A MAD Foundation Initiative
We Are
the Village
It takes a village. We are that village. A call to every Mid-South resident to show up, lift together, and build a Memphis where no one is left behind.
The Mission
What Does It Mean to Be the Village?
"We Are the Village" is more than a phrase — it is a declaration. It is the MAD Foundation's call to every person in the Mid-South to take ownership of the community around them. Not to wait for a program, a politician, or a perfect moment — but to act now, with what you have, where you are.
The village model is ancient wisdom applied to a modern crisis. When communities are fractured by poverty, trauma, and disconnection, the answer is not more institutions — it is more people choosing to show up for each other.
The MAD Foundation exists to organize, resource, and amplify that showing up — through programs rooted in Wisdom, Wellness, and Wealth.
How We Live It
The Village Values
We Show Up
The village doesn't wait to be called. We show up — for our neighbors, our families, and our community — before the crisis, during it, and after.
We Lift Together
No one rises alone. The village model is built on collective strength — when one of us moves forward, we bring others with us.
We Give What We Have
You don't need to have everything to give something. Time, talent, and presence are the currency of the village.
We Build to Last
The village isn't a moment — it's a movement. Everything we build is designed to outlast us and serve the generations that follow.
"It takes a village to raise a child — but it takes a committed village to change a community."
— Michael Adrian Davis, Founder, MAD Foundation
Where We Work
Village Focus Areas
The village shows up across every dimension of community life. These are the areas where the MAD Foundation concentrates its energy and resources.
Education & Youth
Tutoring, mentorship, scholarships, and after-school programming that keep young people on a path toward their full potential.
Health & Wellness
Access to mental health resources, wellness education, and community health initiatives that address the whole person.
Housing & Stability
Emergency housing assistance, financial literacy, and resources that help families build a stable foundation.
Veterans & Service
Honoring those who served by connecting veterans with the support, community, and resources they've earned.
Family & Children
Programs that strengthen families, support parents, and ensure every child in our community has what they need to thrive.
Emergency Relief
Rapid-response support for families facing unexpected crises — because the village doesn't let its own fall through the cracks.
"The village isn't a place. It's a decision — a daily choice to show up for the people around you."
— MAD Foundation
The United Heritage Fund
5,000 people. $20 a month. One united village.
When you join the Fantastic 5000, your $20/month goes directly into the United Heritage Fund — the financial engine that powers every initiative under the pillars of Wisdom, Wellness, and Wealth. Together, 5,000 members generate $100,000 every single month for the Mid-South community.
Phase 1 — Join the Village
$4,940/month · Goal: $20,000/month
Full Fantastic 5000 Progress
4,753 seats remaining
What You Get as a Founding Member
Joining the Fantastic 5000 means more than writing a check. You become a named stakeholder in the future of the Mid-South.
$20/month — less than a tank of gas, more than most people give in a year.
Automatic membership in the United Heritage Fund — the financial engine of the village.
Your name listed as a Founding Village Member on the MAD Foundation honor roll.
Direct impact across all three pillars: Wisdom, Wellness, and Wealth.
Quarterly impact updates showing exactly where your dollars are working.
The United Heritage Fund
Where Your $20 Goes
Every dollar contributed through the Fantastic 5000 flows into the United Heritage Fund — a pooled community investment vehicle managed by the MAD Foundation. Funds are distributed across education, health, housing, veterans services, family programs, and emergency relief — the six pillars of the village.
Already ready? Send via Zelle now.
Instant — no waiting, no fees
Open your bank's app, tap Zelle, and send your first $20 directly to the MAD Foundation. Use "Fantastic 5000" in the memo.
Memo: "Fantastic 5000" · Recurring monthly · MAD Foundation
Get Involved
How to Be the Village
There is a place for everyone in the village. Here are four ways to step in.
Join the Fantastic 5000
Commit $20/month to the United Heritage Fund and become one of 5,000 village members powering real change across Wisdom, Wellness, and Wealth.
Join NowVolunteer Your Time
Show up. Whether it's a few hours a month or a few days a year — your presence in the village matters more than you know.
Get InvolvedShare Your Platform
If you have a voice, a following, or a network — use it. Amplify the village's work and help us reach the people who need us most.
Join MADIBASponsor a Program
Businesses and organizations can invest directly in village programs — from youth mentorship to emergency relief funds.
Partner With Us
Rooted in the MAD Foundation
The Village Has a Home
"We Are the Village" lives inside the MAD Foundation — the nonprofit backbone of the MAD Media Network. Every dollar, every hour, and every voice that joins the village flows through a structure built for lasting community impact.
Stay in the Loop
Join the Mailing List
Get updates on Join the Village, Fantastic 5000 milestones, community events, and the Michael Adrian Davis Morning Show — straight to your inbox.