Changing lives by educating and empowering young people, one life at a time.

The KLD YOUTH FOUNDATION was founded in 2002, conceived from a vision to effectively equip a generation in need. The founder, Kevin Deaton, was merely 20 years old when he, his wife, and his foster mother formed the not-for-profit organization.

Why would a young man feel so compelled to accept such a task?

When Kevin was eight years old, he found himself moving from one home to the next, in an attempt to run from the life that he faced. He had no sense of belonging or guidance. Left unnoticed and unsupervised after school, Kevin was placed at great risk. Like so many young people today, he was slipping through the cracks headed for destructive behavior. At age 15, he met a family that would become his foster family – filling the

gap that he credits for empowering his life. This family provided more than security, they provided the love and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Ezekiel 22:30, God said he was looking among them for someone who would stand in the gap for Him…. Kevin saw the reality of someone standing in “the gap” for his own life and that is why he feels led to “fill the gap for others….one life at a time.” He feels that the struggles and choices our young people face on a daily basis continue to worsen and demand a solution. The answer was to form an organization committed to providing love and the tools to equip, enhance and empower the young to reach their fullest potential. This is the vision of The KLD Youth Foundation.