Non profit of the Month – Winning the Fight
How One Local Nonprofit Is Turning Pain Into Purpose
No parent ever thinks it could happen to them. But if there is one thing to be learned from the ongoing fentanyl crisis in America, no family is immune to the pain and struggle of substance abuse. Even in thriving communities like Flower Mound, there are those among us quietly battling with addiction.
Fortunately, one local nonprofit isn’t giving up without a fight. Born from personal heartbreak and sustained by impassioned hope, the nonprofit organization Winning The Fight is working to change the narrative surrounding substance abuse. Through education and awareness, they are reminding families across Denton County that addiction can affect anyone, anywhere.
A Mission Born From Personal Loss
The story behind Winning The Fight’s creation is deeply personal. The late founder, Kathy O’Keefe, started the organization after losing her son, Brett, to a drug overdose in 2010. What began as a devastating personal loss became her mission to help ensure other parents would not have to experience the same tragedy.
Current president Kathy Travis endured a similar heartbreak when she lost her daughter, Jessica, to an accidental overdose in January 2021. Even Executive Director Paige Furin struggled with addiction earlier in life and is now channeling her perspective into service, advocacy,
and awareness.
These shared experiences matter. Substance abuse is often viewed through a narrow lens, as something that only affects people in precarious circumstances or in communities unlike our own. Winning The Fight confronts this assumption head on, by reminding our community that addiction does not discriminate by ZIP code, income bracket, or upbringing. It can enter any home, touch any family, and leave behind a wake of confusion, grief, and unanswered questions. This is why the organization’s mission is so poignant.
“We need to stop the stigma of substance abuse,” Paige said. “Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. Individuals who struggle with substance abuse should be treated with the same level of sympathy and compassion as anyone who is sick.”
How Winning The Fight Helps Prevent Overdose Deaths
At its core, Winning The Fight exists to educate, connect, and support. Its prevention efforts, which include public speaking events, are designed to build awareness and help community members better understand the risks associated with drug use, including the deadly threat of fentanyl. The danger is especially alarming given that seventy percent of synthetic drugs produced overseas contain harmful levels of fentanyl that can lead to accidental overdose.
Winning The Fight also works with Denton County Juvenile Court, Flower Mound Municipal Court, and the Lewisville/Flower Mound Teen Court to assist troubled teens with substance abuse issues. The judges in these cases will often refer defendants to one of Winning The Fight’s classes. When completed, the results get submitted to that court indicating completion, and the judge can see how they did.
Other programs, such as Winners Circle, provide a place of encouragement and connection for those actively working toward recovery. Missing Pieces offers support to families dealing with the emotional aftermath of the loss of a loved one. Winning The Fight even offers NARCAN training courses that teach participants how to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to administer a potentially life-saving antidote. These programs do not erase the pain, but they give families something equally important: a course of action.
“For every individual with addiction, an average of five lives are directly affected,” Paige said. “If we can help one person every day, we’re making a huge difference.”
Community Events Bringing Awareness to Denton County
The organization’s outreach extends beyond meetings and classrooms. Community events, such as the recent Winning Strides Derby, create opportunities for awareness, solidarity, and fundraising, giving people a chance to stand for a cause that affects more people than many realize.
Looking ahead, the 5K Memorial Walk and Fun Run scheduled for October 10 will offer another meaningful way for the community to honor loved ones, support prevention efforts, and show up for families in need.
By helping parents, teens, and community advocates understand that addiction is not someone else’s problem, that it is a collective responsibility we all share, Winning The Fight is turning misconceptions and stigmas into opportunities to learn and to grow as a community. And for those who have been touched by loss or substance abuse, their mission is proof that pain can be transformed into purpose and purpose into newfound hope.
To learn more or to get involved, visit wtf-winningthefight.org.
