A place where children discover hope & healing
Helping Children Heal, Grow, and Believe Again
Join us to provide hope and support for young lives in need.
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Our Mission
Expanded, Heart‑Centered Mission Statement
At Helping Hands for Children, our mission is to create a safe, loving, and life‑changing environment for youth who have faced hardship, trauma, or instability. We believe every child deserves more than shelter — they deserve guidance, compassion, and a community that refuses to give up on them.
We are committed to meeting each child exactly where they are, offering structure, emotional support, and the tools they need to rebuild their confidence and discover their strengths. Many of the young people who come through our doors have been misunderstood, overlooked, or pushed aside. Here, they are seen. They are valued. They are reminded that their story is not over.
Our work is grounded in the belief that healing happens through consistency, love, and opportunity. We strive to give every child the chance to grow academically, emotionally, and socially, while helping them develop the skills they need to thrive long after they leave our care. We walk beside them through their challenges, celebrate their victories, and help them imagine a future filled with possibility.
Every child has potential. Every child deserves hope. And at Helping Hands for Children, we are dedicated to being the steady, supportive foundation that helps them rise into the future they were meant for.
Who We Are
Our History
Our Partners
Our History
Helping Hands for Children was created from Natalie’s mission to give every child a second chance and a brighter future. From the start, our focus has been supporting boys who’ve faced hardship by offering safety, guidance, and hope. Over the years, we’ve grown into a trauma‑informed program dedicated to healing, stability, and opportuni
Helping Hands for Children was created from Natalie’s mission to give every child a second chance and a brighter future. From the start, our focus has been supporting boys who’ve faced hardship by offering safety, guidance, and hope. Over the years, we’ve grown into a trauma‑informed program dedicated to healing, stability, and opportunity. Our purpose remains the same — to help children rebuild their lives and become the future leaders our communities need.
Our Staff
Our Partners
Our History
Our staff is the strength of Helping Hands for Children. Led by Founder Natalie Ortiz, our team is united by a shared mission to give every child safety, support, and a second chance. Working alongside her, Josemel Herrera helps oversee daily operations with consistency and compassion, while Cheryl Reed supports program development and e
Our staff is the strength of Helping Hands for Children. Led by Founder Natalie Ortiz, our team is united by a shared mission to give every child safety, support, and a second chance. Working alongside her, Josemel Herrera helps oversee daily operations with consistency and compassion, while Cheryl Reed supports program development and ensures our care remains structured, trauma‑informed, and child‑centered.
Beyond leadership, our facility staff plays a vital role every day. From direct‑care professionals to support personnel, each team member brings patience, dedication, and heart to the children we serve. Together, we create a stable, nurturing environment where every child can heal, grow, and move toward a brighter future.
Our Partners
Our Partners
Our Partners
We are grateful for the organizations and leaders who support our mission:
- Alpha Heating & Cooling – One of our strongest community partners, providing essential support that directly impacts the children we serve. Their commitment, resources, and belief in our mission help us create safer, stronger, and more stable environments for ever
We are grateful for the organizations and leaders who support our mission:
- Alpha Heating & Cooling – One of our strongest community partners, providing essential support that directly impacts the children we serve. Their commitment, resources, and belief in our mission help us create safer, stronger, and more stable environments for every child. Their partnership continues to drive real change and expand our ability to reach more youth in need.
- Strand AE – Generously supported by Tamara “Tami” Spicer, President, whose contributions help strengthen our programs.
- Lennox – Valued partner helping us improve the environment and care we provide to our children.
These partners help us expand our mission and create brighter futures for the youth we serve.
Join Helping Hands for Children in Making a Difference
Founder Story: Natalie Ortiz
A Legacy Built by Hand, Guided by Heart, and Passed Through Generations
Some people choose a mission.
Others are raised inside one.
Natalie Ortiz grew up in a home overflowing with love, discipline, and purpose. She wasn’t raised in the system — she was raised by parents who believed that guidance is a gift, compassion is a responsibility, and blessings are meant to be shared.
Her childhood was shaped by extraordinary examples of service. At a young age, Natalie was recognized for her excellence in reading by First Lady Laura Bush, who saw in her a bright mind and a promising future. That moment became one of the first signs that Natalie was meant to lead, to uplift, and to inspire.
Her father, Mr. Ortiz, was a man who believed that children deserved more than the bare minimum — they deserved joy, safety, and a place to grow. He didn’t just donate the playground at Natalie’s elementary school.
He built it with his own hands.
Every weekend, little Natalie was right there beside him — learning how to hold tools, how to work with purpose, and how to be part of something bigger than herself. He taught her that real change doesn’t happen from a distance.
Real change is built, piece by piece, with your own hands.
Her grandmother carried the same spirit. A true missionary, she fed the hungry, comforted the hurting, and opened her door to anyone in need. She taught Natalie that kindness is not an act — it is a way of life.
Her mother continued that legacy with extraordinary devotion. Her work with children was so impactful that the City of Austin honored her with the Key to the City, recognizing her lifelong dedication to guiding young people toward a better future.
Natalie is the third generation of women shaped by service, compassion, and faith. She grew up watching love in action — not as charity, but as a calling. She learned that when you are blessed, you share those blessings. When you see a child hurting, you step in. When you have the ability to change a life, you do it without hesitation.
Helping Hands for Children is the living continuation of that legacy.
It is more than a residential program.
It is a home built from generations of service.
A place where boys ages 7–17 are seen, valued, and guided with the same love Natalie was raised with.
Every child who enters Helping Hands receives what Natalie’s family gave her:
- Safety
- Guidance
- Hope
- A chance to grow into the person they were meant to be
Natalie’s mission is simple and powerful:
To give children the love, stability, and opportunity she was blessed to receive — because no child should ever feel alone in this world.
Her story is not just about her.
It is about the legacy she carries.
A legacy built by her grandmother’s hands, her mother’s heart, her father’s strength, and her own unwavering belief that every child deserves a chance.
This is who she is.
This is why she serves.
This is the legacy she continues — one child at a time.
Your Support Gives Them Hope
Help Us Lift a Child’s Future
Invest in the future of Helping Hands for Children by making a donation today. Your support helps us continue our mission and impact more lives.