DCFYI

Hear from Maggie, a DCFYI mentor who began volunteering with DCFYI six years ago, first as a volunteer and now as a mentor!

"I’m thankful for Mrs. Susan. A lot of people who age out in the DCFYI program know how impactful Mrs. Susan is to the community.

Mrs. Susan and her husband in the past have come out to help me polish my shoes and go out shopping. Mrs. Susan also gave me advice and money management skills. She picked me up from school when I had no one to come pick me up.

Hamilton was once in foster care and now that he’s an adult he still stays in touch!

"The program overall is something to be thankful for. My favorite part would be how the program connects youth with mentors and sometimes even connects mentors with other mentors or connects youth with other youth. You can gain something from each other.

My favorite memory would be giving my speech at one of the DCFYI fundraising events. I spoke about how for me I don’t really have just one mentor because everyone at DCFYFI is my mentor. At different points, someone contributed.

Hear from Robert, who joined the DCFYI program when he was just 14 years old!

"My favorite part about DCFYI from when I was younger was definitely making connections that lasted a lifetime, not just with the youth, but with the adults too. As a kid I loved the outings, the fun ones and the educational ones as well.

"My favorite memory is definitely going to see the Lion King when they were on tour and came to the Kennedy Center. I was 14 or 15 and into theater. It really intrigued me and inspired me to want to perform.

“I have been a part of the program for three years, four years maybe. I was in foster care, but I am currently staying with my dad now out of the system, but I still receive DCFYI services. I have two mentors. Ms. Angie is out of town right now. Mr. Mark has been my other mentor for about a good seven, eight months so that’s good. I have great experiences with Mr. Mark.

“I'm thankful for DCFYI’s community of support...the DCFYI community helped me do my first college application, first college tour, assisted me in completing my first college degree, supported my second college degree, is my support system as I parent my first child, and finally as I make my first home purchase.”

In honor of Thanksgiving, we are doing a story campaign, “Giving Thanks for Lasting Relationships,” where we highlight what DCFYI youth are thankful for!

"I’m very thankful for DCFYI creating my forever family!!

"Entering foster care at the age of 6…I always dreamed that I would be adopted. As I grew older the idea seemed to fade. But DCFYI facilitated my community of family, which became the light to a dream that was once dimmed because of my advancing age. Through DCFYI I met and found my beloved adoptive mother along with my forever family and community of extended relatives in the process.

Davon is giving thanks for still being alive. “I had a very difficult time for many years in the foster system and trauma growing up. I am thankful for having Ms. Eden and Ms. Susan because they are like mother figures to me. I am also thankful for DCFYI because they come up with great solutions even for people who have aged out.”

“I have been part of the program since 2017. My top two favorite things about DCFYI are that I met my mentor Maggs and she is so helpful; she helps me with everything. The second is the other youth I've met, I have made some great friends through the program.

"Before Covid-19 I went to some of the events like the Birthday and Christmas ones. The last one I went to was right before Covid-19. I like to go to DCFYI events to see certain people I have met through the program. My favorite event is kickball, I love kickball.