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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
(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 …
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 …
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 …
Joanna, a junior in high school, had been open about her struggles with anxiety and finding fulfilling hobbies. During our one-on-one sessions, she mentioned her interest in learning a new instrument and trying rock climbing. However, Joanna lacked the confidence to take that first step. In response, I began introducing self-care concepts as a way …
Meet our Hero of the Month Laura! She is a therapeutic mentor and foster parent who inspires others to help their community by fostering, volunteering, and supporting local non-profit organizations. Through online videos and one-on-one support, she offers practical guidance on becoming a foster parent, trauma-informed parenting, and navigating foster care situations. With her incredible …
Andrew started college Fall 2021 at Cal State University Northridge. He was nervous about enrolling in in-person classes due to having experienced his last years of high school online. He decided to enroll in all online classes and give himself time to integrate into in-person classes. Soon after, he was disappointed that college was not …