Foster Your Dream goes Backstage on Broadway

SpongeBob SquarePants, Head Over Heels and Choir Boy invited us to join them for their shows and then for a magical backstage tour!

Lou Castro shows us backstage!

Lou Castro, Choreographer of SpongeBob Square Pants.

Technology!

 

 

Brooke Smith arranged for Lou Castro the assistant Choreographer of Sponge Bob Square Pants to give us an in depth look at all the amazing things backstage at the Palace Theatre! He showed up props, wardrobe and al the fantastical technology!

 

 

 

Julie Boardman & Sarahbeth Grossman welcome us to the Green Room!

 

  HEAD OVER HEELS producers Sarahbeth Grossman, who has been a supporter of Foster Your Dream kids for the past 10 years, took us to their green room and introduced us to producer Julie Boardman.  We were allowed to ask questions and feel like a VIP!

 

 

 

As usual, I can only show emancipated foster children who are OK with our taking their photo or with guardian consent.  That’s why you tend to see the same few kids … they are the ones who are enamored by all things THEATRE!  The one below has a particular connection to theatre and FYD’s mentorship has been sort of like a rag-tag theatre fellowship.  So enjoy her joy!

 

Choir Boy’s Austin Pendleton

Hey World … Here I Am!

When Saint Joan Looks Like a Foster Child

When a young budding actress who has lived most of her life in foster care sees St. Joan on Broadway starring Condola Rashad and says “Oh!  She looks like me! I could do that!” it gives us another reason for urgency to have full representation in entertainment!Not only was Ms. Rashad brilliant but she was kind and generous with her time after the show.

waiting for autograph

getting autograph

gondola rashad supporting a dream

I’m going to keep this young actress’ name private here but some day you will see her in the arts, either on stage or behind the scenes.

believing the dream

She went to see Ms. Rashad perform twice with two different FYD mentors because it is rare that we see people who represent our #fostercare population in such a unique and inspiring way on Broadway. Thank you, Ms. Rashad from all of us at Foster Your Dream! 🙂  A wonderful time was had by all! 🙂

Foster kids go places in 2018

WE HAD SUCH A GREAT YEAR WE DIDN’T POST MUCH!

The winter took us to BAM film festival where we had 3 large groups of children and their caregivers enjoy awesome films!  

We applied for Corcoran Cares Grant in the winter and we got word in the summer that we will RECEIVE it in 2019! Thank you for Wendy Stark for helping us through the process.  

We took large groups to Teknopolis …  …. Dance Africa ….  (our children are not in these photos as we are not allowed to use them on our website!  The photos you see on our website we take and cover their faces, or show others around them at an event, or get photos from the events themselves! This is just another reason our population is so invisible.  It is considered illegal to use their likeness because their parents have not approved it and they are under 18 and are wards of the state. In other words the state is their parent and they will not approve them being used on the web. It is considered exploitation.  So we do our best! News organizations do have exceptions…which is why the more news coverage #FOSTERCARE can get .. the better!) We also sent one emancipated student to a Cherry Lane theatre acting class! A small but powerful dream come true! THANKS for squeezing us in Reed!  🙂

This was just our first half of the year!  Stay tuned for our second half.

 

SUE WOLF SPEAKS UP FOR FOSTER KIDS AT SIGNATURE THEATRE EVENT

Wow … Foster Your Dream was invited to speak at a panel event at the Signature Theatre called “Who’s Your Neighbor!”   We each represented a group that does good work in the community!  We were very proud to tell our stories and shine a bright spotlight on our amazing Foster Kid population. We made some good friends at the Broadway Advocacy Coalition and had a large meeting at their invitation this year.  Making connections is key to infuse energy in to our world-changing ideas!  We also met several new volunteers who will be bringing music and SAT tutoring to some of our foster kid clients!  🙂  We thank Colleen Hughes,  Signature Theatre and The Ghost Light Project for starting something in 2017 that is bearing fruit in 2018 and 2019!

Toy Drive

TOY DRIVE was huge success!  We collected 3 times as many toys as 2017!

In December we said:  TOY DRIVE 2018 is in full swing!

You can donate new toys for any ages at the lobby of 36 west 44th Street, between 6th Ave and 5th Ave….or the Signature Theatre on 42nd street between 10th Avenue and 9th Avenue.

New and unwrapped.  Any age group.  Let’s make this the biggest one yet!  Last year we got a letter from the commissioner:

We bring the toys to the ACS Children’s Center where all ages go when they get pulled out of their homes.  The Center houses them until a proper foster family can be found.  This can be days or weeks or months.  Our mission with the toys is to give them a few minutes of happiness while they chose a toy to bring with them to their new foster home.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Rubinstein Family Fund

IN HONOR OF ARTHUR B RUBINSTEIN, THE FAMILY HAS CREATED THE RUBINSTEIN FAMILY FUND. 




Exposing Classical Music to children of all ages and backgrounds was Arthur’s passion.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a special fund to honor him by clicking the donate button above on this page!

All funds will be used to support Music and Arts experiences for at-risk youth in Los Angeles and New York City. The thrill of a first concert or a first broadway musical is something that always stays with a young person. Exposure to musical education could spark another composer. Your gift of music via The Rubinstein Family Fund will be magical. Thank you.