FOSTER YOUR DREAM GETS HAND MADE HATS!

Our Angel Candy Martinez and her group of amazing creators crochet and knit hats! So in the throes of winter our children are delighted by the warmth and colors of these vibrant hats and a scarf or two!

It’s so special because they are HOME MADE. It is interesting to watch as the kids understand and cherish that someone cared enough to MAKE SOMETHING BY HAND and GIVE IT TO THEM. Perhaps it’s because each one looks unique (like they are) and feels like love and a soft hug!

We can’t show their faces because their parents would have to consent and the children are not living with their parents….hence their journey thru foster care! But all agreed to this fun picture. I think you can see their joy thru the yarn! 🙂

Thank you so much to all the kind folks who make these and donate them to our fantastic children. You’re amazing!

9th Annual Toy Drive Bigger Than Ever!

We are raising money to CRUSH this years donations in anticipation of our 10th ANNUAL toy drive next winter! Wanna help? DONATE HERE! THANKS THANKS THANKS!

Over 300 toys were donated to Foster Your Dream this year for children IN foster care, transitioning TO foster care (a super scary time) or working with highly at-risk families to help them keep their children from being TAKEN to foster care! It could never have been done with out all of your generous donations … FAR and WIDE. Strangers and friends! Special thanks to Sandra Garni and Mark Carson for hosting our toys!

It was out 9th Annual Toy Drive! Next year? I have a feeling with your help, we will break all our Toy Drive records. MANY THANKS TO ALL.

FOSTER YOUR DREAM 8TH ANNUAL TOY DRIVE HUGE SUCCESS

STAY TUNED FOR DROP OFF LOCATIONS FOR OUR 9TH ANNUAL 2023 TOY DRIVE!!!

Once again we rallied the toy-magical-givers and filled our toy boxes!

Thanks to Sandra Garni and Tim Dugger we were able to collect, inventory for ACS and deliver our bounty to kids who could use a smile ALL YEAR LONG.

We always collect during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s holiday time because that’s when folks enjoy giving. But our mission is to provide a smile and a happy moment when a child gets pulled out of his or her or their homes and folded in to child protective services!

It’s often scary and sad for them. We let them chose something to have when they get moved to a foster home. So THANK YOU.

Won’t you give next year!

THANKS to all who help. Including the staff at 36 West 44th street, Klotz and Gould, Mark Carson Selman, Brikener Jean Gilles, Gwendolyn Carroll, Tim Dugger, Sandra Garni.

Foster Your Dream Suit Drive

2021 is an exceptionally difficult time for our young foster population to enter the workforce. There is a lack of business suits … especially for our young men.
But we will happily accept business suits for girls, too!

So. If you have any suits or know people who have any please help!!

The last day for Guilford Connecticut drop off is June 2nd.

BREAKWATER BOOKS 81 Whitfield Street, Guilford Ct 06437 (Thank you Richard Parent and Paul Listro!!!)
OPEN 10-6 Monday through Saturdays and 11-5 Sundays
closed on memorial day

PARK AND REC CENTER 32 Church Street, Guilford 06437 (Thank you Rick Maynard and Matt Hoey)
OPEN 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Fridays
closed on memorial day

The last day for NYC drop off is June 6th. 15 West 72nd Street. Lobby.

The photo above is an artistic 22 year old young man still in the foster system.
His joy at receiving these suits from us prompted our larger suit drive.
I hope you get as enthused as I am about trying to rustle up business attire for this incredibly deserving population!
🙂

THANKS everyone!
Sue Wolf
PS our brand new website and 2 years of data was erased by godaddy (no we didn’t have a backup…yikes) so forgive our last posting being March 2019. At some point march 2019-May 2021 will be restored and our clunky site re-imagined. Meanwhile, enjoy our history. We are tiny but we have mighty dreams! Thanks for reading. 🙂

EMOJILAND INVITES FOSTER YOUR DREAM

**2 OF OUR PRE-TEEN BOYS WAIT FOR THE SHOW TO START WEARING SWAG! 🙂**

When Jackie Bell fell in love with our kids, she made sure we got to visit the AMAZING MUSICAL EMOJILAND! We had the best time ever. She spoke with our group at the beginning and treated us to a VIP ending. The kids loved it so much! You know we can’t show their faces but here is some audio during intermission when we asked a few of the boys how they liked the show:

LISTEN TO THE CHILDREN’S REVIEW OF EMOJILAND!

We get to go again next week! Jackie said the entire company felt honored to have our kids visit the show that they work so hard to perform!

The drummer of the show fell in love with one of our very bouncy boys and has given him a drum practice-kit to take to his new foster home. The drummer remembers being a bouncy, rhythmic child and wanted to encourage our little guy to try the drums. Can you believe it?

What an AMAZING outcome for all of us. Not only does a group of children get a bonding super-fun experience, but one of them will have a surprise gift sent to his new foster home. But also, a whole show-biz family now knows how special our children are and will most likely encourage more opportunities for foster children everywhere! How magical is that?

Thank you to Jackie Bell and all the folks at EMOJILAND! GO SEE THIS SHOW. It’s a winner.

FOLLOWUP REPORT: One of our younger boys was jumping around excitedly TO the music the entire show. The drummer, who could see our little guy, stopped me and asked if he could give him a set of drum sticks because he related to the boy’s energy. Giancarlo De Trizio saw himself in our little boy and wrote him a note and gave it to our guy! (who btw is the one on the audio file above!) Here’s our hero:

Giancarlo De Trizio Gives the gift of Music!

FOSTER YOUR DREAM TOY DRIVE 2019!

**DROP OFF POINT: 36 WEST 44TH STREET ‘tween 5TH AND 6TH NYC!**

**SCOTT LORELLO King Toy Man in lobby 36 W. 44th St. NYC**

WELCOME TO OUR FOURTH ANNUAL TOY DRIVE IN NYC FOR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE!

Each Year we collect toys from Thanksgiving until the first week in January. Our aim is to scoop up the good feelings of “giving” and “toys” during this time of year and reach out for toy donations! But we give them to the children all year long! Here’s why! When a child gets pulled out of his or hers or their home … they often go to the children’s center while waiting for a foster family to be found for them. Mostly they are in crisis, scared and sad. We tell the child to choose a toy for themselves and often it provides a respite of a few minutes of happiness in what is often the worst day of their life. Our kids stay at the center sometimes just overnight but sometimes a family isn’t found for them for weeks or months or even years.

There are two drop off locations and you have until January 2nd 2020! You can even go on Amazon or any department store and send toys to:

Foster Your Dream Toy Drive
36 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036

or:
Signature Theatre
att: Foster Your Dream Toy Drive
480 West 42nd Street
New York NY 10036

**We started humbly with an empty box!**

Thanks to you, it grows daily. Almost hourly! When we first started we even got noticed by NYC Commissioner David A. Hansell! Thanks for your kind letter.

It is only Mid-December and we’ve already collected over 150 toys and! Thank you to Scott and Sandra and Janet and Angela and Mark and Ken and Burton and Colleen. You are the engine that drives this collection. Last year we were able to give toys out for HALF a year at the Children’s Center. Each year we strive to get a little bit bigger. It’s so fun. Toys must be new and unwrapped. Super expensive toys are not the best idea. Also no clothing (ACS rules!) Something smile-provoking a child can take with them on their journey thru the foster care system and put a smile on their face … that is the best kind of gift you can give us during this holiday season. THANKS TO ALL!