Fostering Youth Independence (FYI) celebrated its fourth anniversary with a livestream event Thursday.
FYI held an online celebration for its donors, volunteers and students during their fourth anniversary.
FYI is a local non-profit that enlists adults who team up with foster youth to become a parental support system, known as “allies.”
“The allies are the heart of our program. We believe foster youth need an adult, someone the youth can rely on,” said Carolyn Olsen, executive director and co-founder of FYI.
Nearly 50 FYI allies were present for the fourth-anniversary celebration, with a handful of FYI students from the program as well.
One student named Shania shared their story of how the FYI program turned things around for them, after losing their mother and living with an abusive father.
“…eventually the police had gotten caught up with my father and (taken to) prison,” Shania said. “After that my siblings and I were split up into different foster homes for a period of a year and I had missed dearly because they were my comfort… our grandparents took us all in and provided us with a home and a stable environment.”
Shania felt that their direction in life changed when they began to pursue a degree at College of the Canyons.
“I had met at a conference (sic) a counselor at the time and she had stated at (FYI) ‘we have a program that’s here to help and we can provide you with support and loving and caring allies that will help you nurture yourself and become a better you’ pretty much,” Shania said, “I was kind of doubtful because of all of the experiences that I had been through in my life.”
After joining FYI and being paired with an Ally, Shania transferred from College of the Canyons to UC Irvine, and has since graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees.
Rainie Cuomo, an Ally in the FYI program, had this to say:
“A lot of time it’s really hard for young people who have not had the benefit of having healthy relationships with trust for the adults either, and as an ally I have learned that whatever the response, I just needed to keep showing up, especially when it was really needed. And over time that effort can help break down some of those walls and barriers… (While) challenging at times, it has also been very rewarding to be a part of her support system,” Cuomo said. “FYI staff not only support our youth but they also really support and encourage the allies as well- a resource to me at the same time… it’s truly been a tremendous partnership. I am thrilled to anticipate my student walking across that stage and receiving her first college degree…”
Olsen ended the celebratory video call by thanking the Allies and donors, all those who have made FYI possible in the past four years.
“As we celebrate this milestone of our fourth birthday, I feel very blessed and inspired by each one of you and to all of you who joined us this evening, thank you for the difference you have made,” Olsen added. “Please continue to support FYI as a volunteer or a donor or both. Anyways to get involved and I would love to discuss opportunities with you, if you have ideas for a new program please get in touch with us, you are part of our family and we welcome your input.”
For more information on the FYI program, visit their site.
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