Wonder: A "first" for kids in foster care

As a result of your continued support, we are excited to share additional progress and positive outcomes with you. Since August, you have helped us to provide: 2 matches with a “first” experience in the arts, sports, music, or nature; 2 matches with a meaningful outing of their choice; and an additional $1,075 for ongoing support of our program and helping meet our vision that no child goes through foster care alone.

Since our last update, we had 40 mentoring matches attend a weekend trip to a camp where they were able to see a frog for the first time, brave the waters and kayak in a beautiful valley setting, run and play with other children in foster care, learn how to do archery, and sing and cuddle around the campfire with their new-found friends, all while surrounded by caring, supportive adults.

In addition, we just completed and matched 20 more children in foster care with an adult mentor. For the first time ever, we were able to match every child on our wait list for the Fall class! We now have more referrals of children coming in to the program and are hoping to match each of them as well when we hold another training class in early Spring 2011. We have our 2011 activity calendar ready to go and hope that you will continue to support us in helping our children thrive and have the opportunity to experience childhood “firsts” while matched with a caring, consistent adult mentor. We want to leave you with some quotes, or “Wonder Moments” as we call them, of the real-life experiences that your support is helping to provide…

One mentor (Guide) wrote about her first outing in the community with her mentee (Explorer): “…we went to Chili’s for dinner – ‘John’s’ first time in a restaurant – at least that he can remember. He ate a chili-cheese fries appetizer, a giant hamburger and a fudge brownie sundae. The food server and the people at the next table were amazed…”

One Guide wrote: “Camp Wonder was wonderful! ~ Kayaked, archery, swimming, basketball, horseshoes, laughed, sang, danced, and met lots of new friends. Returned home happy, content and full of lots of wonderful camp memories. She (Explorer) drew me a picture on the way home that said it all ‘BFF – Best Friends Forever! ~ Lisa (Guide) rocks.”

After 3 months of being matched with his mentor, one Explorer said to his Guide: “You are the best person I have.”