Dear Fostering Connections Friends and Supporters,
I hope you and your family enjoyed a restful Labor Day weekend. For those with school-age children, I hope your children have had a wonderful start to the 2024-2025 school year.
I’m thrilled to share a moving testimonial from one of our recent graduates of the Jacksonville Career Readiness Academy: “I learned from Career Readiness Academy how to prepare yourself for a job, what you can do after high school, and the steps needed to move forward in life. Thank you, Career Readiness Academy, for this experience. I hope to see you again in the future.”
We also received a touching testimonial from a parent: “My son enjoyed the program. It’s helped him build his confidence and prepare for college/vocational training. He enjoyed learning about the programs offered at FSCJ.” This kind of feedback is a powerful reminder of the profound impact your support has on the lives of the youth and families we serve. Your contributions are crucial in making our programs successful and impactful.
As we dive into fall programming, I'm pleased to report that our Foster/Adoptive Family Meet Ups are thriving. Our August event at The Playful Family welcomed 22 kids and 9 caregivers—thanks to all who attended and to our dedicated volunteers. Our September Meet Up at Myrtle Ave Brewing is fully booked, but we still need additional volunteers for future events. Please check out our newsletter for more details on how you can get involved and make a difference.
We also had a fantastic Teen Talk in August, featuring a surf lesson from St. Augustine Surf School at St. Augustine Beach, with 5 teens participating. A heartfelt thank you to St. Augustine Surf School and all our volunteers for their support. Our next Teen Talk is set for October 12 at Fellow Earthlings Rage Room in DeLand, and we are looking for volunteer chaperones to help make this event a success.
We are excited to announce that Fostering Connections is sponsoring a Greater Jacksonville Florida Youth Shine chapter. Join us for a Student Interest Meeting on Saturday, September 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the University Park Library.
This fall, we have several upcoming microevents to raise funds and awareness for Fostering Connections:
September 14: Kendra Scott Gives Back- 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Kendra Scott St. Johns Town Center and online.
September 27-29: The Big Dill Pickleball Classic at Treaty Park, hosted by the St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary.
October 12: Harvest Festival and Wandering Block Party on Main St. in Jacksonville's Springfield neighborhood, hosted by Project May Day.
November 23: Holly Jolly Shopping Spree from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in uptown St. Augustine.
Please read more in our newsletter about how you can support these events and our ongoing volunteer needs. Your support—whether through donations, sharing your talents, or volunteering—makes a significant impact. Thank you for your continued commitment and partnership.
Warm Regards,
Aubrie Simpson-Gotham
Founder & CEO, Fostering Connections
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