Fostering Futures

Meet Volunteer Mentor Susan Hubbard

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:53:31 +0000

After 35 years working as a public school teacher and/or administrator, Susan Hubbard, now retired, turned some of her energy to community service. As a donor to Fostering Futures, Susan appreciated the hands-on approach taken through the mentoring program and indicated her interest. This year she interviewed applicants from San Jose State University and is serving as mentor to three students now on Fostering Futures scholarships. A native Californian, Susan’s family instilled in her a love of the outdoors and of the diversity of the people in the Bay Area. When not helping her son, daughter-in-law and precious new grand-daughter or volunteering, Susan says she enjoys outdoor activities and “hangin out” with her friends.

Thank you, Susan, for your compassion and generous commitment to foster youth seeking higher education.

Susan is shown here with Matthew on the day they shopped for his new Apple laptop computer, which was funded by Fostering Futures.

Meet Volunteer Webmaster Michael Jaret

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:51:26 +0000

Michael, shown here with his best friend, Rosie!

Michael Jaret is President of Jaret Media, an internet marketing firm with offices in Palo Alto and Denver. He has held senior marketing positions at Apple Computer, Inc., IBM, and PlaceWare, a web conferencing start-up. With a BA in marketing from Eckerd College and a MA from San Jose State University, Jaret has participated in a wide range of marketing conferences and has served as a consultant on the development of several marketing and business planning texts.

In addition to marketing, Jaret plays jazz guitar, with a special interest in Brazilian music. He is also an avid photographer and artist, whose work has appeared in numerous juried shows and galleries.

Fostering Futures

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:19:33 +0000

FOSTERING FUTURES was founded to provide scholarships and other support to this special population of young people throughout California, former foster youth who have proven themselves scholastically and have demonstrated the motivation and perseverance required to carry them into successful adulthood.

More than 100,000 children and youth are in foster care in California.
More than 4,000 foster youth emancipate from the California foster system annually.
25-50% of foster youth nationwide become homeless after emancipation, with lack of job skills and opportunities being a major cause.

Education is the key to the successful emancipation of foster youth!

Did you know that when foster youth reach 18 years of age, they "age out" of the foster care system? This means that for those who wish to continue their education, funding must be sought through grants and scholarships to supplement wages earned by the students themselves, most of whom work 20 to 30 hours a week in addition to their studies. FOSTERING FUTURES recognizes that, without the benefit of a strong family support system, these young people seeking further education face daunting challenges.

Fostering Futures changes lives forever and helps our scholarship recipients become productive members of the community.

Senator John Burton Partners With Fostering Futures

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:18:15 +0000

John Burton was in public service for more than 40 years, not only in the U.S. Congress, but also the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Always a champion of the under-served, after his retirement in 1983 Senator Burton continued his advocacy and in 2004 founded the John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes.

The John Burton Foundation has worked to improve outcomes for California’s children and youth in foster care and had a key role in increasing funding of the Transitional Housing Placement Plus program to provide much-needed housing for emancipated foster youth. The John Burton Foundation has used Senator Burton’s vast experience and relationship-building to advocate for and assist foster youth.

Fostering Futures is proud to have Senator Burton as a partner who shares our goals in support of emancipated foster youth and we thank him for his generosity and financial support in furtherance of our mission.

San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith Partners with Fostering Futures

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:03:52 +0000

Alex Smith shown with Fostering Futures scholarship recipient Aaron, Princeton Class of 2006.

“Fostering Futures is a successful non-profit with passionate and effective leadership and I am very proud to be partnering with them. We have a common vision and goal, to support foster youth in transition.”
Alex Smith

“Forward Progress for Foster Teens in Transition” is the motto of The Alex Smith Foundation. One of Alex’ primary goals with his foundation is to fund programs to help increase graduation rates among foster youth and also to help them after they turn 18, when government programs stop rendering assistance. As he says, “You’re kind of just put on the street and have to fend for yourself. I would like to help them in that transition period.”

We appreciate his continued partnership in 2007, which supported the expansion of our program to include students from Santa Clara County, and his continuing support of those scholarships through the 2008–09 school year.

Thank you, Alex, for using your celebrity to raise public awareness of the special needs of foster youth in transition and your financial resources to directly assist students on their journeys to successful and fulfilling futures through higher education.

Congratulations Graduates!

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:01:47 +0000

Jeanette, BA Social Work, California State University Sacramento.
Thuy, BA Business Marketing, University of San Francisco
Micah, AA City College of San Francisco. Now attending California College of the Arts
Matthew, BA Communication Studies, San Jose State University
Marissa, BA Apparel Design & Merchandising, San Francisco State
Jamelia – St. Mary’s College, B.A. Psychology
Shaun – San Jose State University, B.A. Communications
Anastasiya – University of California Davis, B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christen – Chico State University, B.A. Social Work
Aricka – University of California Davis, B.A. Psychology
Kevin – San Jose State University, B.A. Political Science and Sociology
Ross – California State University Stanislaus, B.A. Criminal Justice Administration
Angel – University of California Davis, B.A. Psychology
Grace – Solano Community College, A.A. Cosmetology
Daniella – Samuel Merrit/St. Mary’s College, B.S. Nursing
Anthony – Vanguard University, B.A. History
Peter – Seattle University, B.A. Political Science
Rekha – University of California Davis, B.A. Psychology
Tiffany – San Francisco State University, B.A. Criminal Justice
Kevin – California State University East Bay, Master of Public Administration
Cara – California State University Sacramento , B.A. Accountancy
Ian – University of San Francisco, B.S. Psychology
Toni – San Jose State University, B.A. Criminal Justice Administration
Melinda – University of California Davis, B.A. History
Krystal – Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley, B.S. Business Administration
Kennisha – California State University East Bay, B.S. Biological Science
Malcolm – University of California Berkeley, B.A. African American Studies
Srinivas – San Francisco State University, B.S. Computer Science
Kedra – Solano Community College, A.A. Cosmetology
Salonge – California State University Stanislaus, B.A. Sociology
Janay – California State University Sacramento, B.A., Social Sciences
Stacey – National Holistic Institute, Certification in Massage Therapy
Aaron – Princeton University, B.A., Politics
James – Diablo Valley College, A.A.
Marc – California Culinary Academy, San Francisco, Graduate

Thuy

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:10:26 +0000

In her senior year at University of San Francisco, Thuy continues to take a heavy class load while emersing herself in campus life, being an active member in several groups. Fostering Futures has followed Thuy’s progress from her freshman year, observing her develop into a confident well-rounded independent young woman. Her mentor uses words such as “focused, positive, excellent student” to describe her. Thuy has sought out internships and works hard during the summer months to support herself financially. She spent part of her junior year at University College Dublin Business School, which will add to her already impressive resume preparing her for a degree in Business Administration and a business career.

“I spent the fall semester abroad in Ireland. It was an amazing life experience and I want to thank Fostering Futures for supplying me with my whole year’s scholarship to fund that experience. Your contribution has helped me a lot and has helped make my life a lot easier so I can focus on school and be a good student.”

Aricka

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:09:35 +0000

Aricka has put her abusive childhood behind her, and has used her background to speak out on behalf of foster youth and increase public awareness of their challenges. After graduating from University of California Davis with a degree in Psychology, she is in the second year of a Master’s program at San Francisco State University, with the ultimate goal of becoming a college counselor. She has every reason to be proud of her accomplishments, which she gained through determination and hard work.

“I am very thankful for the financial assistance I have received from the Fostering Futures scholarship. It is not just the financial assistance that I am grateful for but also the continuing support I receive from everyone at Fostering Futures. When I received the Fostering Futures Scholarship it confirmed my belief that my dreams and aspirations really can become a reality. The scholarship committee assisted me in reaching my optimal potential and I will always have a feeling of immense appreciation towards them.”

Aaron

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:51:13 +0000

We met Aaron when he was attending Princeton University and have joyfully followed his progress since that time. Now an honor student at University of California Boalt Hall School of Law, Aaron has married his college sweetheart from Princeton, who has been accepted into medical school. Although Aaron had a horrific youth, filled with violence and abuse, he has worked hard to move forward in creating a peaceful rewarding life, and we know he will continue to succeed. As an articulate and personable young man, Aaron also makes himself available any time there is a spokesperson needed to advocate for foster youth. He is an inspiration to many.

“I feel a sense of gratitude and relief in being able to get the financial assistance I so desperately need, especially during this economic crisis. Every day I know how fortunately it is to be where I am today and how Fostering Futures scholarship made that possible. I would like to thank you for your time, support, and most of all for believing in me.”

Toni

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:46:21 +0000

Toni graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Criminal Justice. She is very excited to have been accepted into University of California Hastings School of Law. When Toni was 12, she was put in foster care after her mother died. WIth an absentee father, she first lived with her maternal grandmother, who later became ill and passed away. It has been a real struggle for Toni, but she has persevered. She admits to having “no social life” because her days are filled with studies and working to pay her bills. She admittedly did poorly in her first two years of college, but she turned herself around and improved her academic performance, graduating with honors from San Jose State. Now about to embark on her law studies, Toni is a serious young woman who has made many sacrifices to achieve her goals, and we have confidence that she will succeed.

“Thank you for the support. It is people like you who give us opportunity and make the world a better place. Thank you again with utmost gratitude.”