Past Events

More than 250 professionals and current and former foster youth attended the conference in downtown Los Angeles at the California Endowment Center for Healthy Communities. UFC partnered with California College Pathways (CSU Office of the Chancellor and the John Burton Foundation) to bring this professional development opportunity to college administrators, educators, service providers, and advocates who support foster youth in achieving their higher educational goals. Interactive workshops featured a variety of topics including; closing the financial aid gap for former foster youth in higher education; and supporting the mental health needs of former foster youth on campus.

On October 17, 2009, guests at the sold-out event sampled food, wine, beer, and other beverages in a beautiful backyard garden from Los Angeles’ top restaurants and vintners. A silent auction featured a dinner for ten at home from Wolfgang Puck Catering, an edible garden design, exclusive wines, and dinners at fabulous LA restaurants. Thank you to our wonderful vendors, auction donors, and guests for a successful event!
Photographs courtesy of Gold/Wong Photography.

UFC held its 5th annual Celebrity Golf Classic on October 5, 2009 at Lakeside Golf Club presented by Heritage Provider Network. UFC supporters enjoyed a wonderful day of golf in beautiful weather, followed by dinner and an awards presentation. Prizes included Kings tickets donated by Warner Bros. and a golf trip to Las Vegas from Harrah’s Entertainment.

UFC thanks its event sponsors:
Bentley Club, Sarah Bowman & Bill Temko, John W. Carson Foundation, Heritage Provider Network, Kayne Anderson Rudnick, Paula & Michael Schulman, and Wolf Rifkin Shapiro Schulman & Rabkin LLP

On October 3, UFC partnered with the USC School of Social Work to present our 10th annual college awareness day for Los Angeles foster youth, caregivers and service providers. The event offered a full day of workshops, panels and educational activities designed to support students as they explore their college options. Guests enjoyed lunch offered by the Carl’s Jr. Star Diner during the college and resource fair, at which more than 70 colleges and resource agencies were represented.

Almost 30 alumni from UFC’s Pathways Program attended a weekend of reuniting and bonding in Universal City. Both program staff and alumni enjoyed activities at Universal CityWalk as well as a motivational speech and team-building workshops with Dr. William Franklin. Alumni had lunch at the Hard Rock Café and dined at the Saddle Ranch.

UFC's first class of Readiness students entering the 12th grade participated in a two-day college boot camp. In partnership with admissions staff from CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU Northridge, UFC provided students with information about the college admisstions process and valuable materials to assist them with college applications.

For the first time, new students participated in a two-day overnight orientation at Temescal Gateway Park. Orientation offers an overview of UFC's program services, offers advice and resources to promote college success, and help students create a sense of community within and across program cohorts. Older Sponsorship students and program alumni participated as volunteer team leaders and shared their advice and knowledge about succeeding in college.