John Parker and Steve Rook with the Parker-Rook Group at Merrill share how their investment makes a difference

Meet Thomas (he/him/his), a 19-year-old coastal North Carolina native who is now crushing his goals thanks to the LifeSet program.

At the beginning of their journey with Youth Villages, Donna felt she had reached the very end of the road and didn’t know what else to do. “I was on I-85 and thinking to myself, I could end it all right now,” Donna said.

“It’s a life changing experience and it gives you a whole different concept about yourself.” These are the words of Jeremy, a LifeSet participant who felt all odds were against him growing up and into adulthood.

North Carolina held its first-ever Growing Stronger Summit, a two-day event featuring keynote speaker David Ambroz, author and national child welfare and poverty expert.

Sabina, a single mother of two young girls under the age of 4, entered foster care after she and her sister suffered abuse at home from her parents.

Youth Villages staff, Kailif, interviewed and performed on The Sisaundra Show, an Afro TV daytime television entertainment talk show. Kailif talked with host and former NBC The Voice finalist, Sisaundra Lewis, about his experiences in foster care and how working with Youth Villages helps him live in his purpose.

Jimena and her three siblings grew up with their mother before being separated from her. Their family dynamic changed drastically after Jimena learned about some safety risks in the home.

Having children is a life-changing experience, and most parents will admit you’re never ready until you become one. There is certainly not a universal manual on how to parent, and at the end of the day, most parents want to raise their children the best way they know how.

Youth Villages today announced it is the recipient of a large donation from the Joey Logano Foundation to support young adults who age out of foster care and are now pursuing higher education.