About
Foster Love
About Foster Love: Empowering Foster Youth and Creating Lasting Change
Foster Love is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults and former foster youth. Our vision is to improve the lives of children in foster care, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public. We collaborate with individuals, companies, and community partners to bring resources to foster youth and use service-learning activities to educate volunteers on issues surrounding the foster care system.
Foster Love works with hundreds of foster agencies, social workers, CASA advocates, and other partners to bring our programs to foster youth across the nation. Our foundation has allowed us to provide thousands of foster youth across the country with new bicycles, college supplies, and sweet cases so that children do not have to travel from home to home with their belongings in a trash bag.
How We Started
In 2008, Foster Love (formerly known as Together We Rise) was founded by Danny Mendoza after he discovered that his 9 year-old cousin, Roger, was living in a car. He wanted to help but ran into obstacles because he was under the age of 21. Danny became disheartened after he was denied the ability to help his cousin and youth in similar situations.
Instead of giving up, Danny decided there needed to be ways to help children in foster care without becoming a foster parent. After telling others about his vision, he was inspired by encouragement from friends and colleagues to use his ambition to help others and start a new organization. Danny's vision became a reality as Foster Love grew, now a nation-wide organization changing the way youth experience foster care.
Who We Are
Foster Love is comprised of humanitarians, advocates, artists, and visionaries who are committed to changing the world for the better. Our team of passionate volunteers, interns, and staff continue to transform the lives of children in foster care. We believe that children in foster care deserve dignity, respect, and support.
Gianna
Executive DirectorBoard of Directors
Stephanie Baeza, Brandon Myers, Kim Moore, Christopher Mekdara, David Mendoza, Danny Mendoza
Awards and Accolades
How We Make a Difference
The foster care system can be a confusing and sometimes disheartening place, but through our fundraising and network of passionate volunteers, we strive to give children in foster care a brighter future, a sense of normalcy and belonging. We have multiple programs and volunteer opportunities so each individual or group can select the right fit for them.
Our main programs are Sweet Cases, Building Bikes, Build A Board, Birthday Boxes, Superhero Boxes and our Family Fellowship, which is the largest college scholarship available for youth aging out of the foster care program. But with the help of our passionate volunteers and the support of our generous donors, we strive to give each child in foster care a brighter future.
Want to Get Involved?
Learn about different ways you can make a change in the way children experience foster care.
Learn More2023 Giving Map
Donations that Directly Impact Your Community
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Get Involved With Foster Love?
The foster care system touches every part of our society. When you look at any social issue, whether it is fighting poverty, homelessness, sex trafficking, the school-to-prison pipeline, educational inequality, children who've experienced foster care are represented in those groups in outstanding numbers.
Foster Love is a leader in foster care innovation. Together with the community, we advocate for children in care lifting their voices and coming up with solutions for the problems they face. When you get involved with Foster Love, you are part of the solution, bringing value resources to children who need it most.
Where Does My Donation Go?
Donations and funds raised are used to support essential programs which are distributed to children in foster care through our foster agency partners.
How Much Of My Donation Goes Towards Helping Children In Foster Care?
92% of all donations go directly towards the sponsored program. Foster Love is committed to ensuring that your support is directly reaching children in foster care nationwide. For more insight on our financials, please review our financial documents.
Why Should I Donate Towards A Foster Love Program?
There are plenty of ways you can help children in foster care. Donating towards a Foster Love service project or program is a direct way you can bring hope and solve an immediate need.
Still Have Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding Foster Love and any of our programs. Our team is available to address your submissions within 1-2 business days. If you need immediate assistance, please call us directly at (714)-784-6760.
