Dear Fostering Connections Supporters,
I hope you and your family are having a great start to 2022 and are staying healthy. Many of our supporters have been impacted by COVID-19 this month. If you have been impacted by COVID-19, I hope you have a smooth recovery and feel better soon!
We started 2022 with a name change from Fostering Connections St. Johns to Fostering Connections to reflect that we now serve children and youth impacted by foster care or trauma in several Northeast Florida counties. In 2022, we expanded our reach to Duval County! We now serve St. Johns, Duval, Putnam, Flagler, and Volusia Counties. We are excited to build and grow our partnerships in all of the counties we serve.
On January 2, we were able to host our Foster Friends 5K & Fun Run. The race which was originally scheduled for November 6, but had to be rescheduled due to the Nor'easter storm. We had 227 participants sign up for our inaugural race! Although not all of our participants who signed up were able to join us due to the race being rescheduled, those who were able to participate had a great time. Over $6,000 was raised to provide needed essentials for children and young adults impacted by foster care or trauma! Read a full recap in our attached newsletter.
We have added some new members to our Board of Directors in 2022. They each have a passion for our mission and bring their gifts and talents to share with Fostering Connections. Meet them in this month's newsletter!
Fostering Connections has big plans for 2022! Plans are being made to launch our expanded 2022 programming in the spring and continue to grow our community partnerships. Our annual fundraisers, Night of the Arts and Foster Friends 5K, have new venues and opportunities to give support. Stay tuned for more information in our next newsletter.
Our focus for 2022 is to bring opportunities and fun to our children and youth impacted by foster care or trauma. The past two years have been difficult for them with the trauma and abuse they have experienced and dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic challenges. This year, we want all of the children and young adults we serve to gain new opportunities through our programs, feel connected to the community, and to have fun being a child.
I invite you to join us in our work bringing opportunities and fun to children and youth impacted by foster care or trauma. Become a Foster Friends Monthly Donor and invest in our youth year round. Sponsor one of our annual fundraisers. Host a fundraiser for Fostering Connections. Serve as a Board Member or Advisory Council member. Become a volunteer. There is something for everyone to help uplift children impacted by foster care or trauma. Working together, we can help all of the children and youth we serve have new opportunities and fun this year!
Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to connecting with you soon!
Kind Regards,
Aubrie Simpson-Gotham
Founder & CEO