Frankie Furr Receives Mentors Care’s Annual Carl Smith Award

Frankie Furr Receives Mentors Care’s Annual Carl Smith Award

The Carl Smith Award is awarded to a mentor that is the greatest advocate for Mentors Care in their community and shows that being a mentor is their love and passion.

[Waxahachie, TX, May 8, 2023]. Mentor’s Care, a non-profit organization that connects struggling high school students with adult mentors, announced today that Frankie Furr was named the recipient of the Carl Smith Award. Out of over 700 mentors across North Texas in the organization, one mentor is chosen each year by Mentors Care’s board of directors, as their Mentor of the Year.  This award  was named after Carl Smith, a beloved Mentors Care board member. His entire life was in service to others, especially the kids. He was an educator and school board member for years. He believed in encouraging and supporting students to help them find their futures. His legacy lives on after his passing in recognizing our outstanding mentor award for all the things he exemplified, especially encouragement, always showing up and without judgement. 

Mentors Care board members staff, and Waxahachie High School board members and staff congratulate Frankie Furr on the Carl Smith Award. Pictured left to right: Tommy Moore (Mentors Care Board Member - Vice Chairman), Tonya Harris (Waxahachie High School Principal), Kaitlyn Czap (Mentors Care Coordinator for Waxahachie High School), Chip Boyd (Mentors Care Board Member - Chairman), Judy Walling (Mentors Care Board Member), Ann Margaret Smith (Mentors Care Board Member), Karen Childers (Mentors Care Board Member - Secretary), Frankie Furr, Dusty Autry (Waxahachie School Board President), Dena Petty (Mentors Care Founder & Executive Director), Doyle Furr, Brian Blackwell (Mentors Care Managing Director) and Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth (Waxahachie Superintendent).

Frankie has been a mentor for Mentors Care since 2014, mentoring five different students.  In September 2021, she began mentoring a freshman student at Midlothian High School.  She walked her student through some extremely difficult situations last year.  Working with kids with deep rooted trauma and little support in their lives is very challenging, but Frankie created an atmosphere where her student could thrive and be their true self. Frankie utilized great therapeutic strategies to bond with her student such as drawing, painting, and crocheting. At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year Mentors Care was unable to locate this student. Eventually, the student was found at  Waxahachie High School. When Frankie was notified, without any hesitation she switched schools in order to continue their mentor relationship. Frankie knew she needed to see the relationship through until the student is able to graduate. Her commitment level to the student and our program is remarkable.  

“Seeing their reunion after such a long break brought tears to my eyes. You can see in each person how much the other loves and values their time together,” said Mentors Care Coordinator (Waxahachie High School), Kaitlyn Czap.

“As a mentor in the Mentors Care Program I am humbled, honored, hopeful, prayerful and joyful,” said Frankie Furr. “I am humbled and honored that students trust me enough to share their feelings; prayerful that my words are enough to help them find insight and that by listening to them they find a measure of peace. I feel joyful that I might have made a positive difference in the life of just one student.”

“The Carl Smith Award is an honor every year to give a mentor that continues Carl's Heart for Kids. Our guidelines is a person of integrity, strength, and humility, creating a safe and non-judging atmosphere one student at a time. Truly focusing on the needs of the student by having a listening ear, dedication, compassion, and gently guiding them with wisdom. I'm excited that Frankie Furr was chosen for this award! Frankie has the heart to encourage, stay the course, and show the love that EVERY CHILD NEEDS to finish their path,” said Ann Margaret Smith (Board Member and widow of Carl Smith) “Thank you, Frankie. Job well done!” 

“Every year we have the difficult duty and honor to choose the mentor of the year.  We are very proud to announce Frankie Furr as our winner.  She exemplifies all of the qualities in the Carl Smith Outstanding Mentor Award,” said Dena Petty, founder of Mentors Care.

Mentor’s Care is a non-profit organization founded by Dena Petty in 2009. Everything in this program is based on what Petty wished she had as a kid growing up in a very dysfunctional environment. The goal of Mentors Care is to give students what they need, not only to graduate but to live their lives to their fullest potential. 

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Media Contact:

Mentors Care

Susan Baker

Communications & Events Coordinator

972-670-3832

Susan.baker@mentors.care