StandUp for Kids – Orange County
This is an exciting time at StandUp for Kids as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary. While the organization has evolved over the years, our mission has remained consistent: to end the cycle of youth homelessness, one life at a time. Thank you to our wonderful board, staff, interns, volunteers, donors and community partners whose dedicated work improves the lives of our youth and also prepares them for a better future. We appreciate every single gift and act of kindness.
Our 2019 Impact
During 2019, we served over 400 youth providing nearly 10,000 instances of support. We were able to provide housing to 85 youth and maintained an 85% success rate moving our youth from crisis into stable housing and self-sufficiency. We began new preventive programming in several cities providing both high school and college students who were experiencing homelessness the support they needed to be successful in school and graduate.
We provided trauma-informed care, leadership training and coaching for staff, as well as extensive leadership and employment training for five youth graduates who interned with us through our Project LEEVE Program. We launched our first ever advocacy task force to fight for system changes on the county, state and federal level so that every youth is counted, has a voice and a safe place to call home.
Our youth face many obstacles and show great courage in meeting challenges. Some were brave enough to share their stories throughout the year (read them here). Because of your support together we’re able to give homeless youth hope, a safe place to live and caring connections in the community.
Moving Forward in 2020
At such an important time in the history of StandUp for Kids, we are committed to continuing to be a driving force in ending the cycle of youth homelessness in our community. With this in mind and with your continued support we are focused on three areas of growth for 2020: Programming, Advocacy and Fundraising.
From a Programming standpoint we seek to serve 33% more youth than last year. To achieve this, we will be expanding our street and community outreach efforts to the city of Costa Mesa, expanding our high school mentoring program to the Irvine Union School District and continuing to increase our collaborative partnerships throughout the county. From an Advocacy standpoint we seek to reach three additional partnerships to include government officials, celebrities and online influencers to not only support our mission, but to also help us at a national level by creating awareness and advocate for change. From a Fundraising standpoint we seek to add an annual event, continue to strengthen our grant process and gain additional corporate and individual donor support.
We’re very excited for the promise that 2020 holds for the organization locally and nationally. Our 30th year will be a celebration of where we came from and what we’ve done, as well as a launch point to greater reach and impact so that we can do what we do best. That is to support at-risk and homeless youth, the most vulnerable people in our country, helping them build a brighter future that will help our communities as a whole prosper. And none of this is possible without you! Please continue to work alongside the staff at StandUp for Kids and together we’ll make the change we want to see.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Justine Palmore
Executive Director