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Doug Sauder—4KIDS President
Working with foster kids when he was in college transformed Doug's life. His experience inspired him not only to change his major, but also to devote his life to helping the many children that others had given up on. Doug has a master's degree and many years of work and personal experience with kids in crisis. He has served as a public school teacher, coach, youth pastor, and foster parent. Currently at 4KIDS, he provides leadership and direction for the staff. He also works to unite churches and community leaders and create a broad base of support for fulfilling God's mandate to care for orphans. Apart from his vocation, Doug is a mentor, adoptive parent, biological parent, and respite-care provider for foster care parents.
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Tom Lukasik—4KIDS Executive Director
Tom and his wife, Linda, were successful business owners for many years, but in the early 1990s, God began to show them that making a difference was much more important than simply making a living. They started working with foster kids in 1994 as group home houseparents, and since then have fostered more than 30 children. Tom has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and more than 25 years of management experience. Tom believes in teamwork and has a heart to do “whatever it takes” to meet the needs of the children and families that 4KIDS serves. One of Tom’s goals is to bring the church community together to take care of all of the children in the foster care system.
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Mat John—4KIDS Director of Programs
While working as an intern with the Department of Juvenile Justice in 1995, Mat interacted with many children who just had too much time on their hands, no direction in life, and no support system. He saw that with a little effort, many kids were able to shift priorities and make positive changes, and he’s been working with young people ever since! Mat joined the 4KIDS staff in late 2000 and is responsible for the oversight of all the 4KIDS programs and the development of new services and funding strategies for the growing organization. With nine years in the foster care field, it is fitting that Mat has accepted God’s calling to be a foster parent. As medical foster parents, he and his wife have adopted two sons and
one daughter.
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Bruce Thompson—4KIDS Director of Communications
Several years ago a surprising challenge from a close friend changed the direction of Bruce’s life. The invitation to go to Mexico and join a missions team didn’t match the business career Bruce had envisioned, but the challenge was captivating. Soon a journey of new adventures began. In 2006, Bruce joined the 4KIDS team and his journey has continued on. “There is a mission field right here in our own backyard and I have the awesome privilege of helping to provide kids with a priceless gift, which is exactly what they need the most—a loving family. Everything we do is done with this significant goal firmly in the forefront of our minds.” Bruce and his wife, Linda, also enjoy the journey of raising a daughter and a son.
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Curtis Artis—4KIDS Director of Development
Curtis’ early involvement with young people began in high school as he worked with special needs youth and adults in a camp setting in North Carolina. While he pursued his bachelors degree in Accounting at Liberty University in Virginia, Curtis volunteered in the Job Corp with teenagers. Upon graduation, Curtis moved back
to North Carolina and spent a year working in a group home for court-involved teenagers. Desiring to utilize his degree, he spent the next seven years with Wachovia Bank working in consumer and prime equity lending, fixed assets and capital markets. His passion for serving children, families, and the community ultimately lead Curtis
to the YMCA where he spent the next ten years, five of which were in Broward County. Curtis’ belief in the call to “Unite the Community to Improve the Quality of Life” for youth and families is what now drives him. Curtis has joined the staff of 4KIDS to assist in impacting the world for positive change. He and his wife, Letrice, have one daughter.
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