There are an estimated 12 million former foster youth in the United States today.* And every year another 50,000 or so age-out of the system. More than 50% of them wind up homeless or in a life of drugs, prostitution, and other crimes just to survive. Others simply survive a life barely above desperation. The Understanding Homeless Youth Project estimates that there are 1.6 – 1.7 million youth between the ages of 12-17 homeless in the U.S.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Many survivors of difficult childhoods (like myself) have carved out good and decent lives for themselves. It’s not that the successful survivors are smarter, luckier, or better looking. And it’s certainly not that they have won the lottery. There are specific, identifiable, and measurable skills that they’ve used to survive and to thrive. And those skills can be learned and developed.
The Successful Survivors Foundation is a new non-profit organization created to collaborate with child welfare organizations and schools throughout the country to provide the work ethic and character building training and mentoring that former foster youth need to acquire the qualities necessary for success in life.
With your help we can change the disheartening statistics in a very short period of time. An investment in the life of a young adult now will produce a self-supporting citizen in just a few short years.
Please check back on our website as we plan to post our success stories as they happen for you to witness the benefits of your generous support.
You can support Successful Survivors Foundation today by your one-time or recurring donation here.
