By Rachael Lindley
Photography by Crystal Wise
When a football coach and a soul singer team up to fight hunger and expand opportunity in Fort Worth, the results are bound to be something special. For the winningest coach in TCU history, Gary Patterson and Grammy Award-winner Leon Bridges, The Big Good isn’t just a charity; it’s a movement rooted in love for Fort Worth and a belief that everyone deserves a fair shot.
We met Coach Gary Patterson and Leon Bridges on a warm, sunny day in early October at the swanky Bowie House Hotel. It was the eve of the Auberge Resorts Collection Concert Series, where Bridges was to perform an intimate concert to kick off the exclusive concert series, and the hotel was all abuzz with excitement.
But tucked away in the moody Mulberry Room, a sitting room with a multitude of books and a vibrant Kehinde Wiley painting above the fireplace, we met with Coach Patterson, his wife, Kelsey, and Bridges to discuss the larger matter at hand: their philanthropic work with The Big Good.
The former TCU football coach is fresh off his induction into the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame. Coach Patterson holds the all-time coaching record with 181 wins, six conference championships and an undefeated season in 2010. Bridges, on the other hand, had just returned stateside from a European tour.
Coach Patterson founded The Gary Patterson Foundation in 2002, but saw an opportunity in 2020 to work with Fort Worth’s own Leon Bridges as a way to re-energize his mission and reach new generations.
“We met on a Zoom call in 2020 — typical COVID times,” Patterson laughs. “We realized pretty quickly that even though we came from totally different worlds — football and music — we had the same heart for Fort Worth.”
A Melding of Worlds
Coach Patterson recognized Bridges as a younger, creative counterpart. “I was looking for something cutting edge, something fresh,” Patterson says. “I knew Leon’s story. Walking down Magnolia with his guitar, working as a dishwasher before his big break. We both started with nothing, doing more with less, chasing dreams.”
The feeling was mutual. “I wanted to build something lasting beyond music,” Bridges says. “I’m grateful for my platform, but I want to be remembered for something more — something that really changes lives.”
The Birth of The Big Good
Out of that shared vision came The Big Good, an organization that united Patterson’s existing foundation with Bridges’ creative energy and influence.
“We renamed it The Big Good,” Patterson explains, “because we wanted a name that spoke to giving back — and something that could grow beyond either of us.”
Behind the scenes, Patterson’s wife Kelsey, music manager Steve Smith, and Director of Programming & Fundraising, Camille Kelly, became the operational anchors. “They’re the ones really keeping this thing moving,” Bridges says. “I just show up with my guitar sometimes.”
The partnership’s first fundraiser had to be virtual due to pandemic restrictions. Yet even through computer screens, the response was overwhelming.
“It’s just grown every year since,” Patterson says. “We give back over 60% of what we raise annually — far more than most foundations. The whole point is to make a difference now.”
Giving Where It Matters Most
Since its founding in 2021, The Big Good has raised over $4 million to support community partners tackling food insecurity, as well as educational and employment barriers. Its beneficiaries include the Tarrant Area Food Bank, United Community Centers (UCC), T3 Partnership, and UpSpire, a social enterprise of the Presbyterian Night Shelter that employs residents rebuilding their lives.
Rather than providing one-time support, The Big Good offers multi-year revolving contracts, giving nonprofits stability to plan ahead.
“It’s not about putting a Band-Aid on something,” Patterson says. “Instead of throwing $50,000 at it, we throw $350,000 — enough for them to hire another person or buy a truck. By the time the contract ends, they can build it into their budget.”
For Bridges, UCC holds personal meaning.
United Community Centers is one of Fort Worth’s oldest nonprofits to serve and empower those in need. With a strong focus on literacy, healthy and fresh foods and family resources, the UCC program strengthens learners and families in three different neighborhoods across Fort Worth.
“I used to go there when I was a kid,” he says. “My dad worked there. Growing up on the South Side in the ’90s, a lot of kids didn’t have fathers at home — but they had my dad. He was the cornerstone for so many. I’ve seen UCC change lives firsthand.”
Ready to Learn
The Tarrant Area Food Bank collaboration has been transformative. What began as a holiday food drive, distributing over a million pounds of food and feeding 100,000 people in a single year, has evolved into an ambitious network of decentralized “Ready to Learn” markets.
The Big Good’s Market is part of TAFB’s Ready to Learn initiative, designed to address food insecurity among students and families by providing healthy groceries on campus.
These food pantries directly address food insecurity by placing markets in schools, giving families direct access to healthy groceries where they already drop off their kids, helping to make food more accessible, reducing stigma and supporting student success.
“It’s a smarter way to serve,” Patterson says. “Families don’t have to choose between food and work.”
The Big Good also seeds programs designed to become self-sustaining, such as the school-based food pantries.
“We give the seed money, pay for the refrigeration, and get the community involved,” says Bridges. “Then hopefully the local community takes it over so we can help another one.”
360West was able to tag along with the Pattersons and Bridges to the grand opening of their newest market, the Eagle Market at H.F. Stevens Middle School in Crowley in mid-October. The Crowley community rallied together to set up the pantry, which culminated in a program and ribbon-cutting ceremony with H.F. Stevens and Tarrant Area Food Bank staff, accompanied by special performances from the H.F. Stevens mariachi band and boys choir.
Dr. Williams, the Vice President of External Affairs at Tarrant Area Food Bank, addressed the crowd, explaining the “Ready to Learn” initiative, which ensures children are nourished and prepared for academic success. TAFB serves 13 counties, an area larger than the state of Vermont, while facing an urgent mission of 572,000 families (including 1 in 5 children) experiencing food insecurity.
Dr. Williams recalled his own personal experiences of growing up with limited access to food, underscoring how programs like this one have the potential to change lives. He concluded his remarks by quoting his father, “If we all do a little, we get a lot done.”
Crowley Superintendent, Dr. McFarland, emphasized that schools cannot meet all community needs alone. It requires partnership between schools, churches, city leaders and nonprofits like The Big Good.
Kelsey Patterson spoke on behalf of The Big Good, explaining that The Eagle Market is the second Ready to Learn Market launched in partnership with TAFB and driving the organization’s mission to raise awareness and resources for organizations addressing unmet community needs and The Eagle Market, complete with a custom neon sign, features fully stocked shelves of items ranging from macaroni and cheese to baby food, fresh produce and drinks. All items are up for grabs for anyone who needs them, a poignant moment for Bridges, a Crowley alumnus.
T3 Partnership and UpSpire
The Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership helps to ensure more Tarrant County students obtain postsecondary credentials and that each student has the training and skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce. Approximately 39% of Tarrant County adults hold an associate’s degree or higher, while 65% of jobs in the current economy require some form of postsecondary certification.
UpSpire takes that mission further, offering real jobs and benefits to those transitioning out of homelessness. “They have uniforms, 401(k)s, medical benefits — it’s the real deal,” Patterson explains. “It’s about dignity, not just donations.”
The Music and the Mission
Though their paths differ, they share an easy camaraderie and mutual respect. Patterson laughs, “He’s not a sports guy, and I’m not really an artsy guy. But we both love Fort Worth and music. That’s enough.”
With Fort Worth’s rapid expansion, both founders see opportunity — and responsibility.
“As the city grows, it presents new problems,” says Bridges. “But it also gives us a chance to involve all these people moving here. To give back, you have to feel connected to your community.”
That connection is key, Patterson says.
“Nonprofit work is no different than any other business — it’s about relationships,” he notes. “You’ve got to show you’re trustworthy and that the money goes right back into the city.”
Bridges agrees. “It’s a blessing,” he says simply. “To see the smiles on people’s faces — that’s what it’s all about. I know what it’s like to not know where the next meal is coming from. To be able to change that story for someone else — it means everything.”
Looking Ahead
Now in its fifth year, The Big Good continues to grow, not only in impact but in reputation. The Big Night has become one of Fort Worth’s most anticipated events, drawing national talent (past headliners include Maggie Rogers and Charley Crockett) and raising major funds for local causes. Patterson hints that the 2026 lineup will be “bigger than ever,” while Bridges smiles knowingly. “I think people are going to be really excited to welcome this huge country name to Cowtown.”
As for the future, both men see endless potential. “We’ll keep our ears open,” Bridges says. “See what the city needs next. My dream? That one day no one in Fort Worth goes hungry — and every kid gets the education they deserve.”
Patterson nods. “It’s called The Big Good for a reason,” he says. “It’s not about me or Leon. It’s about doing something bigger — for good.”
For more information on The Big Good, please visit thebiggood.org.