Friends of the Children Increases Presence With Third Chapter in Texas, 43rd Chapter Nationally

(Dallas | September 16, 2025) - Today, Friends of the Children (Friends), the country’s leading professional mentoring organization, announced its expansion in Texas with the launch of its third chapter in the state and 43rd chapter nationally: Friends of the Children - Dallas.

“Since 2017, Friends of the Children has worked to support Texas children and their families most in need of our long-term professional mentoring intervention. The tremendous success we’ve seen in our Austin and Houston chapters has generated excitement around the state” said Nancy Pollard, Executive Director of Friends of the Children - Texas. “As we expand to our third chapter in the state, we are eager to serve Dallas youth and their families with the life-changing support that professional mentoring can offer. We are ready to help more children not only survive but thrive.”

Friends of the Children’s entry into Texas began in Austin in 2017 after a group of community families raised more than $1.7 million to launch the chapter. Friends of the Children - Austin (Friends - Austin) launched in part to help address the alarmingly high rates of foster care reentry in the city and state. In 2019, Friends - Austin partnered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to pilot an innovative model of pairing youth exiting foster care and reunifying with their families with long-term, professional mentors. The pilot has achieved remarkable outcomes, including a zero percent foster care reentry rate in five years, compared to a typical national rate of nearly 40 percent and a rate of 50 percent in the state of Texas.

With the support of Olympic gold medalist and Friends of the Children ambassador Simone Biles, Friends launched Friends of the Children - Houston in 2023, as its second Texas location and with the same focus on serving children most at risk of entry into the foster care system

Inspired by commitment to children most at risk of entering foster care, the Dallas community has responded enthusiastically to bring the proven model to the area. Friends of the Children - Dallas will begin its first enrollment of children ages 4-6 who are at high risk of entering or re-entering foster care in Fall 2025. In its first year, the chapter will serve at least 16 children and their caregivers, working in partnership with Dallas ISD, Vogel Alcove, and Family Compass to identify eligible youth. A founding Board of Directors, along with an advisory council, both made up of respected community leaders, will guide the chapter’s development and local engagement.

The launch of Friends of the Children - Dallas signals a deeper commitment to Texas and the need for Friends’ model to address important issues facing Texas families. Friends - Dallas has been made possible through a bipartisan coalition of supporters including Judge Clay Jenkins as well as philanthropic partners including Margot Perot, Communities Foundation of Texas, and WoodNext Foundation.

The founding executive director of Friends - Dallas is Sharon Carson, a nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of experience in driving initiatives that create meaningful community impact. Prior to joining Friends - Dallas, Carson served in roles with Dallas-based institutions including Forest Forward, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Wilkinson Center and the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Under her leadership, she innovated fundraising efforts, advanced partnership development, strengthened organizational capacity and further enhanced stakeholder engagement. In addition to her nonprofit work, Carson also serves on the board of the MacMillian Institute.

“Our growth to three sites in Texas reflects the strength of our work and the evidence of the efficacy of our professional mentoring model,” said Terri Sorensen, CEO of Friends of the Children. “For more than 30 years, we’ve seen firsthand how long-term, professional mentoring transforms lives and uplifts communities. Now, with the launch of Friends - Dallas, we are able to reach more families and deepen our commitment to the children and families who need it most.”

Friends - Dallas, alongside the other chapters in Texas, will work toward prevention of entry into the child welfare system as a key outcome for the chapter’s long-and-short-term work.

For more information about Friends of the Children, please visit: friendsofthechildren.org

About Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by empowering youth who face the greatest obstacles. Through long-term, salaried, professional mentoring—12+ years, no matter what—we create lasting impact for children and families. The model emphasizes a 12+ year commitment that allows Friends to build deep, trusting relationships with program participants that empower them to build life skills and create generational change. Operating in 43 locations across the country, our innovative model has earned national recognition and been featured in The New York Times, Associated Press, People.com, CNN, USA Today and The L.A. Times. Visit friendsofthechildren.org to learn more, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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