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1,190 | How Todd Lingel Transforms Tragedy Into Hope With Kares Foundation
Todd Lingel is the Founder and Director of Kares Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to saving lives and empowering at-risk youth with the tools to thrive. Growing up in a small Idaho community, Todd learned the values of communication and integrity at an early age. The tragic loss of his mother and sister in a drunk driving accident shaped his life’s mission and fueled his passion to help others.
Kares Foundation is built on the principles of trust, service, and integrity. Its mission is to educate teens and young adults on making better decisions to prevent tragedies caused by peer pressure, impaired driving, and social media grooming. Todd reminds them that mistakes are part of growing up, but the key is to make mistakes we can learn from, not the kind that last a lifetime.
The Meaning Behind the Kares Foundation Logo
The name Kares is deeply personal. It honors Todd’s mother Karen and his sister Shelly. The logo design reflects their story: when Todd’s mother and sister were tragically struck by a drunk driver, his mother was found leaning over Shelly as if to protect her. This final act of love is symbolized in the logo’s “K,” with one leg wrapping around the other, representing a mother’s eternal embrace.
Today, Todd carries their legacy forward through Kares Foundation, turning pain into purpose and tragedy into hope for countless young lives.
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Todd Lingel
Founder/Executive Director
BIO - Information
My name is Todd Lingel, and I am the Founder and Director of Kares Foundation. I grew up in a small community in Idaho, where I learned the value of communication and the meaning of integrity. Losing my mother and sister at a young age shaped my life’s purpose—driving my passion to help others. This journey led me to create Kares Foundation, built on the principles of communication, trust, integrity, and service to others.
Our mission is to educate teens and young adults on making better decisions to prevent unnecessary accidents and tragedies caused by peer pressure, drinking and driving, and social media grooming. The goal is to equip at-risk youth with the knowledge to make informed choices about their future. I always tell them that making mistakes is part of learning, but the key is ensuring those mistakes are ones we can grow from—not ones that last a lifetime, like a felony.
Our Goals:
• Save lives by speaking to as many kids and adults as possible.
• Provide college scholarships to students directly affected by drunk driving, drug use, and related tragedies.
• Host Kamp Kares, a retreat where kids can receive counseling and simply enjoy being kids.
• Implement our Kids’ Life Program, available to those who attend Kamp Kares. This program teaches real-world skills such as:
o Budgeting and financial literacy (understanding credit, building credit).
o Career readiness (resume writing, interview skills, job application processes).
o Negotiation and decision-making skills.
o Other essential life lessons to help them…
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