Solid Foundation Association is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit faith based youth serving organization formed in 1996. We are dedicated to empowering at risk youth to become successful in life and in their educational pursuits. We focus on academic achievement, educational remediation, character development, self sufficiency, cultural awareness, and job readiness. These services are all conducted in a safe and positive environment by a team of caring leaders and volunteers.
Solid Foundation’s primary location is 2220 East Main Street, Nacogdoches, Texas. Office hours of operation are Monday and Thursday evenings from 3-7pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-5:30pm.
Impact Statement
Low education attainment continues to be highly correlated to poverty: the higher the level of education the lower the level of poverty. Overall, in Nacogdoches County, 24.8% of the total population lives below the poverty level. 42.2 percent of all African American and 42.3% of Hispanic students live beneath the poverty level. In Nacogdoches County, thirty-two percent of the people have less than a high school education which correlates to the high rate of poverty. In our school district 65% of students enrolled at NISD are classified by The Texas Education Agency as “at-risk and economically disadvantaged” and are thus eligible for Free or reduced lunches.
In a recent Texas Academic Report on NISD district performance on the STAAR Testing, only 27% of African Americans children in 3rd grade met performance requirements for Mathematics, 38% for Hispanic students as compared to 69% for White students. By 6th grade only 46% of the African American students and only 55% of the Hispanic students passed Mathematics requirements as opposed to 74% of white students. For these reasons, Solid Foundation will focus its resources on educating at-risk school aged children through homework assistance and tutoring program conducted after school in an attempt to close the gap. Keeping kids focused on their education and graduating high school to pursue college and technical school is our long term goal. It seems obvious to us that if at-risk students only do half as well as their counterparts, that twice as much time and resources are needed to level the playing field to exit poverty. In 2014-15, we will also set -aside resources for Parenting and Financial Education of our parents utilizing local consultants.
Solid Foundation serves approximately 200 students weekly in its Main location, Diversity Center, and four satellite community centers, experiencing about 65% success rate. Starting in the 2015-16 school year, Solid Foundation in collaboration with NISD and with SFASU Stems Program will target under-achieving students who demonstrate a high potential for competing in the science and math fields in grades 6-12 with GPA’S of 2.5 or less. This will be accomplished through highly promoted parent/teacher/counselor collaboration agreements encouraging students that fall into this category to attend the Solid Foundation After school Program.
Solid Foundation Association Board of Directors
| Board Member | Qualifications | Term Expires |
| Mr. G.W. Neal 365 CR 301 Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | Chairman, Nacogdoches ISD Retired Asst. Superintendent | Jan 2020 |
| Kevin L. Davis 329 Katy Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | Asst. Dir. Admn., SFA, Vice Chairman | Jan 2021 |
| Francis Spruiell 4177 CR 1510 Nacogdoches, TX 75965 | President, Austin Bank, Treasurer | Jan 2021 |
| Todd Petershagen 2181 North CR 811 Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | B.S. Social Work, SFASU Independent Living Specialist Board Member | Jan 2021 |
| Ms. Veronica Chimney 3205 Skyline Drive Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | M.S. Human Resource Training Board Member Personnel Director ETECH | Jan 2021 |
| Mr. Jackie Badders 1974 CR 104 Nacogdoches, TX 75965 | BS Sociology/ Psychology, SFASU | Jan 2021 |
| Dr. Jennifer Newquist SFASU Nacogdoches,TX 75962-3014 | Jennifer Newquist, Ph.D., CFLE Asst. Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, SFA | Jan 2021 |
| Greg Williams PO Box 680887 Nacogdoches, TX 75963 | VP Bancorp South | Jan 2021 |
| Rev. Mark Bridges 702 Mound St Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | First Christian Church, Nacogdoches | Jan 2021 |
| Maria Lobato 6496 FM 2259 Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | Loan Representative, Bancorp South | Jan 2021 |
| Christine Crain 1058 FM 226 Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | BS, SFA | Jan 2021 |
| John B. Cannings 4207 Forest Lane Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | B.S. Biology, SFASU Medical Technologist, NMCH CEO |
* Mable Cannings serves as consultant to the Board of Directors
Solid Foundation Association 