History

Restoring Lives, Inc. (Restoring Lives) is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization incorporated in 2014 under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As a tax-exempt charitable organization, none of its income or assets may benefit any private individual. In addition, Restoring Lives may not attempt to influence the enactment of laws or regulations as a substantial part of its activities, and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations and are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations in accordance with IRS Code Section 170. Restoring Lives is registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State as a charitable organization. For over 15 years, the founder, Shenita Jones, has been committed to healing families as a whole and leading individual family members to discover and sharpen their talents. Whenever an issue was presented, she created a program to address the need. Jones through many partnerships in the Ardmore community has offered directly and indirectly mentoring to children, tutoring programs, ACT/SAT prep programs, and behavioral camps and programs.

“As a licensed professional counselor, I continuously saw clients that needed assistance in healing more than their mental health. A holistic view was needed that could not be obtained from just the counseling perspective. Hence, the birth of Restoring Lives."

By providing the opportunities for each person to improve finances, physical conditions, mental awareness, emotional stability, and spiritual growth, they are encouraged to become productive citizens in our communities. This will produce healthier families empowered by Restore Lives.

Restoring Lives is operated by adult professionals who have experienced economic disadvantages, mentorships and mental health knowledge. Restoring Lives reaches out to at-risk and disadvantaged youth-a population too often characterized by a lack of formal education and training, under-employment, early parenting, homelessness, incarceration and these youths in attaining life skills, developing academically, improving emotional and social intelligence and identifying and accessing resources needed for survival and positive development. We do this in part through our three program initiatives Mental Health Wellness, Mentorship, Personal Success and Family Support to assist with becoming stable and successful adults.

Restoring Lives provides family support resources which are an array of services for the youth’s family. We support the family to assist them with back to sch