The Friends for Life Story

After spending a great deal of time with her grandmother visiting people in hospitals, nursing homes and shut in’s, Inez Russell thought everyone grew up having someone to take care of them. This all changed after an experience visiting her dad in the hospital and hearing an elderly women cry out for help. 



Russell encountered a 90-year-old woman, who was alone and deeply saddened by the thought of dying alone. From that day on, Russell visited the woman everyday in the hospital. Eventually, the sick woman was healed and release from the hospital. Russell continued to do this for other patients in the hospital. She saw there was a basic human need for people to just be cared about by others.



She then decided she wanted to bring that concept to Waco. She wanted to reach out to people who had no one in their lives to take care of them. After doing some research, Russell learned the local hospital was closing their adult day care center. Russell was determined to take over the facility.



Russell's determination and compassion for others resulted in the creation of Friends for Life (FFL). Just 23 years ago, Friends For Life was founded as a nonprofit organization in Waco, Texas. Since it's opening FFL has expanded into five Central Texas cities. FFL provides services ranging from household repairs to a guardianship program for people who can’t make medical decisions by themselves.

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Russell is deeply passional about helping the elderly and people with disabilities gain independence and life a joyful life. 

A biography: Inez Russell, Executive Director and Founder