Auxiliary's 2024 - 2025 National Project
A PROGRAM OF SUPPORT
MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL AUXILIARY PRESIDENT:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
While foster care is often referred to as one of "America's dirty little secrets," it's an issue that is deeply personal to my family. In addition to our five biological children - Rebekah, Hanna, Jessica, Mikayla, and David - Chris and I were blessed to adopt our bonus daughter, Samantha, through foster care.
My sister, too, is part of the foster care journey. Saundra has one biological son, Chase, in addition to her two bonus children, Landon and Brayleigh, who joined her family through kinship foster care.
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Between our two families, there are nine children - a full one-third of them joined our families through the foster care system. The impact of foster care on our family is profound. Although the journey has come with challenges, the blessings have far outweighed them. Chris and I never expected to become foster parents when we planned our life together - but foster care found us, and we are immensely grateful for the opportunity.
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Each child has a very different foster care story. Samantha came to us at age 12 and was adopted after nearly four years in care. Landon was placed with my sister at just one year old, while his sister, Brayleigh, was placed with her immediately after birth. Despite their different entry points into the system, their experiences echo common themes shared by foster children across the country: emergency placements, arriving with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and enduring deep trauma.
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CHILDREN CURRENTLY IN FOSTER CARE IN THE U.S.
400,000+
MORE THAN 90%
OF THESE CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE TRAUMA.
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ONLY 44%
OF CHILDREN WILL REUNITE WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES.
THE AVERAGE AGE OF A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE IS
7-8 YEARS OLD
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What can you do?
You don't have to be a foster parent to make a difference.
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You Can:
- Support foster families in your community
- Advocate fir systemic change
- Volunteer your time or skills
- Spread awareness
- Donate to organizations making a difference
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AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE THE POWER TO LIFT UP FOSTER FAMILIES AND CREATE REAL CHANGE.
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50% OF FOSTER FAMILIES
STOP FOSTERING WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR,
LARGELY DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT
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OVER 18,000 YOUTH AGE OUT
OF THE SYSTEM ANNUALLY AT 18, OFTEN WITHOUT THE EMOTIONAL OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT OTHER YOUNG ADULTS RECEIVE FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
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NEGLECT
IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON CHILDREN ARE PLACED INTO CARE.
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Our Humanitarian Project: Bananas Foster
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Supporting foster families is why I've chosen Bananas Foster as our Humanitarian Project. Bananas Foster is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of Banana Ball. committed to bringing families together by celebrating the foster care community, while educating and inspiring others to get involved.
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"We believe that by celebrating, creating a positive impact, and spreading joy throughout the foster care community, we will inspire other to get involved and make a difference. Imagine the feeling of knowing your actions are contributing to a larger cause." - Bananas Foster
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Bananas Foster is "Committed to helping the whole foster care community. Advocating for everyone involved, Bananas Foster celebrates those already making a difference while inviting other to get involved so we can help make this world a better place" -Emily Cole
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