2026 THEME: “Building the Village Through Skill, Celebration, and Community.”
About Heart & Soul Foundation
Our Story
Heart & Soul Foundation was created from a simple belief: every family deserves the chance to celebrate life’s special moments, regardless of their financial situation.
What began as a small effort to help foster homes and low-income schools with event décor has grown into a full foundation providing affordable event planning, equipment rental assistance, and community program support for families and organizations in need. Along the way, our work naturally expanded to include youth mentorship, training, and community empowerment, recognizing that celebration and support go hand in hand.
For over seven years, our founder dedicated her work to serving less fortunate families through her previous nonprofit, Couponing for the Less Fortunate Inc. While that organization is no longer active, its heart and mission live on through Heart & Soul Foundation—continuing to uplift the community with love, compassion, and creativity.
Through our programs, we support youth, families, schools, seniors, foster homes, and community partners by creating spaces where people feel valued, encouraged, and connected. We’ve seen firsthand how a decorated room, a shared meal, a mentorship opportunity, or a child’s smile at a birthday or graduation can bring hope, confidence, and healing.
Every table we set, every balloon we inflate, every youth program we host, and every event we plan is done with intention and care—because joy, dignity, and opportunity should never be out of reach.
Our Mission
Heart & Soul Foundation is a community-based nonprofit that uplifts families and youth by making celebration, support, and opportunity accessible through event services, mentorship, training, and inclusive community programs for underserved populations.
Our Legacy
Heart & Soul Foundation proudly continues the spirit of Couponing for the Less Fortunate, expanding its reach to touch even more lives.
We believe that every act of giving, no matter how small, creates ripples of joy that strengthen our community.
Organizational Leadership
MEET THE FOUNDER & PRESIDENT Malika Lucas
Heart & Soul Foundation is led by Malika Lucas, Founder and President, a seasoned community leader, educator, and advocate with more than seven years of nonprofit and grassroots community service experience. Malika brings a rare combination of lived experience, executive leadership, and frontline service expertise to the organization.
In addition to her entrepreneurial background, Malika has served for many years as a customer service leader, a Director overseeing childcare centers, and a 911 and interfacility communication training officer. In these roles, she was responsible for staff supervision, policy implementation, safety and compliance oversight, crisis response coordination, and professional training. This experience equips her with strong skills in risk management, communication, team development, and operational accountability.
Malika’s professional background also includes work as an event planner, community program developer, business consultant, restaurant owner, and notary professional. This diverse experience allows her to manage complex programs, coordinate multi-stakeholder partnerships, and ensure that Heart & Soul Foundation’s services are delivered with both compassion and structure.
Under her leadership, Heart & Soul Foundation provides family support, youth mentorship and training, autism and special-needs support, milestone celebrations, educational resources, and community empowerment programs for underserved populations, including foster homes, low-income schools, seniors, and families facing hardship. Her leadership is especially informed by her advocacy for autism families and her commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed, and safety-focused service delivery.
Malika leads with a values-driven approach grounded in compassion, professionalism, and community collaboration. Her vision centers on rebuilding the “village” by ensuring families and youth have access to support, opportunity, safety, and dignity. Through strategic leadership and strong community partnerships, she continues to guide Heart & Soul Foundation toward sustainable growth and measurable community impact.
Meet the Vp Lacrystala Dampier
LaCrystala is a kind, faith-driven leader who is deeply committed to helping others and creating positive change within the community. Guided by compassion, integrity, and service, she believes in meeting people where they are and uplifting them with dignity and care.
She brings valuable experience from working in a psychiatric hospital, a county hospital system in California, and serving as a Memory Care Director in California, where she supported individuals and families through some of life’s most challenging moments. Her background has strengthened her passion for mental health advocacy, compassionate care, and community-centered support.
Family, faith, and genuine connection are at the heart of everything LaCrystala does. As Vice President, she plays an essential role in advancing the Foundation’s mission and ensuring every person served feels seen, supported, and valued.
“My vision is simple: to bring back the village.
“My vision is simple: to bring back the village.
“My vision is simple: to bring back the village.
I want families—especially those in foster care, low-income schools, single-parent households, and underserved communities—to know they are not alone.
Through Heart & Soul Foundation, I envision:
- A community where children feel celebrated, seen, and supported
- Programs that protect and guide youth toward purpose and positive futures
- A trus
I want families—especially those in foster care, low-income schools, single-parent households, and underserved communities—to know they are not alone.
Through Heart & Soul Foundation, I envision:
- A community where children feel celebrated, seen, and supported
- Programs that protect and guide youth toward purpose and positive futures
- A trusted resource hub for parents, caregivers, educators, and nonprofits
- Safe spaces where milestones become memories and no child is forgotten
- Community-led empowerment, education, and joy—rooted in love
We are here to serve, to support, and to stand in the gap for families who need a village behind them.
My Values
“My vision is simple: to bring back the village.
“My vision is simple: to bring back the village.
Compassion Above All
Every program, event, and act of service is rooted in genuine empathy and care.
Community First
We uplift one another, collaborate intentionally, and strengthen families by building meaningful connections.
Integrity & Accountability
We serve with transparency, honesty, and responsibility in everything we do.
Celebration
Compassion Above All
Every program, event, and act of service is rooted in genuine empathy and care.
Community First
We uplift one another, collaborate intentionally, and strengthen families by building meaningful connections.
Integrity & Accountability
We serve with transparency, honesty, and responsibility in everything we do.
Celebration of Life
Milestones matter—birthdays, graduations, achievements, and moments of joy deserve to be honored.
Education & Empowerment
We provide tools, guidance, mentorship, and opportunities that help both children and adults grow, learn, and succeed.
Inclusivity
Every family, every background, and every story matters. Heart & Soul Foundation is a place where all are welcomed and valued.
A Message From Malika
“My vision is simple: to bring back the village.
A Message From Malika
I believe Heart & Soul Foundation was created because our communities need more compassion, stronger support systems, and meaningful connection.
My goal is to bring families together, restore hope, and create a foundation that truly lives up to its name—Heart & Soul. Every program we offer is rooted in dignity, service, and the belief that
I believe Heart & Soul Foundation was created because our communities need more compassion, stronger support systems, and meaningful connection.
My goal is to bring families together, restore hope, and create a foundation that truly lives up to its name—Heart & Soul. Every program we offer is rooted in dignity, service, and the belief that no family should have to stand alone.
This work is deeply personal to me. As a mother, grandmother, and advocate, I am inspired by my family, my lived experiences, and especially by my grandson’s journey with autism. These experiences continue to shape my commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces where families feel supported, understood, and celebrated.
Together, we can rebuild the village—one family, one child, and one moment at a time.
— Malika Lucas
Founder & President
