Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children

Non-profit Organizations

Portland, OR 7,363 followers

Impacting generational change by pairing youth facing the greatest obstacles with a paid, professional mentor.

About us

Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 in Portland, OR with just three Friends—salaried, professional mentors—and 24 children. Today, we are a national network with 37 locations across the country. Friends of the Children was founded by Duncan Campbell, a successful business entrepreneur whose own troubled childhood inspired him to found the organization. Our innovative model pairs children who are in foster care or in high-poverty schools with a Friend. Each child selected for the program has a Friend by their side from kindergarten through high school graduation—12+ years, no matter what. Research has shown that to break the cycle of generational poverty, children need long-term, relationship-based support to graduate from high school, remain free from involvement in the criminal justice system, wait to parent until after their teen years, and pursue opportunities through post-secondary education, serving our country or finding living-wage employment. Third-party evaluation of program graduates shows that: • 83% of our youth graduate with a high school diploma or a GED; • 93% remain free from juvenile justice system involvement; • 98% wait until after their teen years to become parents; and • 92% go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country, or enter the workforce.

Industry
Non-profit Organizations
Company size
201-500 employees
Headquarters
Portland, OR
Type
Nonprofit
Founded
1993
Specialties
mentoring, youth, social services, and poverty alleviation

Locations

Employees at Friends of the Children

Updates

  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    Last night, Friends of the Children celebrated our 30th anniversary Gala in Santa Monica, CA! With special guest Simone Biles, who was honored as a "Champion for Children," and founders Duncan and Cindy Campbell for their dedication to empowering youth and families nationwide. Highlights included powerful tributes, inspiring stories, musical performances from GRAMMY-winner Abigail Washburn and Friends of the Children program alum Tah-Jae Franklyn, and a Q&A with Simone who shared her personal connection to our mission. With generous contributions from supporters, the gala raised $3 million to empower even more youth facing the greatest obstacles through long-term, professional mentoring. Thank you to all who joined us last night and to all those who have supported our journey to impact generational change over the past 30 years! Read more about the National Gala here: https://lnkd.in/gqKZTuHA

    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
      +4
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs is seeking a passionate, committed leader to used their lived experience, vision, and connections to the Colorado Springs community to serve as the Executive Director. The ideal candidate will have experience in working with community leaders, caregivers, families, and children, understanding the unique disparities amongst the communities served. They will have good business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, a soft heart for kids and unwavering hope for the impact our program can have for communities in the region. Are you this person or do you know them? To learn more about the Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs Executive Director position and to apply, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eFB8v_mS

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    Last night, leaders and staff from the Friends of the Children national network were honored to attend the Netflix premiere of Simone Biles: Rising at the iconic Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. It was an incredible evening to be there alongside Simone Biles, her family, director Katie Walsh, and the documentary crew. At the premiere, Simone spoke about her journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics and inspired us with her focus on the importance of mental health. Part 2 of Simone Biles: Rising is out this Friday, October 25th! 

    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    Check it out! Our Friends of the Children - Eastern Montana chapter and Executive Director Nina Hernandez are featured in the latest issue of Yellowstone Valley Women's Magazine! In the story, Nina shares about Friends of the Children, the powerful work we do, and how our program is making a lasting impact in the community. Read the full feature and learn more about Friends of the Children's work in Eastern Montana here: https://bit.ly/3ZVFC8Q

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    In 33 of our 41 sites across the country, Friends of the Children serves Indigenous youth and families. Today on Indigenous Peoples' Day and every day, Friends of the Children honors the unique cultures and histories of our Indigenous relatives and our partnerships with Sovereign Tribal Nations. We acknowledge that each of our chapters are located on lands that were home to Indigenous people since time immemorial. Prior to the creation of the United States of America, this part of the continent was Turtle Island, the home of millions of diverse and thriving Indigenous people. We acknowledge and respect the inherent sovereignty and unique cultures of the first peoples of this land. We encourage you to learn more about the history of the lands home to Indigenous people in your community!

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    Recently, Friends of the Children CEO Terri Sorensen joined the Harvard MBA graduate reunion! Mark Chussil, Founder of Advanced Competitive Strategies, who led the Social Return on Investment Model study, highlighted Friends as a community partner. The Harvard Business School Association of Oregon found that for every $1 invested in Friends of the Children, the community benefits by over $7 in saved social costs. Watch Terri’s recorded remarks and learn how we’re making a lasting difference in the lives of youth and families across the country: https://bit.ly/4eBc05e

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    As we close our 30th anniversary celebration, Friends of the Children is excited to share our 2023-2024 Impact Report! This year, we highlight the journeys of five graduates from chapters serving youth for over 20 years. Their stories showcase the power of long-term, professional mentoring to empower youth and families to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. Thanks to your unwavering support, our national network now serves 3,000+ children and 15,000 family members across 41 locations. Explore the full report below and we hope you are as inspired by these stories as we are: https://bit.ly/3BuAazx

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    On Friday, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined our founders Duncan and Cindy Campbell, National CEO Terri Sorensen and Friends PDX Executive Director Traci Rossi to celebrate his support for the program and the federal investment in the National Center of Excellence for Professional Mentoring, scheduled to open in 2026. The Senator recognized the impact of the Friends model in mental health and child welfare prevention, honoring our 30 years of impact and our vision the every child who needs a Friend has one.

    • No alternative text description for this image
    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    At Friends of the Children, we celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month by honoring the rich culture, history, and contributions of the Hispanic/Latinx community. We’re proud to support children and families from all backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging and strength through professional mentorship. Together, we are building brighter futures and creating lasting impact across generations!

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • View organization page for Friends of the Children, graphic

    7,363 followers

    Friends of the Children's September newsletter is here! This month, we celebrate our founder Duncan Campbell's 80th birthday and share highlights from the summer including a recent feature in Forbes, a $2.3M grant from Ballmer Group to support our work in Washington State, and a successful open house at Friends of the Children - Eastern Idaho. Plus, it is back-to-school season and we are cheering on all our youth during Attendance Awareness Month. To read the September Newsletter, please visit: https://bit.ly/3XOsfpn

    • No alternative text description for this image

Similar pages

Browse jobs