To our valued member’s and individual and business donors we thank you sincerely. Your donations and volunteer efforts have truly made a difference in the lives of many.

During 2009 we have reached over 60 Napa County foster children's special needs with expenses of over $17,248, and increase of 84% over expenses in 2008. To read some eamples from social workers as to the benefits of the Foster Kids Fund, scroll down to read them.

Our Impact & Testimonials

Darcy Taylor, Social Worker

"As a social worker it is heart breaking to witness the abuse and neglect that children have suffered, yet is also amazing to witness the resiliency that these children have to survive. The FKF has enabled these children not only to survive their current situations, but also thrive.  The FKF allows children to heal emotionally, physically, developmentally, and psychologically by allowing them to participate in activities that are therapeutic and healing. The FKF also allow foster children to be exposed and experience activities that their peers not in foster care experience.

A brother (10 years old) and sister (9 years old) have had a significant trauma history with years of chronic neglect and deprivation from basic needs.  Evidence based research shows that children that have suffered from trauma and abuse also have a delay in areas of brain development.  The research has proven that sensory motor activities such as movement and music classes like gymnastics provide a therapeutic healing for trauma, but also help to heal parts of brain development that have not developed due to the abuse.  The FKF has allowed for this brother and sister to participate in gymnastics at a local gym on a weekly basis.

Through the FKF a 17 year-old boy was able to participate in a summer camp program that taught him about assembling a computer, computer programs, and graphic designs.  This youth was able to work with the program to assemble his own computer and he also was able to keep a computer.  The FKF has enable youth to purse their dreams and goals and also to participate in activities that their peers participate in. 

A 17 year old girl who was going to start her senior year at a new school.  Prior to the school year beginning, her previous foster parent shaved her head due to lice.  This youth was extremely self-conscious about how she looked for school to start and for senior pictures.  Through the FKF this girl was able to obtain hair extensions.  After she had her extensions the youth’s entire disposition changed and she began her senior year more confident and excited.

Shaunna Murtha, Social Worker

"The FKF has provided critical funding to enable the foster child and foster parent to have the supplies necessary to care for the child as well as help “normalize” the lives of foster youth. Many foster youth are unable to participate in afternoon activities (dance classes, karate, sports leagues) because there is no systemic (CWS) funding for these activities. Because this they miss out on developing leadership skills, experiencing new academic endeavors such as traveling with the debate team or choir, participating as a team member and surrounding themselves with opportunities that colleges look for in their applicants. Frequently I have utilized my own funds to cover some of these costs-however this becomes prohibitive at a certain point. The FKF is in invaluable resource in the lives of foster youth, foster parents, and social workers.

Two of my Cases:

"A sixteen year old girl desperately wanted to join her dance squad at a highly competitive dance competition and conference. It is a competition and conference lead by some of the premier pop/R&B dancers in the world. The dancers/instructors include those who have danced as part of Jennifer Lopez’s, Puff Daddy’s, Shakira’s dance troupes. I requested funding to enable this youth to participate in this elite competition.

This is a youth who has a severe and chronic medical conditions that will likely lead to her death by the time she reaches her mid-20s. She is surrounded by the trauma that brought her into foster care, the trauma of her chronic and myriad of medical issues and to be able to provide this youth the opportunity to be a “normal” teenager was an extremely wonderful and generous gift. The foster parent was unable to fund this additional cost as she was busy paying for the cost of transportation to/from San Francisco for specialized medical treatment multiple times a month, in addition to the other costs of raising a teenage girl. The foster parent stated “It was amazing to see this girl laugh and smile when I told her she could go. She thought she was going to be the only one from her squad unable to attend.”

"I had a two year old female who was abandoned by both her mother and father in the US (the parents left the child in the US and went to Mexico ). This little lady needed to graduate from her crib to a “big girl bed.” She was growing too big for her crib and had figured out how to climb out of her crib, but had not yet figured out how to land safely on the floor. The foster parent was caring for other toddlers and there were no available “big girl beds.” The cost was prohibitive for the foster parent, and this little girl was feeling left out and not like a “big girl” because all the other kids had moved out of their cribs. The foster mother worried constantly about how this was impacting the child. The foster mother had enough bedding for this child and just needed the actual bed frame and mattress. Once the foster mother obtained the bed she said “I can sleep again.” The FKF assistance enhanced the foster youth’s life by allowing her in participating in “normal” developmental milestones, being able to safely get in and out of her bed and relieved the foster mother of a great deal of worry and angst."

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Foster Kids Fund

Making a Difference for Children--You can make one too!

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