Donation reflects Mark Burget’s legacy as it will help children in need
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma community leader Mark Burget frequently discussed the importance of a legacy: what you live for and what you leave behind. His own legacy will have a lasting impact on children and families in need across Oklahoma.
Fortress Foundation, founded by Burget and his wife, Elaine, donated $10,000 to the 111Project’s Road to 77 end of the year campaign.
“We look at the numbers in child welfare and we notice a change for the better – fewer kids in care, no state-run shelters – and we would direct that to donations like these,” 111Project Executive Director Chris Campbell said.
Every donation has a direct financial impact on Oklahoma and stays within the local community. These donations help thousands of Oklahoma children either avoid foster care, find permanency through adoption, or help families reunify and feel supported.
“The donation quantifiably has a return, but it also has an impact socially and community wise that you can’t quantify,” Campbell said.
The Fortress Foundation is a private Oklahoma foundation that is rooted in community and funds religious education, women’s health education, religious ministry centers, education for young adults with disabilities and religious help for boys at risk.
Burget’s life was bursting with a love for God and a desire to help others become better and leave a lasting legacy. Through his weekly Bible studies, prayer meetings and meaningful relationships, Burget lived life with intentionality and thoughtfulness as he faithfully served God and spread the gospel.
Burget worked at McAfee & Taft law firm after graduating from the University of Oklahoma where he would serve as their first-ever managing director. In 2019, he served as Governor Stitts General Counsel for two years. He served as the area director for Search Ministries, a nonprofit organization that seeks to transform lives through face-to-face connections and meaningful connections.
Burget’s best preaching was shown in the way he lived his life and will always be remembered as a friend, mentor, prayer partner and spiritual leader.
Campbell defined Burget as a tremendous man and lived his life to encourage others to live out their calling in Jesus Christ.
Fortress Foundation has been a generous and faithful partner with 111Project since 2017 and has consistently increased their giving every year.
“We can’t do the work without partners,” Campbell said. “As we’ve grown, they’ve grown with us and that’s so humbling.”
111Project is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission to mobilize the local church so every child has family. The organization’s initial goal is to mobilize 1,000 churches across Oklahoma that can serve at least one family a month on CarePortal and recruit and support a foster family every year.
If 1,000 out of the 6,200 churches in Oklahoma commit to recruit and support one foster family a year, and serve one family a month on CarePortal, the state will move closer to having more than enough help for children and families in crisis.
Any churches or individuals interested in learning more or getting involved can visit 111project.org.