Foundation for Foster Children

With the assistance of a Fostering Success Grant, foster youth Isaiah was able to attend Central Florida YMCA’s Camp Wewa last summer. “This was Isaiah’s first camp experience”, said his foster father Conrad Keebler. Isaiah enjoyed his time at camp and did so well working with others that he was invited back next summer as a Counselor in Training! The CIT program is offered to campers looking to learn leadership skills so they may one day become a counselor at Camp Wewa. Way to go, Isaiah! TheCentral Florida YMCA has partnered with the Foundation for Foster Children to offer a wide range of camp programs through their family centers and school based programs. “We are fortunate to have had this relationship with the YMCA for several years now, “said Heidi Jordan, Executive Director. “Each year the YMCA has provided positive, interactive social experiences for foster children that helps build self- esteem and teaches healthy, active lifestyles. We are very grateful for the support so many of our local foster children received through camp experiences this year.”

The former Birthday Club is now the Celebration Club, as the Foundation for Foster Children has provided cakes, cards and gifts to foster children for birthdays, graduations and many other achievements. The Celebration Club was established to provide normalcy in the lives of foster children by ensuring that children do not miss out on recognizing one of the most important days of their year – their own birthday. A foster child spends an average of thirty months in foster care. Several birthdays and other milestones such as graduation may happen during that time. For many youth in foster care these milestone days are just like any other: no cake, no cards and no gifts. The Celebration Club strives to ensure that foster children are celebrated on their special day!

Shamarae and Thomas

Panera Bread opened their newest café location on Aloma Avenue in Winter Park by hosting a Charity Night event benefitting the Foundation for Foster Children. Guests enjoyed delicious food, wine and jazz music provided by WLOQ.
Since May 2009 the Foundation for Foster Children has enjoyed a partnership with the Central Florida Panera Bread franchises. The goal of the partnership is to train foster youth to work in Central Florida Panera locations to prepare them to live independently and become self-sufficient adults. “We’ve partnered with the Foundation for Foster Children to help older youth ages 16-23. “Says Eryn Catter, Director of Public Relations and Sales for Panera Bread. “We’ve started a program where we are hiring youth who are in foster care for our stores and they are doing great!” Panera Bread and FFC work with Intervention Services Inc. (ISI), the agency that helps provide education and support services for Independent Living youth. This working partnership has provided wonderful opportunities for learning and growth for many local foster youth!
Panera bread is supporting foster youth this holiday season by hosting the Angel Tree donation drive at eleven of their Central Florida café locations. This is the second year that Panera has sponsored the Angel Tree program.

Panera staff offer tasty sweets, breads and an assortment of menu items at newest Winter Park café

Anna Basnik, Executive Director with Intervention Services Inc., Ashtavia and Marian - Foster Youth Advisory Board officers (and foster youth alumni) support Panera Charity Night and FFC.

FFC friends enjoy Panera Charity Night with food, fun, raffles, music ?and more - (Cynthia Wood and Joan Cross)

Julie Gajo’s Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troops #3015 and #1348 has adopted the Foundation for Foster Children for their annual charity projects! Their first troop project is supporting FFC by creating ornaments with gift requests made by local foster children and decorating the holiday Angel Tree at the Redbug Panera Bread location. Thank you for your support this year and in 2012! Visit the Girl Scouts website.

Saturday, September 17, 2011, Lake Brantley High School’s Sunshine Club hosted a car wash benefitting the Foundation for Foster Children. Held at Bruster’s Ice Cream in Altamonte Springs, the Sunshine Club raised $900.00 in donations. Mary “Mimi” Sams, the club sponsor and a math teacher at Lake Brantley started the club with the idea that involvement in service projects would promote positive behavior among students.

Sams and her daughter, a Lake Brantley student and Sunshine Club member, had read an article about the Foundation for Foster Children and visited the FFC website. They were impressed with the programs and decided that the Sunshine Club would adopt the foundation for the school year and help support foster youth in the tri-county area. Sams believes Sunshine Club members will gain valuable insight into the challenges other children face.

Sams says her inspiration for the Sunshine Club comes from her students. “In the last few years, many students have attached themselves to my heart and life as I have helped guide them through challenges. In many ways, they have changed my life! The have faced more obstacles than I could ever imagine. My purpose became very clear. I want to motivate, inspire and give teens back their faith.” The Foundation for Foster Children admires the inspiration and support Sams and the Sunshine Club have shown!

If you are interested in learning more about the Sunshine club, you can find them on Facebook

In late September, the Foundation for Foster Children held a friend-raiser at The University Club of Orlando to share our mission and programs to the community.

“Cocktails for a Cause” is one of the ways the University Club reaches out to the community. By hosting Cocktail Receptions, the Club has helped raise over $150,000 for organizations throughout Florida and the Orlando Community.

During the evening reception the Foundation introduced speaker, Craig Castor who shared his personal story of being a foster parent along with his wife, Sarah. The Castors are proud of the many accomplishments their two children they are fostering have made as recipients of several programs provided by the Foundation for Foster Children, including Fostering Success Program grants which allowed the children to receive tutoring and attend summer camp. FFC appreciates the nurturing support that foster parents provide like the Castors, by opening their hearts and homes for our abused and neglected children. More caring homes are needed for fostering our local children, and the Foundation is here to help assist with the unmet needs of these children.

The Foundation is grateful for the friends and supporters who contributed to the success of the evening. Thank you to The University Club of Orlando and members for selecting the Foundation for Foster Children as beneficiary of this event!

Thank you to Central Florida’s FAIA Young Agents Council for hosting the 4th Annual SmartStart for kids this year to benefit the Foundation for Foster Children! Over 60 backpacks filled with supplies were donated, along with additional supplies! Thank you to Eidson Insurance , LRA Insurance, Harry Levine Insurance, Hugh Cotton Insurance , Tower Hill Insurance, and Zenith Insurance for participating as drop-off points for the drive. The generous collection of backpacks and school supplies will make the start of a new school year much brighter for local foster children. The Foundation for Foster Children would also like to thankRural Metro Ambulance for their generous donation of backpacks to support the Emergency Duffel Program. Thanks to everyone who participated in making this campaign a big success!

Yama Acoto with Rural Metro Ambulance

Hugh Cotton Insurance agents with, Laura Eidson-Cosgrove, Eidson Insurance.

Zentith Insurance: Rob and Lyndsey

Maitland Middle School Teacher, Stacey Fisher’s art students at got creative and designed cards for the Foundation for Foster Children to use for the Emergency Duffel and Celebration Club programs. Each card is decorated with a picture and includes a hopeful message from the student who designed it. The cards have added a personal touch to the bags they are added to! Thank you Maitland Middle School Students for sharing your creativity and inspiring messages to foster children and showing you care!

Kendall Joseph and McKinley Crone, Maitland Middle School students

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers and community members who supported the Foundation for Foster Children with our 2011 Holiday gift drives! It is because of all of you that our gift drives were so successful!

Best Wishes,

The Board and Staff of the Foundation for Foster Children