Empowering Youth with Professional Mentorship

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Friends of the Children is dedicated to transforming the lives of youth facing significant obstacles through our unique, long-term professional mentoring program. For over 30 years, we have matched paid, professional mentors - called Friends - with children to provide unwavering one-on-one support from kindergarten through high school graduation for 12+ years, no matter what. Our model is proven, courageous, and designed to create sustained and nurturing relationships that empower youth to overcome challenges and achieve their hopes and dreams.

Discover the Transformative Power of Mentorship:

  • Proven Impact: Our program has revolutionized youth mentoring with a focus on long-term support, resulting in measurable positive outcomes.
  • Dedicated Mentors: Each child is paired with a dedicated, professional mentor who provides one-on-one support from kindergarten through high school graduation.
  • Empowering Relationships: Our mentors listen to youth, empower goal-setting, and create meaningful experiences to develop life skills and make healthy choices.

Be A Champion for Children

Sign up for our email list to stay connected and learn how you can empower youth with big dreams who also face obstacles like foster care, poverty, housing insecurity, and more. Together, we can impact generational change through the power of mentorship.

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OUR METHOD

We select children who face multiple systemic obstacles. We amplify their voices as they write their own stories of hope and resilience.


OUR MODEL

We commit to each child for the long-term.
12+ years, no matter what.
Each child is paired with a paid professional mentor called a Friend.

OUR OUTCOMES

3 Es

92% of youth go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country or enter the workforce.

Graduation

83% of youth earn a high school diploma or a GED.

Juvenile Justice

93% of youth remain free from juvenile justice system involvement.

Parenting

98% of youth wait to parent until after their teen years.

Every child deserves to feel loved and supported. Our nonprofit vision is that one day, every child who needs a Friend has one.