Did you know that less than half of Los Angeles County foster youth graduate from high school, and only a small fraction go on to earn a college degree? At United Friends of the Children, we have continued to beat these statistics, with 90% of our seniors graduating high school and 70% of our seniors earning a bachelor’s degree.

This year, we proudly celebrated our 4th Annual Graduation Ceremony, honoring the hard work, resilience, and achievements of graduates across our Pathways Housing and Education programs. The ceremony recognized youth who graduated from high school, college, trade school, and certificate programs, marking an important milestone in their educational journeys and future success.

The celebration was filled with joy, connection, and community. Guests enjoyed music from a DJ, a photo booth, a bloom bar where youth could create their own bouquets, and a sundae bar to make the day even sweeter.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Anastasia Soare for her generous support in making this event possible. Anastasia’s commitment to the academic success of our youth is truly inspiring, and we are proud to have her ongoing support as we continue celebrating the dedication, perseverance, and bright futures of our graduates.