Kindness Champions: Voices From The Live Like Knox Foundation
Stories of Kindness, Community, and Legacy
Featuring Toni Patterson, Director of Events at Jonathan’s Place
Some partnerships find you exactly when you need them. That’s how Toni Patterson describes the day she first heard about the Live Like Knox Foundation — a phone call on a sunny afternoon that turned into tears, and then into one of the most meaningful partnerships Jonathan’s Place has ever known.
This month, we’re honored to hand the microphone to Toni, Director of Events at Jonathan’s Place — a Garland-based organization that has been a safe place, loving home, and promising future for children, teens, and young adults in crisis for more than 30 years. Our LLK Foundation has been blessed to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween alongside the incredible kids who call Jonathan’s Place home, and every single visit is a reminder that Knoxy’s legacy is alive and well.
Here’s our conversation with Toni — in her own words.
Meet Toni
Tell us a little about yourself and your role at Jonathan’s Place.
My name is Toni Patterson, and I serve as the Director of Events at Jonathan’s Place. I’ve been with the organization for two years, and I genuinely love what I do. I get to create experiences for the children we are blessed to have in our care — and for volunteers like the LLK family who help plant seeds of positive memories for the children, teens, and young adults we serve.
About Jonathan’s Place
Can you share a little about Jonathan’s Place — what it is, who it serves, and what makes it such a special place?
Jonathan’s Place is more than a shelter — it’s a continuum of care. Our mission is to provide “a safe place, loving homes, and promising futures” for children, teens, and young adults in crisis.
We offer a full spectrum of services, including:
- Emergency Shelter for children removed from unsafe environments
- Foster Care and Adoption Program
- Girls Therapeutic Residential Program
- Transitional Living Program — support for young adults aging out of foster care
- RESET Program — a specialized program for survivors of severe trauma, including sex and human trafficking
This comprehensive model ensures that a child doesn’t just find immediate safety — they also find long-term stability and support. We serve newborns through young adults, including infants entering protective care due to abuse or neglect, sibling groups who can stay together during crisis, teens with complex trauma who need therapeutic residential care, young adults ages 17–23 transitioning out of foster care, and survivors of severe trauma.
Many of these children arrive in moments of acute crisis — often with significant emotional, physical, and psychological needs. We meet them with individualized, trauma-informed care.
What truly sets Jonathan’s Place apart is how holistically and intentionally we care for each child. Children don’t just receive shelter — they receive medical care, counseling, education support, and consistent, nurturing relationships from day one. We work diligently to keep siblings together during traumatic transitions. We walk alongside each child for the long term, not just during the crisis moment. And perhaps most importantly, we step in as a consistent, caring presence — often becoming the closest thing to “family” for children who need it most.
What drew you to working with children and young people at Jonathan’s Place?
What draws many of us to this work is a deep conviction that every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and valued — no matter their circumstances. Jonathan’s Place represents that mission in its purest form. It’s not just about meeting immediate needs; it’s about stepping into a child’s life at one of their most vulnerable moments and helping rewrite what their future can look like. That kind of purpose is hard to ignore — it calls you in and stays with you.
For me, it was also the organization’s commitment to walking alongside each child long-term that made it stand out.
There was one defining moment that confirmed this was exactly where I was meant to be. A few months after I joined, I watched a young child arrive at the Emergency Shelter. She was guarded, overwhelmed, and didn’t speak English. Over time, she began to soften — to trust, to smile again, to play and run around like any other 6-year-old. Seeing that transformation, and realizing it happened because of the consistent care, compassion, and dedication of this team… that’s when it became clear. This was exactly where I was meant to be.
Kindness at Jonathan’s Place
Kindness is at the heart of everything the Live Like Knox Foundation does. How would you describe the role kindness plays at Jonathan’s Place?
Kindness at Jonathan’s Place isn’t a side note — it’s the foundation of how everything is done. For children and young people who have experienced instability, trauma, or loss, consistent kindness becomes more than a gesture. It becomes a powerful tool for healing and trust-building.
In daily life, kindness shows up in the smallest, most intentional ways. It’s in how a staff member greets a child by name, sits beside them during a difficult moment, or takes extra time to listen without judgment. Those seemingly simple interactions help create a sense of emotional safety — which is often the very first step toward healing.
Kindness also plays a critical role in restoring dignity and normalcy. Whether it’s celebrating a birthday, helping with homework, or encouraging a teen through a tough day, those acts communicate something many of these children haven’t consistently felt: you matter. Over time, that message begins to take root.
What makes Jonathan’s Place especially unique is that our kindness is intentional and trauma-informed. Our staff understand that behaviors are often expressions of past experiences, so responses are grounded in patience, empathy, and consistency rather than correction alone.
And perhaps most importantly — kindness here is contagious. As children begin to feel safe and valued, they often start to reflect that same care toward others: peers, staff, and eventually the broader world around them.
At its core, kindness at Jonathan’s Place isn’t just about being nice. It’s about creating a culture where healing is possible, relationships are rebuilt, and hope can take hold again.
Celebrating the Kids
The LLK Foundation has celebrated Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween with the kids at Jonathan’s Place. Can you describe what those celebrations look, feel, and sound like?
They are moments of joy, normalcy, and belonging that many of our children may not have consistently experienced before. There’s an excitement that builds from the moment the day begins — laughter in the hallways, kids peeking around corners, smiles everywhere you turn. For many of them, these celebrations represent something much deeper than the holiday itself. They represent being remembered, being valued, and being included.
For many of the children, holidays can be complicated or even painful. What does it mean to them to have a community show up and say, “We see you, we celebrate you”?
It tells them — often without words — you matter. Not because of their circumstances, but simply because of who they are.
For a child who may feel overlooked or forgotten, that kind of presence is powerful. It replaces the question “Why didn’t someone show up for me?” with a new experience: “People are showing up for me now.”
Holidays can be tied to difficult past experiences. But when a community steps in with consistency and care, it helps rewrite those associations — one celebration at a time.
The Impact of the Live Like Knox Foundation
How did Jonathan’s Place first connect with the Live Like Knox Foundation?
It was a phone call on a beautiful, sunny day while I was driving. I followed up with Kim, and from the very first conversation, I was moved to tears learning about Knox and the purpose behind the Live Like Knox Foundation.
What stood out immediately was that this wasn’t just about giving back — it was about living out a legacy of kindness in a way that is deeply intentional and deeply human. There was a sincerity and clarity of purpose that resonated right away, and it felt aligned with the heart of what we strive to do every day at Jonathan’s Place.
Since that moment, the partnership has grown into something truly special. For our team, it has been a powerful reminder that true kindness is selfless, consistent, intentional, and unforgettable. For the children, the impact goes far beyond any single event. They experience what it looks like when people show up not out of obligation, but out of genuine love and commitment. They feel seen, celebrated, and valued — and over time, those experiences begin to shape how they view themselves and the world around them.
What started as one phone call has become a partnership rooted in shared purpose.
Can you share a specific moment that captures the impact the LLK Foundation has had at Jonathan’s Place?
Honestly? I can’t pick just one. It’s all of them. Each and every time LLK comes to JP, they shift the atmosphere — overflowing with kindness, care, and love. But most importantly, they keep Knox at the center of all they do.
Knox was known for making sure no one felt left out. Have you seen that spirit of inclusion come alive during the LLK celebrations?
Without question — that spirit of inclusion is not only present, it’s felt in every detail of the Live Like Knox Foundation’s visits.
Knox is kept at the forefront each and every time LLK is with our children. They take the time to share who Knox is, why the foundation was created, and the deeper purpose behind it all. In doing so, the children aren’t just participating in a celebration — they’re becoming part of a story. They learn that this kindness is intentional, that it comes from a place of love, and that honoring Knox’s memory means making sure no one is left out.
You can see kindness come alive in how every child is acknowledged, engaged, and made to feel like they belong. Whether it’s through personalized interactions, thoughtful activities, or simply the warmth volunteers bring with them, the message is clear: you are important, and you are not forgotten. Knox’s legacy isn’t just remembered at Jonathan’s Place — it’s actively lived out, right in front of our children.
Living Like Knox
Knox rated every day a 10 out of 10. How do you and your team help the children at Jonathan’s Place find their own “10 out of 10” moments, even on the hard days?
We help our children find their own “10 out of 10” moments by being intentional about creating small, meaningful wins — even in the middle of hard days. That might look like celebrating a breakthrough in therapy, sharing a laugh during dinner, recognizing effort in school, or simply sitting with a child and reminding them they are seen and valued.
Our team shows up with patience, encouragement, and care every single day. Because for many of our kids, those everyday moments of connection are what begin to shift their perspective. Even on the hardest days, we look for opportunities to create joy, build confidence, and remind them that good moments still exist.
What do you believe young people need most right now — from the adults around them and from their communities?
Young people need adults and communities who show up with consistent love, genuine presence, and unwavering support — creating spaces where they feel safe, seen, and truly valued.
What one act of kindness would you challenge every reader — adult or child — to do this week?
I’ll leave you with three:
- Notice someone who might feel overlooked and intentionally include them. A simple invitation can change someone’s entire day.
- Speak life into someone by offering a sincere, specific word of encouragement they can carry with them.
- Show up consistently for one person this week — because real kindness isn’t random. It’s reliable.
Closing Thoughts
Is there anything you’d want Knox’s family to hear?
I would want the LLK community to truly understand that Kim and Kevin have the support of their family, friends, and colleagues not simply because they are successful or admirable people — but because of the way they live their lives every single day.
They are putting in the work. Giving their time. Pouring in their heart. Showing up with genuine passion and unwavering commitment. There is nothing surface-level about what they do. It’s consistent, it’s intentional, and it’s deeply felt. They aren’t just talking about kindness — they are living it, modeling it, and bringing it to life in a way that leaves a lasting impact on everyone they touch.
Because Knoxy wouldn’t have it any other way.
How You Can Support Jonathan’s Place
Visit www.jpkids.org to learn more about how you, as a member of the LLK community, can support the work of Jonathan’s Place. It truly takes kindness and the support of passionate individuals like the LLK family to help make the difference in the lives of the children, teens, and young adults served at JP.
Carry On Kindness
Toni reminded us that kindness isn’t random — it’s reliable. That’s exactly the kind of kindness Knoxy lived out every day, and it’s exactly what we hope to carry on through every visit, every celebration, and every child whose face lights up when someone shows up just for them.
To Toni, and to the entire Jonathan’s Place team — thank you for letting us be part of your story. And thank you for reminding us, every single day, that kindness changes everything.
Want to be part of carrying on Knoxy’s kindness? Take the Kindness Pledge, nominate a student, or make a donation at livelikeknox.com.
