TJ Braden Legacy
The TJ Braden Legacy was founded by For the Love of Mateo (FTLOM) in June of 2016 in honor of the late TJ Braden. His twin sister, Danielle, was on a FTLOM mission trip at the time she found out of her brother's passing. To honor his legacy and as a gift to Danielle, the June 2016 FTLOM mission team each personally donated money to FTLOM to establish a scholarship for eight children that live in San Bartolome to go to school.
From 2016-2020, TJ's sisters, Danielle Taylor and Jessica Swierczek, along with the help of many have raised over $100,000 to cover scholarships for 225 kids to go to school. The TJ Braden Legacy scholarships are assigned to the children based on need. Iris, the founder of The Backyard School works in the community of San Bartolome to find children that are in need and will let the children know they will receive one of the scholarships. Iris then works with For the Love of Mateo's (FTLOM) new Guatemalan Association, El Amor de Mateo and its legal representative, Claudia Flores to make sure the funds for the scholarships are all accounted for and the money donated and then sent onto Guatemala, is distributed between uniforms, shoes, and supplies.
In December 2018, Danielle and Jessica travelled to Guatemala on a FTLOM mission trip where they became aware of other educational projects in need of support. They felt a tug to expand The TJ Braden Legacy so that it could serve other children also in need. One of the outreach projects that was chosen was El Amor de Patricia. El Amor is an orphanage that feels like a home and is centered around faith and family. When you walk into this home, you immediately feel like you are visiting family. The TJ Braden Legacy is delighted to share that they provided funds to cover the fees for 19 children either living or supported through El Amor Patricia, to enroll in an accredited school for the 2019 school year.
Starting in 2020, The TJ Braden Legacy expanded so it can support other educational programs throughout Guatemala, including a classroom build at the English immersion school in
the village of Yalu, tuition, room and board at Esperanza Juvenil for one girl, and the latest a home build in San Antonio.
For the 2020-2023 school years, Danielle and Jessica committed to providing a $5,000 scholarship to The Backyard School which will be used to sponsor fifty of the most in need children living in San Bartolome. Each child received a $100 school scholarship which will cover their shoes, uniforms, and school supplies.
In 2023, Danielle and Jessica have expanded their reach once again and are fully funding the room, board, and education for one girl at Esperanza Juvenil at $5,000 per year. She is in her junior year of high school and has big plans for her future. Esperanza Juvenil is a not-for-profit organization that helps highly-motivated children and youth from low-income backgrounds to reach their maximum potential.
In 2024, The TJ Braden Legacy home is being built and a deserving family in San Antonio will be gifted their 2 bedroom,1 bathroom home with a stove, water filter, and groceries.
Danielle and Jessica shared with FTLOM that TJ was a kind hearted, gentle soul, and loved children. At the time of his death, TJ did not have children of his own and his sisters felt that the TJ Braden Legacy would allow him to leave his mark by helping to ensure that children will have what they need to be able to go to school and further their education.
By your donation towards the TJ Braden Legacy, you are truly changing a child's life. Through your help, we can change the world, one child at a time and TJ's Legacy can live on. Thank you so much for your support!
After you've purchased this sponsorship, to be added to the FTLOM Sponsorship List and be assigned a child, please send an email to Val Edwards and mention that you've purchased this sponsorship.
Jessica Swierczek and Danielle Taylor
