their next chapter. Having walked alongside this group since their sophomore year, this third holiday celebration felt especially meaningful. The students are beginning to understand that graduation, adulthood, and new possibilities are right around the corner.

Each student took a suit home as a reminder that they belong in every room they enter.

As we look ahead to the TFI Graduation on May 30, this night feels like a bridge between where our students have been and where they are going. Save the date. We invite family, friends, and community to join us in celebrating and sending our Kings into their next journey.

The spirit of Ubuntu filled the room. I am because we are.

This was not just a celebration.

It was a blessing.

It was transformation.