About Us
We Nourish Bodies - Develop Minds - Foster Hope Through Christ
Our Mission
The mission of Cornerstone Family Ministries is to make a lasting and positive impact in the lives of economically disadvantaged children and their families in our community by nourishing young bodies, developing young minds, and fostering hope through Christ…One Child at a time.
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All disadvantaged children in our community will have access to nutritious food,quality safe early childhood care education and opportunities to connect to the sustaining love of Jesus Christ through a local church.
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▶ To Offer God’s Love First So That Hope Through Jesus Christ May Follow
▶ To Accept and Respect People Where They Are
▶ Connect People To Opportunities and Promote Service To Others With Compassion Always
▶ To Be Committed to Excellence—Always Learning, Developing and Growin
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Conerstone Family Ministries (CFM) has a unique history dating back to 1892.
In the late 19th century, segregation ruled the public arena. For many of Tampa’s immigrant families there were no public schools open to their children. Rosa Valdez was a Hispanic woman who lived in Tampa and was moved by the plight of the newly arriving immigrant children. With her own funds and the help of benefactors, she established a small school in her west Tampa neighborhood. At the same time, Eliza Wolff, who wintered in Tampa, pleaded with the Women’s Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South (today known as United Methodist Women) to form a mission school for the immigrants living in east Tampa. The determination and caring of these two women was the foundation of the mission that is now known as Cornerstone Family Ministries. The public schools eventually opened their doors to Latino children, so a settlement program was instituted to meet broader needs of the families like cooking and sewing classes that would benefit children in their home environment. Cornerstone Family Ministries has evolved through the years and is now represented by a broad section of the Christian community who like Rosa Valdez and Eliza Wolff are moved to make a difference for Christ in the lives of marginalized children and their families. Moving with the times and the changes in the neighborhoods that make up Tampa’s inner-city, Cornerstone serves the needs of children from diverse backgrounds using education and Christian character building to equip children and their families to navigate the difficult circumstances they find themselves in so that they can realize hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Our 3 Pillars
At Cornerstone Family Ministries we positively impact the students and families we serve through:
1. Nourishing Bodies
We sponsor nearly 167 Child Care centers through the Child Care Food Program and provide access to nutritious food to nearly 18,000 children in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco and Manatee Counties. (Nutrition education that includes a community garden and interactive food experiences with children, families, and childcare professionals.)
2. Developing Minds
Providing Quality Early Childhood Education in Lab School Setting Where Everyone Is Learning & Growing and Parents Feel Safe and Secure as They Earn and Learn Their Way Out of Poverty – Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty One Child, One Family, and One Future Early Childhood Professional at a Time!
3. Fostering Hope Through Christ
Engaging the community and local churches who generously donate and serve our ministry thus impacting the lives of the families we serve.
