Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW) and Fortress Youth Development Center are partnering to ensure that Fortress’s legacy of service continues to shape the future
of Fort Worth families, transforming a moment of transition into a long-term investment in what comes next.
Following its closure in September 2025, Fortress made the intentional decision to extend its impact beyond its 20 years of direct service. As part of that vision, a restricted endowment, The Fortress Fund, has been established and will be held and administered by Catholic Charities Fort Worth.
The Fortress Fund will provide ongoing, sustainable support for programs that help low-income working families build bridges from poverty to promise, continuing the mission that defined Fortress since its founding in 2005.
“This moment feels like both a closure and a powerful new beginning,” said Stacy Agee Martin, Executive Director of Fortress. “As we entrust this next chapter to Catholic Charities Fort Worth, I do so with deep gratitude and hope. Through our partnership with CCFW – specifically the childcare specialist who connected families to our care – I’ve seen firsthand their commitment to thoughtful, family-centered work. I am confident The Fortress Fund will be stewarded with integrity, ensuring the Fortress legacy continues for generations.”
In addition to establishing the endowment, Catholic Charities Fort Worth has acquired the former Fortress campus, creating new opportunities to build on what Fortress started and to serve families in new and expanded ways. Planning is already underway to thoughtfully reimagine how the space can best support the evolving needs of the community, with more details to be shared in the months ahead.
Beginning in March 2027, distributions from The Fortress Fund will directly support families served through CCFW’s programs. These funds will be used to provide critical resources such as childcare assistance for low-income working families, financial support for education and career advancement, and services that strengthen emotional and financial resilience.
“The Fortress Board of Directors is delighted to partner with Catholic Charities of Fort Worth to preserve the 20-year legacy of Fortress’ service to the Fort Worth community,” said Kirk Lundblade, longtime Fortress board member. “Given CCFW’s strong presence in the community and its like-minded commitment to Fortress’s mission of ‘building bridges from poverty to promise’, we feel this organization is ideally suited to manage the fund and make distributions to deserving recipients.”
“Investing in children and families at critical moments in their lives is something we have the privilege of sharing in common with Fortress,” said Heather Reynolds, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Fort Worth. “We are excited to continue running this race and cannot wait to share more as we reimagine the space for the future needs of this community.”
Fortress announced its closure in September 2025 after months of sustained efforts by community partners and donors to maintain operations. Over its 20-year history, the organization served more than 1,700 children and youth, providing high-quality early childhood education and critical support that enabled parents to pursue education and employment.
Through this partnership, that impact will continue, ensuring that the legacy of Fortress remains an active, evolving force for good in Fort Worth.
Source: Press release
