The organization, founded by Maylee Thomas-Fuller and George Fuller, partners with McKinney ISD each winter to identify middle school students and families facing financial hardship.
Through its annual Angel Drive, donors help fulfill wish lists that include essential items such as shoes, clothing and grocery cards, along with one special want, such as a toy, bike or meaningful gift that brings joy to the season.
Angel Drive details
When the Angel Drive first began, the foundation served roughly 30-40 students. Over time, as more families turned to the district for support, the program expanded.
This year, the Love Life Foundation is the sole provider for McKinney ISD’s middle-school angel list, and the team is preparing to serve close to 300 children and their siblings.
“This is our biggest outreach that we do, and this year it’s even [larger] because we’re the sole provider ... for all of these kids in the [McKinney ISD] middle school,” Thomas-Fuller said.
Due to the economic pressures many families face, the Angel Drive helps to make the holidays special. One of the most distinctive elements of the Angel Drive is that all gifts are wrapped before they are delivered. This detail is rooted in Thomas-Fuller’s personal experience.
“[As a child], the last thing you’d want is to be targeted as a kid who can’t afford to have things that the other kids have,” Thomas-Fuller said.
By giving gifts to parents to distribute in their own way, the foundation ensures children can enjoy a joyful holiday without feeling set apart from their peers. For the families receiving support, the gesture goes far beyond the practical; it reinforces that they are surrounded by a caring community.
Memories that fuel the mission
Over the years, school liaisons have shared countless stories of gratitude after delivering wrapped gifts or bicycles.
“[The school liaisons] would tell me how absolutely thrilled these parents were because they knew that not only would their kids be having a Christmas, but the community actually cares enough to come together and do something like this,” Thomas-Fuller said.
For Thomas-Fuller, this connection—neighbor helping neighbor—is the heart of the program and the reason she hopes to see even more community groups, local businesses and volunteers get involved.
How to support the 2025 Angel Drive
The Angel List is now available on the Love Life Foundation website. Residents can participate in multiple ways:
- Choose an angel: Select a child’s anonymous profile and purchase the items on their list. Donors are asked to wrap gifts and label them with the assigned number.
- Donate financially: Monetary contributions can be used to help buy gifts, as well as needs for children and families.
- Volunteer: Community members can help support ongoing needs with McKinney ISD and local nonprofits.
A community that always shows up
Having served McKinney for more than 30 years, the Love Life Foundation has seen firsthand how generous the city can be. Thomas-Fuller said she has no doubt the community will, once again, rise to the occasion.
“I just want to say thank you to the community because we’ve been here for over 30 years, and I think this is one of the most giving communities I’ve ever seen in my life,” Thomas-Fuller said. “When we have an ask, everybody always steps up.”
Together, McKinney residents can help ensure every child has a joyful and memory-making holiday season.
Click here to select an angel, volunteer or make a donation today.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
