Friends of the Children

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

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

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! 

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

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!

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

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

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.

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!

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