Foster Care Agency to Honor Former Foster Kids at Gala on Nov. 15

ALPHARETTA – Connections Homes, an Alpharetta-based non-profit that connects young adults who have aged out of foster care with mentoring families, will honor young Georgians who have aged out of the state’s foster care system at its 11th annual gala Nov. 15 at the Hyatt Perimeter Villa Christina.

The Thanksgiving Dinner and Gala is a benefit dedicated to raising funds to assist the more than 700 youth who age out of the state’s foster care system each year. It hopes to raise $150,000 to help some of these youth in the upcoming year.

Several youths who aged out of foster care shared their inspiring stories at the gala, highlighting what programs like Connections Homes have done to provide mentors and encouragement to help them stay focused on becoming successful.

“Our youth have incredible stories of resilience, determination, and success to tell. They are beating the odds and not succumbing to homelessness and poverty like so many of those who aged out of foster care,” said Pam Parish, founder and CEO of Connections Homes. “These young people are living proof of what can happen to any former foster child if they have a positive influence in their lives – an adult who can influence them and help them make positive choices.”

Parish said most former foster kids come from extremely challenging backgrounds, and they lack the love, structure, and support needed to grow up with a healthy outlook on life.

Each year, Connections Homes helps to pair some of those who age out of foster care with mentors to keep this forgotten population from making poor choices that lead to homelessness, crime, prostitution, poverty, and addiction.

In North Georgia, Connections Homes partners with hundreds of churches, such as North Point Church in Alpharetta and Victory Church in Norcross, to recruit mentors for young adults who age out of foster care. The mentors guide them in a host of ways including having the youth visit their homes or take them out for meals and offer them advice on life challenges – just as a parent would.

Connections Homes is working to help these youth in a host of ways, including participating in the new Foster Care Tax Credit, which raises funds so former foster kids can attend college or technical school with costs such as transportation, room, and board covered.

Due to the burden of survival, with the cost of everything from rent to groceries being high, the vast majority of former foster kids find it difficult to earn enough to care for their basic needs. This causes most youth to put aside their dreams of obtaining a secondary education or skilled trade so they can find a good-paying job.

The November 15 gala promises to be an evening of inspiration, celebration, and community support. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of transformation and resilience while contributing to a cause that is changing lives across Georgia. Proceeds from the gala will help connect more mentors and youth who age out of foster care to stop the cycle of poverty and the repetition of children who wind up in foster care.

For more information about Connections Homes or to purchase tickets for the Nov. 15 gala visit: https://connectionshomes.org/.