quarterly newsletter: September 2017

Upcoming event: Heart for Change celebration

Have a heart for change? Join us at our largest annual fundraising celebration on October 6, 2017 at 7:30pm at the Cedarbrook Country Club in Blue Bell, PA. Expect delicious food and drinks and fabulous auction items while supporting our mission to intentionally perform miracles.

Purchase Tickets

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Miles: From an RJLF Fellow to an RJLF Board Member

​Miles Hanley is an R.J. Leonard Foundation board member. Previously in foster care, he was our first Fellow. While the challenges Miles faced as a child empowered him to focus on the positive aspects of his life, Miles told us he is an exception to those who face similar childhood circumstances. Miles will be sharing his experiences at our Heart for Change Celebration.

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Featured Fellow & Community Partner Spotlight

RJLF Fellow Emily* is currently a full-time nursing student who also juggles parenthood and working part-time. Previously, Emily found herself homeless after she aged out of foster care. As a single mother, she knew she had to pursue her education in order to make a better life for herself and her daughter.

Two months ago Emily's car broke down. This put a tremendous strain on her education, job, and getting her daughter to daycare. Within 48 hours, our new Community Partner, Discount Auto, stepped in and saved the day.

When she was referred to RJLF, Emily relied on public transportation and her friends to get to class, work, and transport her daughter to day care. In addition to the stressful demands of her class requirements, each day transportation was a challenge. With the support of Discount Auto, we were able to purchase a used car for Emily.

“Right before I met with the R.J. Leonard foundation, I was stressed out to my capacity… I am in awe of your generosity and compassion towards helping me with my transportation issue that was wreaking havoc in my life.” Without a car, Emily was at risk of losing her job and her school program. “I am motivated to complete my goals for my daughter so that we can live a better life, and I can have a career.”

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and to Community Partners like Discount Auto for your ongoing support that allows us to carry out our mission.

 *Name has been changed to reflect anonymity.

​Interested in empowering young adults like Emily to succeed?

Be a Part of Our Success Story

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In the News: Foster Care, Aging Out, and Mentorship

Pennsylvania

• Mentors make all the difference when a child's parent goes to jail, advocates say in Lancaster
• For traumatized teens, 'special' foster parents needed
• Being a grandparent in 2017 can be anything but retirement

 National

• James Comey, Foster Dad
  
• Milwaukee advances tiny homes plan for young adults leaving foster care
  
• Foster Youth Need Mentors and Real-world Experience

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