Rise Above Foundation

Rise Above Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing Massachusetts children in foster care with enriching activities, opportunities and experiences. Its a kid not a cause! Learn more about RAF at www.weriseabove.org

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Links

Fostering Connections

Foster Care Alumni of America

Foster Club

National Foster Care Coalition

Leaving Care in Massachusetts: Policy and Supports to Facilitate the Transition to Adulthood

HHS Administration for Children and Families

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Structure of RAF

As a start-up organization, Rise Above relies

on its 10-member working board of directors, interns

and dozens of community volunteers. Its current annual

budget is raised from foundations and corporations

(40%), individuals (40%) and fundraising events (20%).

85% of the organization’s expenses directly fund child

activity requests, which average $250 per child served.

Rise Above leverages partnerships with the local

businesses that provide the activities for children for

discounts: on average, one-third of the cost of activities

are donated.

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Interested in Donating?

Learn about how to donate at https://www.weriseabove.org/how-to-help/donate-now/ and improve the lives of Massachusetts foster children. 

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Spread the Word!

Hold a fundraiser for Rise Above Host a yard sale, dinner part, bake sale or raffle for Rise Above, and get your friends, family and co-workers involved! For more information, contact us at [email protected]. 

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One of the most powerful, heart wrenching short films we’ve ever shared… have the tissues close by for this one. http://petapixel.com/2014/03/17/short-film-removed-takes-you-on-an-incredible-journey-of-a-foster-child/

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Foster youth share their experiences in a 2009 video from Adopt Us Kids.

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Why Rise Above?

Too often, foster families and the state do not have

the financial resources for extracurricular activities

for foster children. As a result, the majority of youth

in foster care miss out on activities, like sports and

music, that can help them overcome incredibly

difficult circumstances and improve their emotional

and physical wellbeing. For these children, most

victims of abuse or neglect, participating in sports,

music and camp with their peers is critical for them

to grow into healthy adults.

Rise Above empowers Massachusetts youth in the

foster care system to “rise above” their situation and

challenges and gives them opportunities to pursue a

passion, talent or interest.

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Check out Foster More’s PSA for National Foster Care Month. America’s foster youth are amazing.

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“And we will support programs that help increase permanency, reduce rates of re-entry into foster care, and address the issues that bring young people in the child welfare system in the first place.”

- President Obama in the Presidential Proclamation for National Foster Care Month.  Read the entire proclamation here:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/30/presidential-proclamation-national-foster-care-month-2013

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The Foster Family-Based Treatment Association (FFTA) is hosting its 11th Annual Public Policy Institute & Advocacy Day. This is being held May 6-7 in Arlington, VA & Washington, DC.

During this event, you will have the opportunity to participate in policy discussions and an interactive...

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Our new poster series, “When I First Met My Child,” is available to order now. Get them now at our website: http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/free-adoption-resources/posters/

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What a great campaign for adoption!

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Karen and Fred were matched with their son Ryan through Project Wait No Longer, when Ryan was 12 years old. This is their story:

When we first met Ryan, he was very shy and nervous around us. To be honest, we were all very nervous. Fred and I tried to hang back as much as possible to…

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What a great story and a great program!!!

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Graphic designer Hayli Alyce created this “living graffiti” piece with Spanish moss to portray an uplifting thought through both words and imagery.