Bates Mission

Who we are

Bates Mission was founded in 2021 by Whitney Elizabeth Bates in honor of her parents, Alan and Sheila Bates. Alan and Sheila were hard-working Texans whose generosity impacted everyone blessed to know them. They believed laughter was the best medicine, and they both had hearts for service, especially for underprivileged kids. Alan passed away in 2014 and Sheila passed away in 2020, so this organization is a way for the Bates family to come together and carry forward the legacy of two people that meant so much to all of them. Alan and Sheila’s son, Caleb, is a founding board member, and their daughter-in-law, Whitney Brooke, is a founding consultant. Jessica Pierre’Auguste has joined alongside the family as the Chief Operating Officer.

The goal of Bates Mission is to support former foster youth in Texas by offering household necessities, mentorship and job placement. Over 1,000 teens age out of foster care in Texas each year, and within the first year of aging out, over 40% experience homelessness. It is our mission to create an environment where former foster youth feel accepted and valued, where they can learn job training to find and maintain stable employment, and where they can learn life skills to improve every aspect of their life.