My Nonprofit Reviews

For many years Ticket to Dream has been a valued partner to our organization - providing financial and in-kind supports that help us ensure our foster youth have every possible opportunity to thrive to their full potential. While there are countless ways I could share about the tremendous impact they make, the one I share below continues to be uniquely special.

In late November of 2021, a sibling group of seven children, ranging in age from 4 years old to 14 years old came into the care of our Foster Care program. Those of us in field know that keeping sibling groups together is always best for the youth. But it can be challenging and a sibling group of seven even more so. The dedicated and passionate social workers in our program were able to identify a Foster Mother they felt would be the perfect match - only she had "retired" from being a foster parent in the past year and there was uncertainty if she would have the resources needed to welcome seven children. Knowing we were still in the throws of the pandemic added more concern.

In a moment of perfection, it was at this same time that Ticket to Dream granted us funding to support our foster youth during the end of year holidays. Acting quickly, my team who normally holds a behind the scenes role, chose to forgo our holiday party - opting instead to secure everything the foster mom and seven siblings would need.

Thanks to the immense generosity of Ticket to Dream we were able to purchase bunk beds and bedding, bath towels and laundry baskets, clothing and jackets, pajamas and underwear, socks and shoes, holiday gifts and school supplies, cookware and serving utensils, cleaning products and essentials for sanitization, and so much more.

Ticket to Dream made it possible so that when the sibling group came to the Foster Mother's home each of them had their own unique space complete with everything they needed so they felt welcomed, safe, and cared about. Ticket to Dream made it possible for our Foster Mother to focus all of her energy and attention on providing loving care and support to the children by removing any concerns about her ability to prepare meals and meet basic needs.

While it may sound at surface level like these physical items were the impact made - the reality, as we know in foster care, is the impact was so much more than that. In fulfilling the eldest daughter's holiday list her top wish was to stay close to/not forget members of her birth family. With the funding we received we were able to purchase a polaroid camera, film, and string lights with clips on them. After receiving the camera her Foster Mother shared what a powerful source of healing and hope that was for her - as she was able to surround herself with pictures that she excitedly shared with her Foster Mother, helping them build a strong connection of understanding and trust.

Children thrive best when they are connected to adults who provide nurturing care. As I stated in the beginning this is only one story of how Ticket to Dream is transforming lives and futures. But it's a truly moving example of how in working together we can provide the best possible care for foster youth and we couldn't be more grateful.