01/27/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leather Apron Foundation Donates Remaining Funds to Oak Forest Foster Closet
Oak Forest, TX – The Leather Apron Foundation (LAF), a local nonprofit that has been instrumental in fostering community engagement and support for over eight years, is proud to announce its final donation of $11,000 to the Oak Forest Foster Closet.
Founded with the mission of bridging the gap between individuals and businesses with a desire to give to those in need, the Leather Apron Foundation emerged in response to a lack of coordinated community support. Founder Jonathan Kolmetz reflects on its origins:
"When I started LAF, I noticed a decline in community connection. Neighbors weren’t coming together as they used to for schools or families in crisis. I wanted to create an organization that could connect those willing to help with those who needed it most, while also encouraging local businesses to engage in meaningful ways."
One person who answered the call was Kimberly Antley.
“Volunteering with the Leather Apron Foundation was a great way to connect with like-minded neighbors and be of service to the community in which we all live, work and play,” she said.
Over the years, LAF has worked with numerous local partners, including MANNA, St. Vincent de Paul, and various small businesses, to provide vital resources such as food, clothing, and financial assistance to families in need. The organization also coordinated volunteer efforts for projects like building ramps and providing HVAC units to vulnerable community members.
Sean Jez, a board member of the Oaks Dads’ Club (ODC), recalled one of LAF’s significant contributions: “The Leather Apron Foundation donated an AED to the ODC, and we’ll be forever grateful for this life-saving gift. While we hope we’ll never need it, it’s comforting to know it’s there. I still remember when Jon and Brian Wisnoski presented it to the board and demonstrated how to use it.”
As the community has grown and resources like PTOs and school closets have expanded, the need for LAF has diminished. Kolmetz notes:
“The community has matured significantly. Schools now have well-established PTOs and more robust fundraising capabilities, and federal programs post-Harvey provided a strong infrastructure. It became clear that the community no longer needed our services at the same level.”
Angela Pennington, a former board member of LAF, shared her reflections on the organization’s lasting impact:
“I applied to be on the LAF board because I firmly believe that communities should be the first line of assistance when a neighbor is in need. I didn’t know anyone in the LAF, and as an introvert, I was very much out of my comfort zone when I interviewed with founder Jon Kolmetz. But just as his mission was to bring the community and businesses together for a greater good, the LAF connected people with other people. It forged camaraderie, friendships that put names to faces. It was in these relationships that lives were changed, those that we helped and our own as well. I miss my years with LAF, and I will always appreciate what it did for me and for Oak Forest and beyond.”
In the spirit of LAF’s original mission, the remaining funds will be donated to the Oak Forest Foster Closet. This organization, located in the heart of the Oak Forest community, provides essential resources to foster families, helping children in the foster system feel cared for and supported.
The LAF donation will help the Oak Forest Foster Closet serve foster, adoptive, and kinship families by covering essential needs like beds, older kids' shoes, diapers, uniforms, and bedding. It will also assist with storage costs for large, critical items.
"The Oak Forest Foster Closet embodies the very values LAF was built on," said Kolmetz. "Their tireless work and the community’s overwhelming support make them a natural choice for this donation. We’re proud to contribute to their mission and ensure that these funds continue to serve our neighbors."
Nicole Aboudaher, founder of the Oak Forest Foster Closet, a 501(c)(3), shared her heartfelt gratitude for the check, which was presented last week by Jon Kolmetz and LAF board member Kristi Kolmetz:
“It’s so kind and makes us feel so seen and cared for,” she said. “We promise to continue the work here in Oak Forest that the LAF started 8 years ago! This money will help us tremendously with supporting kids in need in our community.”
The Leather Apron Foundation is honored to have played a role in enhancing the community’s capacity to give and connect. This final donation marks the culmination of years of dedicated service and celebrates the thriving network of support now in place in Oak Forest and Greater Heights.
