See Us Now Students Lead National "Blue Out" to Spotlight Foster Children and Missing Youth

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- To bring national awareness to the plight of hundreds of thousands of foster children and the critical shortage of safe, consistent housing, the students of See Us Now (SUN) are hosting a National Blue Out on September 25, during National Missing and Trafficked Foster Children Awareness Week.  This important awareness week was established by See Us Now in response to the alarming statistics: a majority of trafficked children come from foster care.

On September 25, cities across the nation — from Los Angeles to Miami — will shine blue in solidarity and a coordinated national effort to expose a shocking statistic most Americans don't know: more than 20,000 foster children go missing every year, and research shows the majority of trafficked children have foster care backgrounds.

In addition, See Us Now has partnered with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Miranda family to host a Hamilton Sing-Along for foster children and youth in Tampa.  Alexander Hamilton, himself an orphan, rose to greatness with the support of his community.  Over 500 guests, all dressed in blue, are expected to attend this joyful, music-filled event, which highlights resilience, hope, and the importance of strong community support for vulnerable youth.  Community leaders, as well as SUN students, will discuss the need for more safe and consistent foster housing and its impact on the lives of children.

To participate in the Blue Out, businesses and individuals are encouraged to wear blue, decorate their storefronts, and share pics online to show their support for foster children and raise awareness about this urgent issue.

CALL TO ACTION:

• Wear blue on September 25
• Decorate homes and businesses with blue lights or ribbons
• Post messages of solidarity and awareness online using event hashtags #seeusnow #blueout
• Join the 'Where are you Tonight?  Pie Challenge!'
• To accept the challenge, declaring on camera the following:                                 
  "Hi, I'm … (your name)!  I'm joining the 'Where are you Tonight?  Pie Challenge' in honor of the hundreds of thousands of foster children who don't know where they will be tonight. I'm in … (your location or city) and ready to take a pie in the face to show my support!  I challenge … (name three people to do the same!) #whererutonight #seeusnow."

"As a former news reporter, I invite fellow news anchors and on-air reporters to wear blue next Thursday. Together, we can shine a light on the thousands of foster children who are often overlooked — and work toward a future where every child has a safe and supportive home," said Kari Wagner, SUN Co-Founder.

About See Us Now (SUN)
See Us Now is a student-led initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of foster children and advocating for systemic change to protect vulnerable youth. By raising awareness, hosting national events, and building community partnerships, SUN works to ensure that foster children are no longer invisible but seen, supported, and safe.

See Us Now in action video

Website: www.seeusnowusa.org 

Contact: Nancy Mallory, Mallory PR
Phone: 916-718-3755
Email: [email protected]  

SOURCE See Us Now