How often do you do laundry? What type of laundry detergent do you prefer (liquid, powder, or pods)?
What seemed like a few simple questions about laundry for Juanita resulted in her becoming the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship sweepstake from Tide & Downy. With Foster Success’s support, she’s turning that scholarship into a stepping stone toward achieving her goals and building a successful future.
“As a first-generation college student, receiving this scholarship has been a significant help in easing the financial burden posed by my education. It has given me the motivation to achieve in my academic journey.”
Juanita first heard about Foster Success through her college advisor, who mentioned the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. “I had to reach for a lot of mentorship. I worked really hard to get where I am currently.” she said. As a college freshman at Purdue Northwest with 16 credits already under her belt, the program has helped her make strides towards pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity. Now, as she’s working to reach her education goals, she’s eager to gain practical knowledge to help her transition into the “real world.”
From how to buy a car to investing her scholarship money into a Roth IRA account, Juanita is learning how to navigate adulthood through Foster Success programs. Data from our 2023-2024 Impact Report found that 77% of young people who participated in our Financial Empowerment programs believe they manage their finances well. But for Juanita, it’s not all practical knowledge. She’s developing her passions and voice through one-on-one meetings with her ETV mentor and becoming a member of the Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB).
“I feel like a lot of foster kids growing up didn’t have much of a voice, but the IYAB meetings really give me and others a voice and the opportunity to say how [we] feel.”
Beyond obtaining a job in data security and building her own startup, Juanita aims to utilize the confidence and resources she’s cultivating to empower youth with an interest in cybersecurity. “[Foster Success] has really helped me want to pursue my field, as well as being able to mentor other students once I get in a certain position in my field,” she explained. Until then, she looks forward to taking a class in forensics at Purdue Northwest and starting Foster Success’s Workforce Readiness program.
Juanita is just one of the many young adults you are supporting on their journey. Your support not only sustains vital programs, but empowers older foster youth like Juanita to reach their full potential.
“Foster Success gives me a space to connect with peers who might have shared experiences as me or who just need that support from the staff, as well as other individuals [older foster youth.]”
Our annual FriendsGiving campaign directly supports young people like Juanita to ensure they have the resources and support to thrive. Invest in their future by contributing to our FriendsGiving campaign today.