Friends of the Children

Happy Labor Day from Friends of the Children! Today, we honor the dedication and hard work of our team, Friends, and supporters who empower youth across the nation. Thank you for helping us build brighter futures. At Friends of the Children, the youth we serve are equally as hard working - 92% of youth in our program go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country, or enter the workforce!

Friends of the Children's August newsletter is here! This month, we are celebrating Simone Biles' historic achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics and her support of Friends of the Children. From her experience with foster care to Olympic champion, her journey is inspiring countless youth to dream big. Check out our latest feature in the New York Times with Simone, watch the "Spirit of Community" spotlight on Friends - Klamath Basin, and see how a partnership with a local coffee shop is supporting our chapters! To read the August newsletter, please visit: https://bit.ly/3ABPY31

Friends of the Children is seeking a passionate committed leader to use their expertise, vision, and operational skills as we grow our two locations in South Dakota headquartered in Rapid City. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of Indigenous cultures, support human resources, finance, information technology, social media & marketing, and other functions to ensure operations are running optimally. Are you this person or do you know them? To learn more about the Friends of the Children - He Sapa Operations Director position and to apply, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gRVKgyTs

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