On January 12th,  New Yorkers For Children hosted the Health Care Network to Success event at Lenox Hill Hospital, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, featuring a diverse panel of professionals from the health care industry. The purpose of Network to Success is to empower young people to start thinking about their careers. Nearly 100 young people in foster care listened as the panelists shared their experiences and inspired the young people to pursue their interests.

On December 13th, Tory Burch and New Yorkers For Children hosted an evening of cocktails at the Tory Burch Madison Avenue flagship to benefit youth in foster care in New York City. Hosts included Allison Aston, Marisa Brown, Alina Cho, Cristina Cuomo, Natalia Echavarria, Tinsley Mercer Mortimer, and Hilary Rhoda. Twenty percent of proceeds of sales from the night benefitted New Yorkers For Children.

On December 7th, New Yorkers For Children and Solange Azagury-Partridge hosted an evening of cocktails at the Solange Azagury-Partridge Madison Avenue flagship to benefit youth in foster care in New York City. Guests had the chance to view the original pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz before they go to auction on December 16th, presented by Profiles in History. Guests were also treated to a surprise performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by singer Martha Wainwright. Ten percent of proceeds of sales from December 7th - December 11th were donated to New Yorkers For Children.

On Tuesday, November 29th, NYFC hosted the Ninth Annual “Wrap to Rap” holiday gift wrapping event. The NYFC Board, Friends Committee, and Youth Advisory Board were joined by 100 teens in foster care to wrap over 1,200 gifts for younger children in care as DJ D-Nice spun hip hop and holiday classics. The wrapped presents will be distributed by the Administration for Children’s Services to children in foster care throughout New York City.

Over the past 15 years, NYFC has accomplished a great deal on behalf of youth in foster care in New York City. Here are just a few of our achievements:

- In 2011, NYFC sent out over 900 Back-to-School Packages to college-enrolled youth in foster care. The NYFC Back-to-School Package Program began in 1999, when 23 packages were sent to students in care.

- NYFC has awarded $992,500 in scholarships for youth in foster care through the NYFC Guardian Scholars Program and Spirit Award. Today, scholarship recipients are gainfully employed in the fields of education, social work, public policy, finance, and technology.

- NYFC has directly impacted 2,450 youth in foster care in the areas of employment, education, and life skills through the grants we have provided to the Administration for Children’s Services and other non-profits organizations that serve children in foster care.

- Since 2004, over 1,500 youth have learned about post-secondary options and employment through NYFC Educational Conferences, Vocational Conferences, and Network to Success events.

In celebration of 15 successful years of improving the lives of youth in foster care in New York City, we are asking all of our friends to make a $15 donation to help us continue to support the 15,000 children in foster care today.

“Attaining a college degree would give me a jump start to chase after my dreams,” writes Vanessa, 20-year-old freshman at Kingsborough Community College, on her Guardian Scholars application.

Vanessa is currently pursuing her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and plans to continue her education and obtain a Bachelor’s degree. She aspires to become an entrepreneur and to start her own business one day.

Thanks to the support of our donors, NYFC has been able to expand the Guardian Scholars Program to more youth in foster care, like Vanessa.

Read more about Vanessa

On September 20th, New Yorkers For Children hosted their 2011 Fall Gala to benefit youth in foster care in New York City. The evening featured dinner, dancing, a special performance by ELEW and a live auction by Sotheby’s Jamie Niven. Special guests at the event included the 2011 Spirit Award recipient, sponsored by North Shore LIJ Health System, Guardian Scholars, and additional youth in foster care who are leaders in New Yorkers For Children programs. The theme of the evening was “Launch A Star”, with décor designed by David Stark.

View the 2011 Fall Gala film