What You Can Do
“While we cannot undo the past, helping youth who experienced foster care connect with a community of caring volunteers and providing the resources they need to attend college and graduate ready to enter the workforce will go a long way towards moving them from foster care to an adulthood filled with options and opportunities.” – Eileen McCaffrey.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS. Perception is everything… what do you think about youth who have been in foster care? Please take an eight question survey; your answers will help OFA develop volunteer information sessions and workshops for young people. CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
DONATE. Ninety-one cents of every dollar donated to OFA goes directly to support student programs.
- Sponsored Scholarship Program – With a donation to this program you can help fund a foster youth’s post-secondary education. Students are awarded $2,500-$7,500 based on unmet need. With a donation of $2,500 or more, you can name a scholarship after your family, company or a loved one; you will receive periodic updates from “your” student(s) and you may fund the same student(s) through graduation. Smaller contributions are combined to provide scholarships and book money. 100% of funds designated to this program go directly to student aid.
- Red Scarf Fund – Contributions to the Red Scarf Fund help students in emergency situations. This fund has helped students with everything from replacing broken glasses, bald tires and stolen textbooks to buying winter coats, paying for emergency dental and medical care and even, sadly, for funerals. Imagine what emergency might arise for your own child away at college. Foster youth face the same situations but without a safety net.
- General Donation – Donations benefit OFA students in many ways, underwriting care packages, internships, mentoring and coaching.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT… VOLUNTEER!
Foster Care to Success™ is a national movement to prioritize education and employment opportunities for foster youth across the country. Each year OFA works with nearly 4,000 young people who are college-bound or have a few semesters under their belt. Together we can help these students succeed academically and graduate prepared to enter the workforce. By virtue of being in foster care, most are navigating young adulthood on their own – without the support their peers receive from family and community. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. OFA’s volunteers and scholarship sponsors make a difference in a young person’s life.
Help fill Care Packages for OFA students away at school. We rely upon individuals, organizations, businesses and charitable organizations to donate new and wanted items to fill boxes each school year with necessities, toiletries and small gifts for students who rarely receive personal mail.
Become an Academic Coach. Listen to, encourage and guide a student in college student. Coaches come from all walks of life and professions; they must be at least 25 years old, complete a background check and participate in online training. OFA supports its coaches so they can support young people.
InternAmerica helps OFA students gain real world experience on the job. In this tough economy an internship is more than a resume builder. InternAmerica DC places students in prestigious, competitive internships in the nation’s capitol; other students throughout the US receive InternAmerica services to help them find and succeed in internships. Please help us fully develop this program nationwide.
Contact Lynn Davis, OFA Director of Partnership Development, to learn how your organization can participate.
