🌟 Meet our Heroes of the Month: @Dan Schimpke and @Christi Schimpke 🌟
For nearly four decades, Dan and his wife, Christi, have been active members of the West Los Angeles community through their family-owned business, @Beverly Coachcraft and @CRASH Jewelry. As longtime neighbors, they’ve witnessed both the growth and the challenges faced by youth in …
At the start of the month, we hosted a pop-up shop experience for youth in our Pathways housing program, with donated goods from our incredible partners at La La Land Kind Café!
Youth “shopped” for free, picking out clothing, shoes, home essentials, and more. Huge thanks to the staff, volunteers, youth, and La La Land Kind …
In March, Matt Strieker and our Director of Education Francisco Zamudio headed to Sacramento for Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.
They joined a coalition of organizations working to close the education gap for foster youth, and met with legislators to push for the resources and support young people in care deserve.
Real change takes more than …
Meet our Hero of the Month: Rita Soronen! 💙💫
For more than 30 years, Rita has worked tirelessly on behalf of vulnerable youth. As the president and CEO of the @dtfa, her leadership has helped more than 14,000 children in foster care find permanent, loving homes through Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®.
But Rita’s impact goes even further. She …
A #CollegeWithCare gift helped Sherrie turn setbacks into a stepping stone. đź’™
In high school, Sherrie felt defeated watching her classmates head to their dream universities while she wasn’t academically eligible. But she didn’t give up. She chose the transfer path and poured her energy into Los Angeles Southwest College, where she became a competitive applicant …
Over the past month, @Oracle welcomed United Friends youth for not one, but two incredible career workshops, and we’re so grateful! 💼✨
Our youth left feeling inspired and empowered after learning how to strengthen their resumes, explore internship opportunities, and gain insight into real-world applications and career paths.
These workshops offered more than just practical tools. They …
In 2020, Emmanuel joined United Friends’ Pathways program with a determination to rewrite his story. After experiencing homelessness and navigating challenges throughout his childhood, he found the support he needed to turn things around! Completing probation, re-enrolling in school, and working toward a brighter future.
Today, Emmanuel’s optimism drives him forward. He is saving, working, and …
This March, we proudly recognize Dr. Charity Chandler-Cole as our Hero of the Month for her unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and opportunity for foster youth.
As the CEO of CASA of Los Angeles (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Dr. Charity is a fierce advocate for systemic change, working to reshape policies that impact vulnerable communities. She …
From the moment Sabrina joined our Scholars program in July 2017, her passion and determination shone through.
In just three years, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, then took on the challenge of a Master’s in Public Policy at UCLA—navigating dual enrollment, the pandemic, and even imposter syndrome along the way. Through it all, …
Heroes of the Month: Mikol and Danielle Jelks!
This month, we’re thrilled to honor the Jelks family as our Heroes of the Month! Their story began at the Pathways Transitional Housing program, where they met on the very last day of orientation. What started as a bond over poetry and music blossomed into a deep …