By Torri, Missouri State University My freshman year of college was a pretty stressful time as I balanced school and finding a job that fit my class schedule. I received my first care package around Valentine’s Day, which was the perfect time because I really needed a pick me up. There were chocolates, which I […]
Blog In Their Own Words
A Connection to Strangers
By Josh, Syracuse University When I sit and think on it, I still well up with emotion as I remember every care package I received from Orphan Foundation of America (OFA). Each package included a combination of items that somehow met all my needs as a college student. The first thing I would usually notice […]
Birthday and Christmas All in One
James, University of South Carolina In 2006, while attending Georgia Military College, I was accepted into the Orphan Foundation of America Scholarship Program (now called Foster Care to Success). I was so thrilled to receive the acceptance letter because I knew the scholarship would be an enormous help. Not only was I awarded the scholarship […]
More than Just an Energy Boost!
By Lacresha, Frostburg State University Imagine moving into your dorm for the first time; you are not sure what to expect and how to make new friends. Your foster parent helps you bring in your belongings and wishes you luck. As you are unloading your luggage alone, your roommate and her family enter the room. […]
Meeting a Red Scarf Project Volunteer in Person by Whitney Emke
My name is Whitney Emke. I was an Orphan’s Foundation of America/Foster Care to Success recipient from August 2008 to June 2012. About a year ago, I moved from my hometown of Randolph, New York to Brandon, Vermont to accept a job in Middlebury, Vermont. I found a wonderful, rewarding job as a Behavior Interventionist […]
A Foster Student Tells His Success Story
Jonathan Valerio graduated from George Washington High School in New York this spring. Not only did he get his degree, he also was a commencement speaker, which is a big honor. In the fall, Jonathan will be attending the New Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY). Foster Care to Success is […]
Semester at Sea Adventure by Molly Sobol
Right now I am sailing on the MV Explorer on my way from Ghana to Morocco, I have spent this semester circumnavigating the globe on the Semester at Sea, Spring 2013 voyage, thanks to the generous support of Foster Care to Success. In the last four months I have had the opportunity to spend time […]
“I’ll Survive”
Alisha Adkins is a former foster youth survivor. She wrote the poem below while she was in 10th grade struggling to overcome what she described as a “horrible home life”. At the time, the only adult who listened to her and mentored her was her English teacher, who encouraged her to write her feelings down […]
We Cannot Fail
Ever wonder what it feels like to be a young person who has aged out of the foster care system and is struggling to put themselves through college? We received an astounding letter from one of our students, Michael from Ohio, detailing just this. He forwarded it to us after sending it to his county […]
Always Looking Up
One of our ETV students, Alex, has traveled to Borneo to participate in a program sponsored by Miami University of Ohio and the Cincinnati Zoo. And guess what? He’s keeping a blog about his adventures. His major is primatology with a minor in global sustainability and conservation. He will be studying several species that are […]
