Our Founder

The Patton Family Stanley, Melissa and Micah

Thank you so much for visiting The Purpose Group's website.

It is humbling to watch a dream become a reality. Please allow me to share a little of our story.

Why The Purpose Group?

Stanley and Melissa Patton had a vision to restore brokenness and bring hope to a community held hostage by poverty, teen pregnancy, and a lack of educational resources. In 2006, Melissa and Stanley moved to Des Moines, IA to plant a church, Daybreak Family Worship Center. In April 2007 Daybreak held its first service and has continued to grow and reach people.

Melissa's passion for people and desire to do more birthed Purpose Community Development Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization helping families in a broken community develop hope as they find purpose in their life. Our simple beginning was connecting with single parents in the community and matching their children with male and female mentors. From that concept birthed visiting our high risk teens at school, connecting with teachers and administration, and speaking at assemblies. Seeing a need for more impact we provided educational and recreational opportunities for students enabling them to get off the streets and into a positive place.

Realizing that the problem started before middle school and high school Melissa set out to connect with an even younger audience. Melissa decided that to really impact a family unit, you need to provide holistic programming for the entire family unit.  In December 2008, The Purpose Group was birthed as a non profit. In June 2009, Melissa began renting a home in a quiet Beaverdale community, and became registered as a home daycare. She opened on June 1 with a waiting list. By September she was researching options to support her growth. In order to support the growth and her vision for a high quality developmental daycare at a low cost, she would have to move the organization to a larger building. The organization was able to move to 3223 University where they renovated a church basement into a daycare center with a capacity of almost 100 children. Melissa opened on Jan. 4, 2010. Purpose Kids Academy provides care for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. It is also home to several after school children who are picked up from school. Under Cory Jenkins Directorship, participate in a health focused curriculum. This program balances sports with intellect and provides free tutoring to members.

The Purpose Group also provides programming for parents too. Parents participate in seminars quarterly. There are several opportunities throughout the year that involve the whole family.