We believe all youth deserve a childhood filled with normalcy, opportunity, and hope. Founder Reema Slagle has worked and volunteered with children in foster care and homeless shelters for years. As a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), she advocates for the best interests of children in foster care that have experienced neglect or abuse. She makes recommendations to the courts for their placement, well-being, and any services they need.

What happens when a child would love to participate in soccer, but CPS funds are tapped out? Or when a teenager needs to take a driver’s education course to obtain their license, but they don’t have the funds? Or when a former foster kid is attending college but doesn’t have the means to cover their dorm? Many don’t realize the real obstacles these youth experience just trying to better their lives. We believe everyone deserves an opportunity for higher education and the chance to participate in extracurricular activities to build a brighter future. Recognizing the needs and circumstances of foster and unhoused youth is critical to achieving equity. This is why we connect with caring people to provide resources and opportunities that make a difference.

Stats

• Approximately 20% of foster youth become homeless when they age out of care at eighteen years old.

  (The National Foster Youth Institute)

• 50% of the overall homeless population have spent time in foster care.

  (The National Foster Youth Institute)

• Approximately 29% to 64% of former foster youth enroll in college or postsecondary programs, but only about 8%-12% complete a degree by their mid-20’s.

  (Okpych, N. J., “Secondary and Postsecondary Education Outcomes of Students with Experience in Foster Care: Systematic Review of the Literature From 2000-2023.” Sage Journals, 2023. journals.sagepub.com)

• Homeless children participate in sports at significantly lower rates than their housed peers. Low-income and housing unstable children face higher barriers, with one study finding only 31% of children below the poverty line participate.

  (Black, L.I., Terlizzi, E.P., Vahratian, A., “Organized Sports Participation Among Children Aged 6-17 Years: United States.” National Center for Health Statistics, 2020. www.cdc.gov)

• In a study of former foster youth that reported participating in extracurricular activities in high school, 80% finished high school or completed some college at the time of of their emancipation.

  (Merdinger, J.M., Hines, A.M., Osterling, K.L., Wyatt, P., “Pathways to College for Former Foster Youth: Understanding Factors That Contribute to Educational Success.” JSTOR, 2005. www.jstor.org.)

• In Texas over 40,000 children entered services in the 2025 fiscal year.

  (DFPS Data Book)

• Approximately 90% of foster children arrive at their new homes with their belongings in trash bags.