With the help of The Foundling, Venessa completed college, moved into a beautiful home, and has begun her transition into adulthood.
Venessa joined our Fostering College Success Initiative program, which provides academic, emotional, vocational, and financial support for young people in foster care. With the support of Foundling tutors, counselors, and coaches, she successfully earned her BA degree in Psychology, with the goal of giving back by working in the social work field.
“The program allowed me to be in school without worrying about where money was going to come from. I had a tutor, and I had a coach, someone who was there when I called to help me deal with life’s challenges,” Venessa says.
After completing her degree, Venessa was unsure how she could find or afford a place to live as she prepared for her future. Through our Supportive Housing program, which recently opened new units in Harlem, she now has a safe, comfortable, and secure home, along with wrap-around supports that have given her the stability to pursue her future.
“As a youth in foster care, you never know where you’ll end up or how you’ll end up. But now, with [The Foundling’s] support, I have a safe space to lay my head,” she shares.
Supporting young people on their own paths to independence has been at the core of The Foundling’s mission since 1869. Your gift can make a big difference to our community and to young adults like Venessa. This year, your support can create life-changing opportunities for the young people in our shared community.
