The T-Chale Prejean Life Foundation

The T-Chalé Prejean Life Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a vital mission: to prevent youth violence and support at-risk youth across America. It was founded in loving memory of T-Chalé Prejean, whose life was tragically cut short by an act of violence. The foundation honors his legacy by working to create a future where other families do not have to endure similar pain. Through mentoring, educational programs, financial assistance, and community outreach, the foundation provides positive alternatives and critical support systems for young people.

As a new organization, they needed a purpose-driven website built from the ground up. This project involved creating the very first digital home for the foundation,

As a new organization born from a deeply personal story, the foundation faced the unique challenge of creating its first-ever online presence. The task required a thoughtful balance between honoring a legacy and building a functional platform for outreach and action.

The website had to fulfill several essential functions simultaneously:

1. Honor a Legacy with Respect: The platform needed to tell the story of T-Chalé and the foundation’s origins in a way that was dignified, respectful, and heartfelt.
2. Build Trust and Connection: Without a prior history, the site had to quickly establish the foundation’s legitimacy and purpose to encourage a visitor’s first donation, volunteer application, or request for help.
3. Provide Clear Pathways for Action: It needed to be immediately clear how different audiences—supporters, volunteers, community partners, and families in need—could engage with the foundation. This required simple navigation to key areas like donations, volunteering, and assistance applications.

Our approach was rooted in a collaborative and sensitive process, working closely with the foundation’s founders to ensure the final product was a true reflection of their vision and mission.

1. A Design Focused on Clarity and Heart We developed a clean, uncluttered, and heartfelt design. The aesthetic was intentionally kept simple and respectful to create a space for reflection while also inspiring hope and action. The homepage immediately introduces the foundation’s positive mission and gently guides visitors to learn about the story behind it, understand its impact, and discover ways to contribute.

2. Structuring a Narrative of Hope and Action The website content is carefully structured to take visitors on a journey. Sections detailing the foundation’s history and the impact of youth violence build an emotional connection and underscore the urgency of the mission. This is followed by clear information about their specific programs, such as mentoring and educational scholarships, which shows their mission in action.

3. Creating Accessible Pathways to Engagement A primary goal was to make it easy for people to get involved.

• For Supporters: Clear calls-to-action and dedicated sections guide visitors to donate securely, learn about upcoming events, and sign up to volunteer.
• For Beneficiaries: A simple and private assistance form was created, allowing youth and families to apply directly for scholarships and support. This was designed to be an accessible, low-barrier resource for those in need.
• A straightforward contact section provides direct lines to foundation staff, fostering open communication.

Built on WordPress, the platform provides the foundation with a flexible and scalable tool that the team can easily update as their programs and community grow, empowering them for the long term. The resulting website serves as a dignified and professional online home, providing a central hub for all their community outreach, fundraising, and support activities. It gives their vital work a clear voice and enables them to carry forward their important mission of saving lives in T-Chalé’s honor.