Honoring the spirit of giving has long been a Thanksgiving tradition, and there’s no better time of year to find ways in which you can make a difference in the lives of others. No matter how small or large your contribution may be, it truly does help, especially when you donate to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation.
For nearly four decades, our foundation has worked diligently to help Arizona children living in foster care. By expanding their access to education, enrichment activities, everyday necessities, and even long-term career opportunities, we have proudly made an impact on countless children across our state – but we haven’t achieved that alone.
It’s all thanks to the generosity of individuals like you, who support our mission with charitable donations for Thanksgiving and year-round. Donations of all sizes and types allow the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation to continue in our efforts to improve the lives of children in foster care, as well as strengthen their chances for a better and brighter future.
Are you ready to focus on Arizona children in need during the season of giving? Here’s how your donation to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation can change young lives for the better.
Become a Force for Good in the Foster Community
For so many individuals, there is a concern that their financial contribution is not “enough” to make a difference – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. At the Arizona Friends of Foster Children, we are dedicated to putting every single dollar to work for the children we support. Whether you can only afford a small donation or can provide a large financial contribution, you are playing an important role in the life of a child in foster care.
If you’re wondering exactly what your donation can do, here are a few examples:
- A $50 donation can purchase theme park admission for a child, providing them with a joyful, carefree experience that they may otherwise never have
- A $100 donation can purchase life-changing items for children with special needs in foster care, such as a weighted vest for anxiety reduction
- A $200 donation can make sure that a child in foster care has proper clothing, as well as supplemental items such as books
- A $500 donation can allow a child to enroll in tutoring for vital academic support or an extracurricular activity to boost their confidence
- A $1,000 donation funds six months of services for a Keys to Success participant, an AFFCF program that aids children that are aging out of the foster care system
Interested in learning more about where your donation goes when you contribute to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation? Here’s more information about some of our most impactful programs and efforts in the community.
Keys to Success
Oftentimes, when people think about foster care, they imagine babies, toddlers, and young children. However, there is a massive number of teens in the foster care system as well, and they face unique challenges as they begin the transition to adulthood.
Every year, hundreds of young people “age out” of the system, leaving them to fend for themselves with virtually no family or resources. Our Keys to Success program was created to help youth in foster care make this transition as successfully as possible, helping them unearth their true potential and find their path to a life they love.
Contributions to Keys to Success directly support program goals and services, such as:
- Helping youth between the ages of 16 to 21 prepare for and secure employment
- Working with young people in foster care to pinpoint their career goals, then identify the education or training needed to pursue their dreams
- Providing skill-building for both personal and independent living skills
- Connecting youth with partnering organizations that can support them with further resources and services
In addition to contributing financially, you can also become a Keys to Success partner or refer a young person that you believe will be a good fit.
Post-Secondary Scholarships
Children and teens in foster care are far more likely to struggle as adults, due in part to the challenges they face when it comes to post-secondary education. The AFFCF Post-Secondary Scholarship program facilitates financial aid for young people that have aged out of foster care, helping provide a path to a community college or university education and long-term success.
Contributions to AFFCF are used to fund tuition and other expenses for participants in the scholarship program, supporting students in achieving their goal of graduation.
The Bobby Ed Penson Fund
For so many young people in foster care, secondary education seems completely out of reach. Because a considerable number of youths that “age out” will encounter major obstacles in their pursuit of education, their dreams are so often derailed.
That’s why the AFFCF, with help from Bob and Mary Ann Penson, launched the Bobby Ed Penson Fund. Specifically set up for post-secondary students (who were in foster care at age 18) dealing with unexpected challenges to their education goals, the fund offers assistance for automotive repairs, books, school deposits, vocational fees, and more. It is through community donations that the AFFCF can continue distributing vital funds year after year.
You Can Support the AFFCF Mission with a Tax-CREDIT Contribution
Did you know that the state of Arizona has an Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit program, which may qualify you to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit for your donation? For many Arizona families, this makes a financial contribution to AFFCF an even easier decision to make.
Individual filers are allowed a credit of up to $500, while joint filers receive a maximum of $1,000. Because Arizona tax laws provide the option of credits for charitable donations, choosing a cause that is close to your heart to donate to has never been easier. Additionally, the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation has been awarded a 4-star charity rating from Charity Navigator (as well as additional recognition for transparency and cost-efficacy), so you can be confident that your contribution will go to excellent use.
Partner with AFFCF to Improve the Lives of Arizona Children in Foster Care Today
There’s no question that the children in Arizona foster care need us more than ever, especially as the number of children in the system continues to grow. At the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, we hope that we will be able to continue our important work, increasing our reach until we’ve touched the lives of all foster children, both present and future.
But we can’t do it without the generous support of people like you. This Thanksgiving season, we ask that you think of the children and young adults in foster care and that you consider donating to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children. No contribution goes unappreciated, and every dollar makes a difference.
Learn more about our mission and how you can be a part of our journey to improve the lives of children in foster care by becoming a contributor today.
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