Friends of the Children

Exciting News! Friends of the Children is featured in the latest Forbes article, "5 Benefits of Partnering with a Nonprofit Organization." The article highlights the impact of collaborations like ours with Simone Biles and Axonius, showcasing how partnerships can strengthen customer loyalty, grow your network, and do good. To read more from Forbes about the impact of nonprofit partnerships and to check out a 2023 article which focuses deeper on Simone's work with Friends of the Children, please visit: https://bit.ly/3MfpVRV

Friends of the Children is seeking a passionate, committed leader to use their cultural knowledge, expertise, vision, and connection to community and lead Friends of the Children in Rapid City, SD as the Executive Director. The ideal candidate will work with the tribal leaders, community leaders, schools, non-profit partners, and investors to significantly impact foster care and intergenerational poverty in He Sapa where the position is based. Are you this person or do you know them? To learn more about the Friends of the Children - He Sapa Executive Director position and to apply, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gGVCPJFf

Friends of the Children-Boston was recently highlighted in two Boston Globe articles, showcasing their impactful work. Executive Director Yi-Chin Chen shares about the challenges and successes of mentoring children and supporting their caregivers as we walk alongside them for 12+ years, no matter what. Read more by clicking the links below: Two-Gen: https://bit.ly/3YDvGjz Absenteeism: https://bit.ly/4dCZEc2

Last month, nearly seventy program leaders and staff from across our national network gathered in Chicago to learn and share, strengthening how we serve youth and families. Our goal is to ensure every chapter is equipped with the tools and knowledge to continue making a lasting impact in the lives of the children and families we serve. To read more about our convening, please visit: https://bit.ly/3yucNFi

Meet Antonio, a resilient 10-year-old with a heart full of big dreams! Enrolled in our program at Friends of the Children Austin, he was matched with a paid, professional mentor, Anders, who helped Antonio discover the power of art and exercise in managing his emotions. Antonio’s love for gymnastics led him to meeting World Champion Gymnast and youth advocate Simone Biles, where he asked her about her own gymnastic journey and even got a photo! This event helped him overcome big feelings of fear and worry and marked a turning point for Antonio, boosting his sense of belonging and inspiring him to reach for his dreams. Read Antonio's full story here: https://bit.ly/3t4IQcd

In diverse locations across the country, Friends of the Children staff and teams inspire and learn from each other every day as we strengthen how we serve youth and families. This is the power of our national network. Recently, the Friends of the Children - Eastern Idaho team visited the Friends of the Children - Utah chapter to gain valuable insights and inspiration from their network peers. To read more about their incredible visit, please click here: https://bit.ly/4d3gKQ3

BIG NEWS! The New York Times has spotlighted Simone Biles’ work with Friends of the Children in their latest feature. In the story, “To Become the GOAT, Simone Biles First Had to Be A Turtle,” writer Juliet Macur details how Simone continues to empower youth in the Friends of the Children program to dream big. Simone's incredible advocacy and genuine connection with our youth inspires us every day. Program Manager and Professional Mentor, Anders Allison from Friends of the Children Austin says it best: Simone shares her own story and “makes the kids believe that they could do anything, like she has done.” To learn more about Simone’s experience with foster care and how she is empowering youth with Friends of the Children, click here: https://lnkd.in/gBbvnxuT

Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs was featured in the news for the chapter’s work addressing the greatest obstacles faced by youth and families in El Paso County. Meet paid professional mentor Sarah Reynolds, and hear from parent, Lexie Garcia, who shares the transformative impact the program is having for her daughter. Spoiler alert: STUDENT OF THE MONTH!! Since joining the program, Lexie’s daughter went from having challenges in school to being student of the month three months in a row! To watch now, please visit: https://bit.ly/3YsvALP

Congratulations to Simone Biles for winning gold in today’s vault final at the Paris Olympics! In the 2023 edition of CNN Heroes: Sharing the Spotlight, Simone shared about her support for Friends of the Children. She spoke with CNN's Alisyn Camerota about how she got her start in gymnastics, her personal experience with foster care, and the importance of her work with Friends of the Children. Watch their full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gi4VH4dz    We are so grateful to Simone for sharing her story and empowering youth to reach for their dreams—her partnership with Friends of the Children is changing lives every day!      #FriendsoftheChildren #SimoneBiles #CNNHeroes #SharingtheSpotlight 

As Friends of the Children continues to grow and expand, we’re excited to introduce our model to new communities across the country! In June, Friends of the Children Montana celebrated the launch of the Flathead Nation program. This Indigenous-led program partners with Tribal community leaders to connect youth and families to their culture and heritage. This first year, the Flathead Nation program will serve 16 children from Salish, Qlispe, and Ksanka Tribes and has opened enrollment to all Tribal youth living on the reservation. Their new clubhouse provides a safe and enriching environment for youth, connecting them with long-term mentors who are a part of their Indigenous culture. To learn more about Friends – Western Montana’s Flathead Nation program, please visit: https://bit.ly/4fnVyGl