It may have been the Summer of ’74. I know I was a teenager and did not possess a driver’s license, but I was close. I already had a stripped-down Toyota Corolla my brother-in-law gifted me with about 250K miles on it. I had been driving heavy equipment, tugs, and tow motors at the cotton compress with my dad for years, and I was a very competent driver of my stick-shift Corolla. Cops did not care back in the day because they knew I could drive. But at vacation time, Dad drove because we were now on the interstates with highway patrolmen.

There’s nothing quite like the crack of the bat, the cheer of the crowd, and the smell of ballpark snacks in the air, especially when surrounded by hundreds of smiling faces in purple shirts. This year’s CKFS Day at the Ballpark was a grand slam!

For Brian King, a lifelong Denton County resident and accomplished technology leader, the decision to become a foster and adoptive parent came not only from the heart—but from a search for purpose and the desire to make a difference in a child’s life.

We’re excited to welcome Matthew Mason as the new Chief Financial Officer at CK Family Services! With a strong background in the for-profit world and an equally powerful personal journey in foster care and adoption, Matthew brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal passion to his role. 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to reflect on how we can protect, defend, and secure the well-being of vulnerable children. Just as an army prepares for battle, we must also equip ourselves with the right tools—both offensive and defensive—to stand against the challenges children in crisis face.

A Community United for Prevention and Care

No single person can bear the weight of this mission alone. It takes a network of foster parents, caseworkers, behavioral health providers, and community members to create a true safety net for children.

Growing up, we never had a regular Christmas tree. That may have been because my mom was creative, or it might have been because we were poor and necessity is the mother of invention. Perhaps it was both. About two weeks before the 25th, my mom and dad would go to the woods and find a limb that she thought was just right. My dad would then affix the limb to a platform, and Mom would put flocking on it and hang “icicles” and cheap treats from the branches. It was fantastic!