Meet Larissa Nazareno

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Larissa Nazareno. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Larissa below.

Larissa , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

The K.I.N.G Foundation was founded by Ciara Quaintance in 2015, after the unexpected tragic death of her son’s father, Johnathan Youngblood in Jacksonville, Fl. on Dec 8th 2013. After this sudden change of events, Ciara and her son King Youngblood turned this tragedy into a movement, to bring awareness of this epidemic, that is affecting many children and families in the world. Over 1.5 million children in the US are living in single parent households, due to the death of their other parent.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

The K.I.N.G Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that actively focuses on children that have lost a parent to unforeseen circumstances throughout the State of Florida. We recognize the profound impact of unresolved grief on children and adolescents, which can manifest in dysfunctional behaviors and hinder healthy development into adulthood. Our primary objective is to provide comprehensive support to Kinds in Need of Guidance & Grace, encompassing career opportunities, educational field trips, scholarships, and other vital services.” Our annual events & programs (i/e: Vision Board, Family Art Therapy, Back to School Community Day, K.I.N.G Foundation Holiday Party) serves a very impactful purpose to underprivileged children and families in our communities to fulfill our goal of fostering successful outcomes. We are VERY proud and honored to receive the support of local small businesses, organizations, education partners, youth sports leagues, Duval County Public Schools, cooperate entities who take the time out to volunteer their services and give back to those in need.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Our organization’s success is built on each board of director’s ability to stay organized and build relationships. As non-profit leaders, we look at obstacles as opportunities to cultivate a culture of curiosity whether The K.I.N.G Foundation is making process changes or handling new challenges. We ensure our board members and interns are continually maintaining their current skills and learning new ones as we continue to grow. Effective communication is necessary to keep the nonprofit viable and is the key to fundraising, obtaining grants and finding places that nonprofits can make a difference. Our biggest skills as an organization is building strong relationships, engaging with the community, organizational development skills, social media marketing by staying current on industry trends, financial skills and strategic planning to achieve our mission.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Nonprofit organizations make up the 3rd largest industry in the US and has a vital role in our society by providing ways to improve the communities and address social causes. One of the best ways to secure more funds for your nonprofit is to show potential donors about the impact their donations will have.

The K.I.N.G Foundation’s biggest area of growth or improvement has been “strategic growth,” which ensures that the organization is here for years to come. Our programs has expanded at 42% and expanding partnerships for funding at 47% as of 2025. Utilizing all social media platforms with strategic marketing strategies we’ve developed an online presence and reputation through the effective use of marketing assets like blogs, websites and social media pages. Our consistency as a foundation has captured the hearts of “The Steve Harvey Foundation”, Thee Primetime Foundation, SSA Marine (Jacksonville), Bigg Chico Cares, Wildchild just to name a few.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos taken by: J&1 Photography, JB Spielberg, K.I.N.G Foundation board member.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your