Foster Progress

 🥳YCAP Students Celebrate the End of the Semester at NIU! Our amazing YCAP (Youth in Care Peer Advocacy Program) students at Northern Illinois University wrapped up the semester with a holiday dinner full of laughter, delicious food, and good company. This special evening was all about celebrating their achievements and looking forward to the next chapter. 🎉 We’re so proud of these students for their hard work and resilience this semester. Here’s to more milestones and memories in the coming year! #YCAP #HolidayCelebration #FosterProgress #StudentSuccess

🎓 Mentorship Matters: Unlocking Potential, Transforming Futures 💡 At Foster Progress, we know the power of a strong mentor-student relationship. For youth in foster care, having someone to guide, inspire, and believe in them can mean the difference between dropping out and walking across the stage with a diploma. 🔑 Mentors help our students: ✅ Navigate college applications ✅ Build confidence ✅ Stay on track academically ✅ Dream big and reach higher Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and we need your help to continue providing life-changing mentorship for our students. Your support fuels their success and creates opportunities where there once were none. 💙 Donate tomorrow and make a direct impact on the lives of youth in foster care. Together, we can change the story. 💙 📅 Mark your calendar and join us: https://lnkd.in/euQfKCA #FosterProgress #GivingTuesday #MentorshipMatters #EducationForAll

🚀 Calling all foster youth interested in adventuring and exploring their dreams! 🚀 Join Foster Progress as we prepare once again to Traverse to exotic South America. 🌎 We invite young people ages from 15-20 who have experienced foster care for an unforgettable trip to Columbia this Spring! 🌈 Travel abroad, become immersed in a new culture, do something meaningful by engaging in a service project - all while building connections and making new friends. Rachel, Traverse program coordinator is an experienced traveler and LCSW. She will lead this incredible exploration as Foster Progress students head just north of the Amazon! 🤝 Who’s it for? Youth currently or formerly in foster care (priority given to those from ages 17-19) 🗓️ When? May 21-28, 2025 ✨ Why? Because YOU deserve to see the beauty that the world beholds Seats are limited, so don’t wait—secure your spot today! Visit: https://lnkd.in/g6sMYz3 Explore incredible destinations with Traverse—whether you're thinking about college or if you're simply open to new opportunities! The world is your oyster 🌠

🚎 College Road Trip Recap: Northern Illinois University Edition! 😊 This week, we hit the road with a group of amazing students to explore NIU! From walking the campus to hearing directly from college staff and current students, the experience was truly eye-opening. For many of the young people we serve, stepping foot on a college campus helps turn a distant dream into an achievable goal. It’s about more than just seeing classrooms and dorms—it’s about imagining themselves thriving there. These road trips open doors and minds, empowering foster youth to see that higher education is within their reach. A HUGE thank you to NIU for Hosting ✨ And to Devon our Y-CAP peer advocate for sharing his story. STAY TUNED - To learn more about Devon's incredible college journey 🙌 #CollegeBound #HigherEdOpportunities #FosterProgress #GivingTuesday

This month we will be sharing the stories of the 3% of people who have accomplished what so few can: achieving a college degree after experiencing foster care. Follow along and join us in celebrating their accomplishments. Help us to change this statistic by donating to our year end campaign here: https://lnkd.in/ghEc353t At Foster Progress, we start with the assumption that youth in foster care are capable of reaching their dreams if they have high-quality support. It is our goal to inspire youth transitioning out of care with a long-term vision of their future and help them put the pieces in place to make their dreams a reality.

🎉A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended and supported Bags and Brews on November 2nd! 🎉 Together, we raised an amazing $8,900 to help youth currently or formerly in foster care as they begin their journey into adulthood. Special thanks to those who participated virtually through the raffle—your support from afar means the world to us! We couldn’t have done this without our incredible sponsors: FIRST Chicago Bank, Northern Trust, Board Secretary Cristina Ortega, and Short Fuse Brewing Company. Your generosity and partnership make a lasting impact. Thank you all for being part of this journey! #BagsAndBrews #FosterProgress #YouthInCare

READY, Set, Throw! Bags & Brews is TOMORROW! Join us at Short Fuse Brewing Company and help support foster youth in their journey to higher education. Grab your last-minute tickets NOW and don’t miss out on the fun, great food, and amazing brews. Plus, don’t forget to get your $25 raffle tickets for a chance to win some awesome prizes! https://lnkd.in/gPwbfYhG Don’t have your tickets yet? It’s not too late! You can still purchase your tickets at the door or online to support an incredible cause. Link in comments A huge THANK YOU to our amazing sponsors Northern Trust, First Bank, Short Fuse Brewing and a special shoutout to Cristina Ortega for helping us connect with these incredible partners. We couldn’t do this without your support! See you tomorrow!

🎃 Happy Halloween from Foster Progress! 🎃 Wishing everyone a fun and safe holiday! This time of year, we're reminded of the smiles and joy that something as simple as a Halloween goodie bag can bring to our students. For many, it's more than just candy – it’s a small act of kindness that shows them they are cared for and supported. Thank you to everyone who helps make moments like this possible. Thank you to all of our volunteers, mentors, partners and donors. YOU make this possible, and we are so grateful 🤗✨ #HappyHalloween #FosterProgress #youthempowerment

🎉🎟️ Bags & Brews - $25 Raffle Tickets - NOW AVAILABLE! 🎟️🎉 Whether you can join us at Bags & Brews this Saturday or not, you can still support Foster Progress AND win BIG by entering the raffle. Tickets are just $25 for a chance to win some amazing prizes. Don't miss out—grab your tickets and show your support for foster youth! (need not be present to win) Purchase Raffle Tickets: https://lnkd.in/gPwbfYhG 🏆 Plus, 1 Door Prize Winner! 🏆 Come in your favorite college gear for the event, and you'll automatically be entered into our special door prize drawing! Whether it’s a sweatshirt, hat, or jersey, show off your school pride and you could win big just by showing up. Raffle Winners will be announced this Saturday - November 2nd, at 4:30pm 🎟️ Tickets available now! https://lnkd.in/gKd-ZVqq Let’s come together to support these incredible young people, while having a blast. #BagsAndBrews #RaffleTime #SupportFosterYouth #FosterProgress

🎃🎃Shoutout to Northern Trust for your generous support in making this year’s Halloween Goodie Bag Packing Event a success! Your commitment to giving back helps us bring joy to foster youth, reminding them they’re not alone in their journey. Thank you for lighting up their path to a brighter tomorrow! 🤩 #FosterProgress #NorthernTrustCares #HalloweenGoodieBags