Friends of the Children Announces Expansion in Five Cities

Evidence-based mentoring model to be featured in public television documentary "Visionaries"

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Oct 24, 2017, 10:32 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends of the Children, whose successful model of providing the most vulnerable children with long-term, salaried, professional mentors from kindergarten through high school graduation, announced today it will award $2.4 million to open chapters in four new cities, and expand in one existing site.

The announcement—which includes new chapters in Austin, TX; Central Oregon; Charlotte, NC; and Los Angeles, CA; and an expansion in Boston—is due in large part to the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a federal matching grant opportunity.

"We are thrilled to announce this expansion at such a critical moment," said Terri Sorensen, president of Friends of the Children, a national organization based in Portland, OR. "We know that our children have a lot stacked against them. They are at greater risk for dropping out of school, substance abuse, incarceration and teen parenting. Research has shown that the most important factor for building resiliency in children facing the highest risks is a long-term, consistent relationship with a caring adult. We can now provide that to hundreds more children."

Friends of the Children's evidence-based model works: 93 percent of youth avoid involvement in the juvenile justice system, 83 percent graduate from high school, and 98 percent avoid early parenting.

"I've seen firsthand how much Friends of the Children improves lives for vulnerable children in Oregon," U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said. "I'm thrilled to see its innovative and life-changing model expanding across the country to have even more impact on those kids who need it most."

Friends of the Children employs and trains full-time, salaried, professional mentors, who they call "Friends," who spend a minimum of 3-4 hours every week with each of their children, teaching valuable life skills, instilling positive behaviors and helping them grow into responsible adults. The Harvard Business School Association of Oregon return on investment study found that for every $1 invested in Friends of the Children, the community benefits more than $7 in saved social costs. Helping one child saves the community $900,000.

Moving mentoring out of the volunteer realm ensures the quality, consistency, and commitment needed to break the cycle of poverty for the most vulnerable youth. Each Friend works with 8-11 youth as their full-time job.

"Friends of the Children has a proven track record of changing the life-trajectories of youth facing the toughest challenges and CNCS is thrilled to support the expansion of this high-impact work to serve more young people across the country," said Lois Nembhard, Senior Advisor to the CEO at Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The expansion is due in large part to generous support from many national and local funders, including the following: Thrive Foundation for Youth, a division of King Philanthropies; Ballmer Group; and Russell Wilson and Ciara's Why Not You Foundation.

The official announcement will take place in Washington, D.C. today at the AT&T Forum for Technology, Entertainment and Policy and will include a screening of the public television documentary "Visionaries," with a 2018 season episode featuring Friends of the Children, which was sponsored by Portland-based Cambia Health Foundation. The screening will be followed by a short panel discussion with Friends of the Children founder Duncan Campbell, MENTOR chief executive officer David Shapiro, and others.

Please read the full announcement here.

CONTACT
Melanie Fonder Kaye
[email protected]
503.281.6633

SOURCE Friends of the Children