Hope And A Future Inc

Each year over 800 children "age out" of the system when they turn 18. According to statistics, one out of five will become homeless, one out of four become incarcerated, 67% will drop out of high school and only 3% will ever graduate from college. The goal of life 360 is to change these statistics and provide hope to these children that reside in the foster care system. Through this mentoring program, foster children focus on basic skills like money management, household management, planning for college, job skills, and personal health. The program provides clothing, cash assistance, and help with various basic needs along with training that foster children need in order to provide a pathway of success in their chosen careers. (see schedule o)in addition, transitional living support is provided for former foster children who have aged out. Support includes housing deposits, rent, utilities, cell phone service, and transportation support. A condominium and house were also purchased to add to the inventory of temporary housing available for those in need. This year, 544 foster children and 211 volunteers participated in the life 360 program. The estimated value of volunteer time for the life 360 program exceeds $350,000.

The annual christmas celebration is a festive gathering for our children and their loved ones, including arts, crafts and presents for young and old, available to children who have attended our programs, their foster families and our volunteers. Children and their families receive a meal and gifts, including clothing as part of the event.this year, approximately 700 volunteers, foster children and families participated in the christmas program and over 3,500 gifts were distributed to arizona foster children.

Hope & a future provides a scholarship program for a graduating foster children. Scholarships are provided for tuition and books, and other basic needs including housing assistance, food, bus passes and cash assistance in order to attend college or acquire vocational assistance. Additionally, children receive on-going mentoring in their chosen career path to help ensure success.through the arizona blue ribbon, foster families are allowed to bring their foster children and other family members to events during the year at no cost to the family. This year, 5000 foster parents, familes and children attended various sporting events, including az diamondbacks and rattler games. At the events, children receive food.grants were also paid to other organizations that support foster youth and those that have aged out.

Through the arizona blue ribbon, foster families are allowed to bring their foster children and other family members to events during the year at no cost to the family. This year, approximately 5,000 foster parents, foster families and foster children attended arizona rattler's and arizona diamondback's game. At the blue ribbon events, children receive food and gifts.