Thai Bloom was a proud contributor to the 2016 Friend Raiser benefitting Friends of the Children (FOTC). Funds raised at the event totalled $1.9 million.

Friends of the Children is an organization that breaks the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring. We select the children facing the highest risks and commit to working with those children from kindergarten through graduation. Mentors teach positive values while setting the expectation for each child to become a healthy, productive member of the community.

By giving youth the tools and confidence they need to meet long-term outcomes, the Friends program addresses root causes of generational poverty and marginalization. Achievement of these goals not only has a life-changing effect on graduates of the Friends program, but also has a substantial benefit to society as a whole. For every $1 invested in the organization, more than $7.60 is returned to the community as a result of higher wages earned and lower burdens on social safety nets and the justice system.

FOTC Portland Executive Director Megan Lewis writes:

“Thanks to your generosity, even more of our community’s most vulnerable children will be matched with a salaried, professional Friend. Thanks to you, those children will be able to create brighter futures for themselves by graduating high school and avoiding both the justice system and early parenting. We are deeply grateful for your contribution.”

We’re happy to help!