Celebrating Graduating Foster Youth With Gifts, Celebrations and Scholarships

Speak Up for Kids ANNUAL FLOURISHING FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP

WINNERS

Benefitting graduating youth in foster care & community youth advocates of STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids

$1,000 AWARDEES

Youth in Foster Care

2023 Graduate
Jupiter Christian School
Pursuing Palm Beach State College with the goal to become a physician’s assistant
“[SUFK] has helped me to know and truly realize that I have people that go out of their way to support me and that I have people, such as my GAL, that are willing to advocate for me in order to make me as successful as possible.”
Sophia Mills

2023 Graduate
Boca Raton Community High School
Community Youth Volunteer, STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids
Pursuing a degree in government at Harvard University with the goal to earn a law degree to better influence global and national law and policy.
“My SSUFK experience is significant because it allowed me to learn about a real issue, connect with countless leaders who advocate for foster children in my community, and use that knowledge to enact change. Growing in this organization helped me find what I want to do in the future and allowed me to have a meaningful high school experience.”

$500 HONOREES

Youth in Foster Care

2023 Graduate
Royal Palm Beach HS
Pursuing the dental field
“I’m thankful for this opportunity…I want to be someone and show my family that I can do it.”
Youth In Foster Care

2023 Graduate
Park Vista High School
Pursuing HVAC, welding with a goal for law school
“I would always commit to the job at task and protect and serve not only ones I love but the people in the world.”
Joseph Brown

2023 Graduate
Glade Central Community High School
Community Youth Volunteer, STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids
Pursuing a business degree with the goal of starting a non-profit to support youth and those experiencing homelessness
“[SUFK] helped me to embrace my inner self and be able to communicate… and allowed me to open up to my team of helpers to find my gift and use it.”
Jordie Lauer

2023 Graduate
Suncoast High School
SchoolCommunity Youth Volunteer, STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids
Pursuing entrepreneurship and a business degree at the University of Florida
“SSUFK has given me leadership experience, gratitude, and best of all a strong community of people looking to help those around them!”
Lily Mushlin

2023 Graduate
West Boca Community High School
SchoolCommunity Youth Volunteer, STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids
Pursuing business degree from University of Maryland
“[SUFK] has helped me to learn that there is a way that everyone can help others, even in the simplest of ways. This experience has also helped me by teaching me how rewarding it is to help others, especially children.”
Rose-Berthe Pierre-Louis

2023 Graduate
Atlantic Community High School
School Community Youth Volunteer, STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids
Pursuing a biological sciences major at FSU with the goal to open an office as a licensed optometrist
“By learning about [SUFK] I have become more community oriented and open minded…I realized that you could have fun while doing community service and that just putting your mind to doing something could help those around you and that there were a lot of people willing to help.”
Anden Toale

2023 Graduate
Wellington High School
School Community Youth Volunteer, STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids
Pursing passion for music and a degree in computer science with the goal of working in major tech
“[SUFK] helped me simply through allowing me to create [Music Buddies] that has helped out so many other foster children and helped them find a passion in music.”

TO SUPPORT MORE STUDENTS & CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DONATE TO THEIR FUTURES

GRADUATION IS A MILESTONE!

ONLY HALF OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL

Less than 3% graduate from college, due to insufficient support, lack of appropriate guidance, and unmet financial needs.

“Only half of youth in foster care earn a high school diploma, compared to 91 percent of all students nationwide. Only 15 percent of foster youth attend postsecondary institutions, with only about three percent completing college due to insufficient support, lack of appropriate guidance, and unmet financial needs.”

Source: National CASA/GAL Association for Children

Our “FLOURISHING FUTURES” fund SUPPORTS + CELEBRATES our Foster Care Graduates with:

Graduation Celebrations

Whether it’s a GED, diploma, degree completion, or certificate, we celebrate with and for our kids.
Scholarships

The support systems inherent to traditional family structures aren’t in place for the children we serve. These scholarships help bridge the gap and make ‘next steps’ more attainable. LEARN MORE
Gifts for Grads

We rally the community to full swag bags with gift cards and personalized items for our GRADS