Lend to Lead Foundation isn't a program created in theory. It was forged in lived experience — homelessness, loss, rebuilding — and every family we serve walks a pathway our founders already walked.
In 2021, Taushauna and Avery Burrel left Michigan by faith — homeowners who gave everything up to follow a calling to Florida. What met them was a rental market with no room, a wrongful displacement, legal fees that drained their savings, and homelessness with seven children — including a one-year-old.
That season did not break them. It became the blueprint. They know what a family in crisis actually needs — not just food, not just shelter, but a structured pathway from instability to ownership. That is what Lend to Lead Foundation delivers.
"It's not enough to be housed. You have to be healthy — and once you're housed, you need to know how to sustain the life you built."
Before the website. Before the programs were formalized. Lend to Lead Foundation has been quietly, faithfully serving — because the need never waits for infrastructure to catch up.
Fresh produce and pantry staples distributed directly to families in need — meeting the immediate provision step of our P.A.D. Pathway from the very beginning of our work.
Direct financial support for bills, housing costs, and crisis expenses — including community giving contributions that have helped stabilize families in immediate need.
Consistent financial contributions to individuals and aligned organizations — demonstrating that Lend to Lead's commitment to community is not programmatic. It's personal.
Lend to Lead Foundation is in active launch phase. The programs are operational. The pathway is structured. The following represents our projected 12-month program outcomes — the measurable results we are committed to delivering and reporting to funders and the community.
Families moving through the P.A.D. Pathway in Year One cohorts
Hands-on land experiences delivered over the program cycle
FL, NC, SC, TX, GA, VA, MI, TN — and growing nationally
Every participant tracked from Provision through Ownership milestones
Families completing the program gain the knowledge and land access to produce a portion of their own food — reducing dependency and improving nutrition long-term.
Participants access stability resources, financial development coaching, and land ownership pathway support — moving from instability toward long-term secure housing.
Children participate alongside their parents — building habits, beliefs, and skills around growing, owning, and building that carry into the next generation.
Families who complete the pathway become living proof — ambassadors who model the P.A.D. journey for others in their communities across every city we serve.
Lend to Lead Foundation began in the Tampa Bay area — the city where our founders rebuilt after homelessness. Our reach is already national, with emergency provisions and financial assistance delivered to families across multiple states.
Every statistic represents a family. Every family has a story. These are the voices of the community Lend to Lead Foundation exists to serve.
We didn't just need food. We needed someone to believe that we could do more than survive. Lend to Lead gave us a pathway — and we walked it.
My children watched me grow a garden for the first time. They didn't just see vegetables. They saw their mother build something. That changed everything about how they see themselves.
I came for the food. I stayed for the community. I left with a plan for land. Nobody told me those three things could come from the same place.
* Testimonials are representative of participant experiences. As our programs scale, documented participant stories will be added to this page.
Lend to Lead Foundation maintains rigorous documentation of program delivery, participant progress, and community outcomes at every stage of the P.A.D. Pathway. We are committed to full transparency with every funding partner.
Cohort intake reports — documented participant demographics, needs assessment, and entry-stage data
Mid-program progress updates — milestone documentation at each stage of the P.A.D. Pathway
Final outcome reports — measurable results against stated program goals for each cohort
Community impact narratives — participant stories and qualitative outcomes that tell the human side of the data
Every dollar invested in Lend to Lead Foundation moves a family one step closer to growing their own food, owning their own land, and breaking a cycle that has held their community back for generations.