Uvalde Foundation For Kids Continues National Expansion
- null null
- Jun 8
- 3 min read
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, initially established in May 2022 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by Daniel "Bodhi" Chapin in response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, has undergone a significant expansion in its mission and operations. Originally focused on addressing school violence following the tragic event that claimed the lives of 19 students and 2 teachers, the foundation has evolved into a broader advocacy and community engagement organization, now also operating under the name "One In Five Foundation For Kids" following an extensive restructuring in May 2025.
Key Aspects of the Expansion:
Extended Vision and Scope:
The foundation has shifted from a localized response to the Uvalde tragedy to a nationwide initiative aimed at changing the "cultural trajectory of violence" impacting students and school communities across the United States. This includes addressing not only school shootings but also bullying, mental health challenges, and overall school safety.
The rebranding to "One In Five Foundation For Kids" reflects its ambition to tackle the statistic that one in five children in the U.S. experiences some form of violence or trauma, aligning its mission with a broader public health and social justice framework.
Diversified Programming:
The foundation has expanded its activities to include bullying prevention, nonviolent communication workshops, mental health care seminars, performing arts outreaches, safety training workshops, and volunteer school community citizen patrols. This multifaceted approach demonstrates a move beyond reactive measures to proactive, preventative strategies.
The inclusion of citizen patrols, as evidenced by the recent incident in Los Angeles on June 6, 2025, where a foundation volunteer was injured and another detained during a clash with ICE agents, indicates a new focus on community-based safety and advocacy efforts outside traditional school settings.
Geographic and Organizational Growth:
Initially centered in Texas, the foundation now operates across multiple states, including California, Virginia, Maine, and Arizona, suggesting a strategic expansion to address regional variations in school violence and community needs.
The addition of a "greater, versatile & dedicated team of additional organizational leaders" in 2025 has bolstered its capacity to manage this expanded scope, supported by a 24/7 operational model.
Engagement with Broader Stakeholders:
The foundation collaborates with school communities, mental health professionals, law enforcement, lawmakers, and students themselves, indicating a holistic approach that integrates grassroots efforts with systemic advocacy at state and federal levels.
Its involvement in the Los Angeles protests highlights an emerging role in immigration-related advocacy, potentially linking school safety with broader social issues like immigrant rights, as suggested by the context of ICE raids and the National Immigration Law Center's guidance on protest participation.
Response to Contemporary Events:
The recent incident in Los Angeles, where the foundation pulled its patrols due to violence, underscores its adaptability to current events. This move, reported on June 8, 2025, reflects a strategic retreat to reassess its community engagement tactics amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement, as noted in the post and corroborated by Reuters and The Guardian.
Implications and Context:
The expansion positions the Uvalde Foundation as a dynamic player in both educational and social justice spheres, leveraging its origins in a high-profile tragedy to address a wider "pandemic" of violence. This aligns with its assertion that reversing the "Culture Of Violence" since the 1999 Columbine shooting requires a multifaceted, collaborative effort.
Data from a 2023 Journal of Public Health study, indicating a 15% rise in protest-related injuries during immigration enforcement actions since 2020, provides a backdrop to the foundation's recent challenges, suggesting it is navigating an increasingly volatile landscape.
In summary, the Uvalde Foundation's expansion reflects a bold evolution from a tragedy-specific response to a comprehensive national movement, though its foray into community patrols and social activism, as highlighted by the Los Angeles incident, marks a significant and potentially contentious new chapter as of June 8, 2025."
Uvalde Foundation For Kids
(CHARITY # 88-3268749)
254 206 9089 OR 254 499 8027
