OUR
Goals
At Geary Foster Foundations,
we believe that each child:
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is a unique individual with potential for growth;
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has the right to a safe, respectful, and supportive environment;
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has strengths, value, and worth;
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should be treated with integrity, compassion, and non-judgment.
OUR
Beliefs
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Provide a home for children who have been displaced for various reasons.
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Provide a safe environment that offers support in healthy lifestyles, education, and permanency.
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Provide an environment that encourages independence and offers guidance and assistance as each child transitions into adulthood.
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Provide caring foster parents, mentors, and collaborative agencies that will inspire and encourage all residents.
Message From The President
Susie Black Holamon, President
Welcome to GEARY FOSTER FOUNDATIONS, a “foster home community” in North Texas.
We are building homes to build lives because we believe every child deserves a safe home!
I am Susie Black Holamon, President and Founder of Geary Foster Foundations. I was in foster care in Dallas from the age of 12 to 17 years old. The community is a tribute and a legacy to Joe and Charlotte Geary, who were instrumental in me and my siblings receiving good foster care. The success I have achieved in my life can be attributed to their care and support.
Since retiring from teaching, I have immersed myself in trying to make a difference in foster care. When I was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a teenage girl in foster care, I saw first hand the lack of foster parents and foster homes in Texas. In May of 2017, I reached out to my former foster sister, Colleen Geary Patton, and together we made a commitment to make a difference; “ONE CHILD AT A TIME”, “ONE HOME AT A TIME”. In five years we have completed Homes #1 and #2, and Home #3 is under construction.
Because of my life experiences, I recognize the need for change in the foster care system and I am on a mission to “PAY IT FORWARD” to a new generation of displaced children. Geary Foster Foundations is building a “blueprint” for a “foster home community” that will serve as a foundation for foster homes in the future. We have researched three successful “foster home communities” in Oklahoma, and we are inspired to recreate and implement their innovative model in Texas.
We are building a “foster home community” because EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SAFE HOME! Each home will be an independent foster home, with licensed foster parents, and will be equipped to care for up six children at any given time. These homes, in one centralized location, enables Geary Foster Foundations and the surrounding communities to provide mentors, volunteers, therapeutic and educational programs necessary for the children to heal from the trauma, neglect and abuse they have experienced. This community of support and programs will give parents the opportunity to focus on building healthy relationships while guiding each child to a successful future. Statistics show, failure among foster parents is directly related to the isolation they feel and the lack of support received that is necessary to effectively meet the needs of each child. Geary Foster Foundations will provide a community of support that will empower parents and children to reach their full potential.
Meet Our Parents
Meet Zach and Kelsey
Zach and Kelsey met at the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2011 and have been married for eight years, after graduating from the Academy in 2015 and 2016, respectively. They served in the Coast Guard together in Newport, RI, Sault Ste Marie, MI and New London, CT. During their last tour, they started fostering in RI, which led to the adoption of 2 beautiful siblings, a 2-year old boy and 6-year old girl, in November of 2023. They separated from the military as Lieutenants. Zach, works remotely as a Program Manager and Environmental Consultant for Tetra Tech. Kelsey is a stay-at-home mom who is starting to homeschool their kids and enjoys baking sourdough bread, reading, and coffee.
Kelsey is originally from Plano, TX, and was excited about moving back home from RI to TX so their family could become a part of the Geary Foster Foundations’ mission as the foster parents of Home #3.
Their two Golden Retrievers, Daisy and Maverick, are joining them in the foster community. As a family, they enjoy spending time outside, going on walks with their dogs, and having Friday pizza-movie nights. From the beginning of their marriage, they have felt God’s calling on their lives to foster. Zach and Kelsey are very excited to join this mission with their family, to provide foster children with a loving and safe home for as long as they are with them. Zach and Kelsey’s “foster-to-adopt” journey was full of ups and downs, but adopting two energetic, loving, spunky kids was only the beginning. Zach and Kelsey know their foster journey is not over, and God has led them to Geary Foster Foundations to continue loving, caring for, and providing a safe home for children who need of hope, healing, and encouragement.
Meet Kory and Tamra
Kory and Tamra met while attending college at Tarleton State University and have been married for 16 years. Kory graduated from Tarleton State University in 2001 with an Industrial Technology degree and has worked in the construction industry for the last 20 years. Tamra received her undergraduate degree (1999) and master’s degree (2001) from Tarleton State University in Agriculture Education. She completed her Ed.D. Degree from Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University in 2014. Tamra has served as an Extension Agent for Texas A&M AgriLife over the last 20 years. She has been coordinating 4-H Youth Development programs for youth in Grayson County since 2016.
In 2019, Kory and Tamra committed to ministering to children by opening their home to youth in need as a foster to adopt home. In September 2020, the McGaughy household adopted two of their foster angels when the path of reunification was no longer an option. During this time, the family experienced the highs and lows of foster care. They knew these two precious children were saying goodbye to their biological family but opening a new door to a new life.
Since beginning the foster care journey, Kory and Tamra have dedicated themselves to assisting sibling groups who may be separated in the foster care system. “We want to provide children the opportunity to be with family during times of uncertainty, so they can strengthen their bonds and love and comfort each other. As a foster home, we want to be able to keep kids close to their families to encourage the reunification process. We desire to be part of the solution in giving children a safe environment to prosper and grow while their parents take the necessary steps in reunification. Geary Foster Foundations is truly a blessing to our community because the home and community they provide for families allow us to continue the mission of keeping families together. We are humbled to be the keepers of Home #2.”
The McGaughys are licensed through CK Family Services.
Meet Randy and Danielle
Geary Foster Foundations is privileged to introduce the Goble family. Randy is retired from the Air Force, still working in various military capacities. Danielle is a stay-at-homemom and displays her artistic abilities by burning western hats as a freelance artist as one of her hobbies. They have fostered five children within their own home for the last four and a half years and proudly display photographs of the beautiful children that have graced their doors on the walls within Home #1. The impact these foster parents have recanted has changed the lives of many displaced children. The effect fostering has had on their lives is immeasurable as the Goble's have experienced children in their care progress from hopelessness to thriving with a new world outlook through love and encouragement.
The Gobles have grown increasingly in love with caring for children that have been removed from their homes through no fault of their own and believe in the GFF mission. The Goble's two beautiful children, aged 6 and 9, contributed to the tremendous success they have experienced as a foster family. Home #1 will be a safe environment for foster children within the GFF foster care community.
“A Tribute to Joe and Charlotte Geary”
Geary Foster Foundations evolved from the charitable spirit that Joe and Charlotte Geary demonstrated throughout their lives. Joe and Charlotte were insightful and sensitive to the needs of others and humble and gracious in their service. Fifty plus years ago, together with the East Dallas Exchange Club, Joe and Charlotte established a faith-based foster home that offered stability, permanency, encouragement and guidance to three teenagers in their neighborhood. Today, Geary Foster Foundations is built on those same principals.
Colleen Geary Patton (daughter of Joe and Charlotte Geary) and Susie Black Holamon (foster child who lived with the Geary’s) have joined together to build HOMES for children who have been displaced. Together, they believe that what their foster home community will provide for young children experiencing homelessness is vital to their transition to independence. Their vision and passion is to offer a home where young children have the opportunity to grow and develop spiritually, emotionally and physically in order to realize their full potential. Both Colleen and Susie feel blessed that the example Joe and Charlotte set forth consistently through their lives has inspired them to carry on their legacy through Geary Foster Foundations.
GEORGE and MAGGIE AUNE
Thank you for believing in the mission of Geary Foster Foundations
George and Maggie Aune, your generous donation of the land on which this community is to be built, provides a strong foundation for foster parents and displaced children to become a loving family because every child deserves a safe home.
Meet The Board
Susie Holamon, President
Jill Lyons,
Director
Colleen Geary Patton, Vice President
Jessica Cain,
Director
Gwendolyn Spence, Secretary
Kristi Servati,
Director
Lezlie MacElroy, Treasurer
Sarah Pierce,
Director
Advisory Board
Dawnita Williams,
Director
Wilma Bush,
Advisory Board
Carol Warren Blair, Advisory Board
Cynthia Prange, Director
CONTACT US
P.O. Box 49, Collinsville, Texas 76233
email: info@gearyfosterfoundations.com
phone: 325-338-9742