The Blended Family Foundation

The Blended Family Foundation We are a non-profit organization located in Central FL that was created to honor our son, Kalen.

Our Story and Mission:

In 2016, our son Kalen passed away after being hit by a car while crossing the street to catch his school bus. Despite our heartache, we remained faithful and drew inspiration from Kalen's own words, which ultimately became the driving force behind the Blended Family Foundation. The Blended Family Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in central Florida, servi

ng Polk, Osceola, and Hillsborough County. Our mission is to provide socks, shoes, and hygiene items through mobile emergency closets available at community resource locations. Additionally, we offer coaching and mentoring support to help families build strong and loving home environments. In the near future, we plan to expand our services by offering single-day and weekend getaways for family bonding, as well as respite retreats for grieving families.

05/12/2026

Live Music Events for May 2026 at Union Hall in Lakeland, Florida!

Friday May 1st 2026 - ECHO 3: Live at Union Hall (Free Entry Concert!)

Saturday May 2nd 2026 - A Tribute to the Beatles (performed by Any Time At All)

Friday May 8th 2026 - A Tribute To Grateful Dead (performed by Dead All Over)

Friday May 15th 2026 - Shoegaze Nite (with performances by Cult Fashion, Twiggy Branches, Sneezeweed, and Grandeur & The Delusions

Saturday May 16th 2026 - Tequila Mockingbird & Addison Panic (from Moxie Le Femme)

Sunday May 17th 2026 - Swan City Jazz Jamz (presented by The Blended Family Foundation)

Saturday May 23rd 2026 - PunkNite.com Pop Punk Emo Night with Reckless Giants

Friday May 29th 2026 - Subliminal Doubt: A Tribute to No Doubt

Saturday May 30th 2026 - LKLD Lindy Hop's Lindy Ball

For tickets to any events, you may visit unionhallevents.eventbrite.com or unionhallevents.com

For questions or additional info on any events, please contact Chris Torres, Venue Operations Director for Union Hall. You may reach him through text message or phone call at 863-333-1554. You may also email him directly at [email protected]

We're celebrating Kalen’s Golden Birthday all year long! Today he would be 27! In these 10 years, The Blended Family Fou...
04/27/2026

We're celebrating Kalen’s Golden Birthday all year long! Today he would be 27! In these 10 years, The Blended Family Foundation can't express our gratitude for how much you've done to honor Kalen's life via donations of shoes, socks and hygiene items for kids in crisis, attending and supporting our Sneakers Balls, Swan City Jazz Festival and Swan City Jazz Jamz! This year we are taking it a step further with our Resilience From Here ™️ Day Retreats. We would be honored to have you support our latest venture! We truly believe that these day Retreats will serve as the reset this next generation deserves! Want to partner? Email us at [email protected]
Want to donate? Please visit www.theblendedfamilyfoundation.com/donate

We have to take a moment to honor PACA and specifically Dr. Daryl Ward, former director of PACA and now director of the ...
03/29/2026

We have to take a moment to honor PACA and specifically Dr. Daryl Ward, former director of PACA and now director of the AGB Museum of Art.
Dr. Ward and PACA were EARLY adopters and supporters of not just the Swan City Jazz Festival but our Swan City Jazz Jams. Before the big stage and the big crowds, they saw the vision and said YES. That early support is what made this festival possible.
We said it on stage and we want to make sure it's in writing — their continued generosity is not something we take for granted. Thank you, again we're honored to have you on this journey with us.
Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance

03/24/2026
03/24/2026

THE VENDOR LINEUP IS COMING TOGETHER AND IT'S LOOKING GOOD!!

Lakeland, you're not just coming for the jazz, you're coming for the FULL experience.
We've got some incredible vendors joining us at the Swan City Jazz Festival:
Just Breathe Massage Therapy — come reset your whole body while the music plays
Soul'd Out Flavor — come HUNGRY because they are not playing around
Brown Suga Babes — custom t-shirts and more
The Conch Spot — yummy Bahamian cuisine
Kinfolk's BBQ and More — because jazz and BBQ just GO together
The Sweet Spot — ice cream truck pulling up for the whole family
Mamajuana's Antojitos Mexicana — flavors that hit DIFFERENT
Chick's Coop — get your chicken fingers RIGHT
Oliveda — skincare that cares
Iguana's Secret — soybean candles and more
Come ready to 𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱, and 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 to these amazing local businesses.
Saturday, March 28 | 3–9 PM | Lake Mirror Amphitheater | FREE
Admission is free — and if you want to make your visit count even more, bring shoes, socks, or hygiene items to donate to The Blended Family Foundation. 🙏

LAKELAND, WE NEED YOUR HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT. 💥SHARE this post. TAG who you're pulling up with. Tell us in the comme...
03/23/2026

LAKELAND, WE NEED YOUR HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT. 💥SHARE this post. TAG who you're pulling up with. Tell us in the comments — who are you MOST excited to see live? 👇Saturday, March 28 | 3–9 PM | Lake Mirror Amphitheater | FREEAdmission is free but your generosity goes a long way, we're accepting donations of shoes, socks, and hygiene items for The Blended Family Foundation. Bring some with you and help us serve families across Polk County. 🙏Don't keep this to yourself.

THE LINEUP IS STACKED. THE ADMISSION IS FREE. NOW WE NEED YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD. 🔥SHARE this post. TAG who you're pulli...
03/07/2026

THE LINEUP IS STACKED. THE ADMISSION IS FREE. NOW WE NEED YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD. 🔥
SHARE this post. TAG who you're pulling up with. And tell us in the comments — who are you MOST excited to see live? 👇
Saturday, March 28 | 3–9 PM | Lake Mirror Amphitheater | FREE
Don't keep this to yourself. 💥

We are thrilled to have each of these phenomenal community pros in our midst!Help us welcome them to BFF!💫💚🎉
03/04/2026

We are thrilled to have each of these phenomenal community pros in our midst!

Help us welcome them to BFF!💫💚🎉

Meet BFF's newest board members! We are so excited to have them join our team!Lady Alisha Martin- Lady Alisha Martin ser...
03/04/2026

Meet BFF's newest board members! We are so excited to have them join our team!

Lady Alisha Martin-

Lady Alisha Martin serves as the Vice President of Business & Economic Development at Suncoast Credit Union, where she exemplifies visionary leadership, strategic innovation, and an unwavering commitment to economic advancement. With over two decades of experience in the financial industry, she brings a powerful blend of expertise, passion, and resilience to her work—anchored by her personal mantra: “If I can get myself out of a wheelchair, I can do this. If you can get yourself out of bed, you can do this.”

In her role, Lady Alisha is instrumental in shaping the direction and operational strategy of the Business & Economic Development division. She leads initiatives that strengthen business partnerships, expand organizational impact, and increase access to financial opportunities across Florida. Her work includes driving innovative products and services, elevating member engagement, and championing efforts that promote economic inclusion and community empowerment.

A respected advocate, speaker, and mentor, Lady Alisha’s influence extends well beyond the credit union. She is deeply engaged in civic leadership, serves on multiple boards, and partners with organizations dedicated to workforce development, financial literacy, and community wellbeing. Her story of overcoming life‑altering adversity continues to inspire audiences and empower individuals to rise with confidence, purpose, and grit.

Jamie Folks-Jamie Folks serves on the Board of the Blended Family Foundation, bringing a relationship-centered approach grounded in service, advocacy, and community impact. A daughter, sister, proud aunt, and trusted friend, Jamie is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that uplift women and children by addressing their most basic needs with dignity and compassion.

Jamie brings over 20 years of leadership experience in retail management and more than eight years in real estate, where she is known for integrity, inclusion, and thoughtful leadership. Her dedication to equity and representation has led to her service as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair for the Lakeland REALTORS® Association in 2025 and 2026, advancing inclusive practices across professional and community spaces.

Previously, Jamie served as Secretary of the Board for the FrediDance Project in 2023 and 2024, supporting organizational governance, accountability, and mission-driven initiatives focused on youth and community enrichment.

Raised as a military brat without close proximity to extended family, Jamie developed an early appreciation for the importance of strong community networks and dependable support systems. This perspective continues to shape her commitment to organizations that prioritize safety, stability, and opportunity—particularly for women and children navigating periods of vulnerability.

Jamie is an active volunteer in the Lakeland community, supporting charitable organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for families through access to essential resources and compassionate support.

Jamie is honored to contribute her experience, leadership, and heart for service in support of the Foundation’s mission.

Brandon Moore Johnson-is an entrepreneur, storyteller, and founder of CON10T STUDIOS™, a fully equipped content and podcast production studio in Lakeland, Florida. CON10T STUDIOS provides professional studio time, editing, and creative support for entrepreneurs, brands, and creators looking to elevate their visibility and messaging. Driven by a deep commitment to helping others find success, Brandon brings a unique blend of business acumen, creative vision, and community-minded leadership to the Blended Family Foundation's Board of Directors.

January’s Jazz Jam meets school spirit.We’re hosting a Battle of the Bands featuring talented student musicians fromPolk...
01/16/2026

January’s Jazz Jam meets school spirit.

We’re hosting a Battle of the Bands featuring talented student musicians from
Polk State College and Florida Southern College.

🎶 Sunday, January 25 | 5–7 PM
📍 Union Hall, Lakeland

This is all about community, creativity, and good music, with a little fun rivalry mixed in.
The winning band earns the opening slot at the 2026 Swan City Jazz Festival, and every ticket sold counts as a vote.

So whoever you’re cheering for or just great jazz in general, your presence matters.

• Live student jazz
• Friendly competition
• Big opportunities
• $10 tickets in advance

Come support the next generation of musicians and help decide who takes the festival stage in March!

January’s Jazz Jam meets school spirit.

We’re hosting a Battle of the Bands featuring talented student musicians from
Polk State College and Florida Southern College.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/swan-city-jazz-festival-battle-of-the-bands

Address

502 E. Main Street
Lakeland, FL
33801

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