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Congrats UFC College Grads!

We want to shout out our incredible college graduates! Each of these young people have worked incredibly hard to graduate from college and we couldn’t be more proud of our kids.

Your achievements inspire us every day and we are so proud of ...

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Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 By UFC

Introducing our Hero of the Month, Franco Vega! Over two decades ago, Franco kickstarted his journey by teaching transition-age foster youth and establishing an employment haven for recovering addicts and the homeless.

In 2011, he founded The RightWay Foundation, a game-changing program tackling trauma and job hurdles for foster youth through mental health services and job readiness …

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 By UFC

In December, our holiday gift drive achieved remarkable success! Every one of our youth received gifts on their wish list. This was made possible thanks to the generous contributions from a diverse group of supporters. We extend our gratitude to Full Picture, whose assistance secured a shoutout from Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara and tapped …

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 By UFC

Karen’s journey with United Friends began a decade ago when she was fourteen. Her involvement in the Youth Ambassador Program has been more than just a role—it’s been her way of connecting with and contributing to a community that has grown to be a significant part of her life.

Karen, thank you for being such a …

Thursday, December 14th, 2023 By UFC

Meet Laila!

For over 7 years, since her middle school days, Laila has been an integral part of the UFC family. Her passion lies in advocating for foster youth and sharing her own journey to inspire others. As a Youth Ambassador, Laila offers vital insights and a personal perspective on the challenges and triumphs of transitioning …

Monday, November 27th, 2023 By UFC

Meet Benji! Born and raised in Los Angeles, Benji is a proud alum of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Sociology. Now, he’s making waves in Public Relations at The Walt Disney Studios.

As a participant in UFC’s Youth Ambassador Program, Benji represents us at special events and on social media, passionately speaking about his …

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 By UFC

In her senior year of high school, Tiona’s determination shines bright. Despite her family’s move mid-semester, disrupting her four-year connection with friends and dreams of joining the basketball team, Tiona remains undeterred. The hurdles she faces around transportation issues momentarily dimmed her “A/B” brilliance, but Tiona’s resolve never falters.

Collaborating with her counselor, she is crafting …

Monday, August 7th, 2023 By UFC

While in high school, Sherrie felt defeated because she saw many of her classmates transitioning into their dream universities. Not academically eligible for a university, she decided to take the transfer path. Demonstrating persistence at Los Angeles Southwest Community College, Sherrie became a competitive applicant for UCLA.

The transition to UCLA proved challenging as she had …

Saturday, July 1st, 2023 By UFC

(left to right) Mackenzie Orr – Community Manager, Olivia Dickerson – Advocacy Counselor, Ebony Harris, Jasmine Griffis – Director of Housing

Ebony is a go-getter. There is no other way to describe her. She knows what she wants to achieve and doesn’t let anything get in her way. Ebony entered Pathways in 2021. She was a …

Saturday, July 1st, 2023 By UFC

Meet our Hero of the Month: Eric Jones! Eric realized he related to many of the challenges foster youth face daily when his friend Carla introduced him to the foster care space. Since then, Eric has been diligently working with UFC to provide youth with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in their transition …

Thursday, June 1st, 2023 By UFC

Meet our Hero of the Month, Alex Caruso! 🌟⁠ As an inaugural member of our United Friends NextGen Board since 2019, Alex has made a lasting impact in the foster care space through philanthropy and civic engagement.⁠ By day, Alex is an attorney at Cox, Castle and Nicholson, and his expertise in commercial development and …