Cornerstone Assistance Network (Cornerstone) is a nationally recognized, locally focused, broadbased, faith-based organization dedicated to serving needy individuals and families in Fort Worth, Texas as well as throughout Tarrant County.

In its attempts to serve the County’s disadvantaged residents, Cornerstone works with many agencies, both faith-based and secular. Cornerstone assists and empowers churches to serve the needy in their neighborhoods and to develop new programs in direct response to gaps in services in the community.

In the case of Johnston & Matthews, Cornerstone has paired us with a local family in need of assistance. Instead of just assisting around the holidays, Johnston & Matthews has committed to partnering with this family all year long; To anticipate needs as the seasons change and address needs as they arise.

We are grateful for the family we have already grown so attached to and for Cornerstone Assistance Network, for without them, none of this would be possible.

Cornerstone's New Life Center
The New Life Center, in conjunction with Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, serves men who have been homeless and jobless, in a program that emphasizes work therapy and life skills to prepare men for successful reintegration into the community. Specifically, the New Life Center provides these men with transistional semi-independent living that they can afford and offers the men opportunity to move back into mainstream society from a secure, protected environment. This program has a very high success rate.

In 2007, in lieu of traditional Christmas gifts, Johnston & Matthews donated to Cornerstone's New Life Center in honor of our clients and friends.

At the New Life Center, there are eight individuals who are currently enrolled in college. In Spring 2008, two more will enroll in school to complete their GED. Almost every assignment that students are given today requires access to the Internet as well as the ability to type out assignments. At this time, the New Life Center only has one, six-year old computer to share between all residents.

Our Christmas donation went to acquiring more computers for the New Life Center and to forward the efforts of all individuals in pursuit of education.

Having several computers on site gives those enrolled in school the freedom to complete their assignments in a timely manner. It will also educate them on being more comfortable with modern technology which is a fairly new thing for many of their residents. Having more computers also helps those who are looking for employment to give a potential employer their e-mail addresses and the ability to check them daily.

These new computers will give many of the disadvantaged residents within our own community an advantage that will change their lives forever.