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Dear {{MediaContactFirstName}},
Please attend the informal discussions with Amber Valletta, Patricia Heaton, and foster youth on June 8 at Hillsides in Pasadena. We trust that this open discussion will humanize some of the shocking statistics and provide important information about emancipated foster youth in our community.
Hillsides, the Pasadena-based residential and community treatment center for troubled children, was dedicated on May 25, 2006. Come on June 8 and learn from Amber and Patricia's discussions just how vital such services are to children who have been "aged out" of the foster child system. Eighteen-year-old children are not ready to live independently and successfully with no lifelines.
Please rsvp to sarah@ballantinespr.com if you plan to attend.
Be sure to contact me at 310 570 7355 if you require more information.
All the best,
Sarah
June 8
10:00 - 11:30 am
Hillsides
650 North Oakland
Pasadena, CA 91101
More details:
Supporting THP+ for California's Emancipating Foster Youth:
A Compilation of Statistics
See Associated Press story by Paul Chavez, http://asap.ap.org/stories/594582.s.
Send Letter in Support of California Senate Bill 1576 to Governor Schwartzenegger.
See earlier press release below.
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HOME OF THE BRAVE
Every year thousands of children are emancipated or, to use a more appropriate term, 'aged out' from Los Angeles County's foster care system. Turned out into a harsh, unforgiving world with little money and less hope, they are forced to fend for themselves for the first time in their lives. It's a daunting prospect. But now, thanks to the new Youth Moving On program instigated by Hillsides, the Pasadena-based residential and community treatment center for troubled children, help is finally at hand. Established in 1913, Hillsides has worked for more than 90 years designing, "educational programs that compensate for the emotional and learning challenges faced by abused children."
National studies show that as many as 40% of foster youth experience homelessness within three years of being aged out from care. Only 10% of these are able to hold a job for more than a year. In addition they are twice as likely to be incarcerated while pregnancy and suicide also present very real problems.
Recognizing a need to help those children, "who have serious emotional and mental health issues stemming from severe childhood physical and sexual abuse, parental drug abuse and multiple failed foster placements," Youth Moving On provides aged out foster youth "the opportunity to become self-sufficient, responsible and caring adults by offering quality housing and providing a comprehensive goal-directed program in a supportive community."
In May, Hillsides is opening a 49-unit gated apartment complex at 650 North Oakland in a quiet residential neighborhood in Pasadena. Ten of the apartments will be used to house 20 transitioning youth. Another apartment will be for the resident advisor, a full time employee of Youth Moving On, who will be on hand to help the aged out youths. The remaining 38 studio apartments will be rented to individuals from the community at fair market rates and thus generate income to help sustain the program.
To help cover the program's start-up costs, Youth Moving On has established a $7.1m capital campaign. This target was given a tremendous boost by the Pacific Palisades based Everychild Foundation whose $715,000 donation was effectively the down payment on the apartment complex and the "lead gift that helped launch the project."
Everychild Foundation's generous contribution was the latest from the organization that has "reinvented woman's philanthropy." Since its inception in 1999, its members have deliberately avoided costly fundraising projects and instead pooled their dues to make a single gift towards a chosen local children's project each year. Elected 'Outstanding Private Foundation of Los Angeles' by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Everychild Foundation was "born out of the belief that there is a group of women in Los Angeles who together can award grants to make a serious difference in the lives of children in need."
 On May 25th, actress and Everychild Foundation member Amber Valetta (Hitch/Transporter 2), who has a long-standing and deep commitment to helping under privileged children, will be participating in the official opening of Hillsides' transitional living apartment complex in Pasadena. After extensive remodeling, the apartments will be ready to accommodate the first group of aged out children. It's a significant day for all those who have worked so hard to make this much-needed facility a reality. But for those children who will be moving in, it's finally a chance to have their very own home.
http://www.everychildfoundation.org
http://www.Hillsides.org
For more information, contact:
Sarah Robarts
sarah@ballantinespr.com
Tel: 310 454 3080
Cell: 310 570 7355
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