For young adults who have aged out of foster care, the holidays are isolating . Imagine living in independent housing or a group home, wondering where you will be this time next year. There are no holiday traditions.

The R.J. Leonard Foundation invites you to support our Fellows this holiday season. Empower these bright young adults to succeed through scholarships and enrichment opportunities.

In December, our Mentors shared their experiences and strategies for achieving their Fellow’s goals. At our Mentor Meeting, current Mentor and RJLF board member Jim Brennan shared tactics for developing a plan for his Fellow, Anthony*. “Assess the Fellow; Set Aspirational Goals; Define Foundations to achieve Goals; and Regular Check Ups,” are the steps Jim uses when creating a plan for Anthony. He used this plan to help Anthony prioritize his schedule when he had too much on his plate. The plan allowed Anthony to decide which schools he wanted to apply to, as well as how much he would need to save to attend his dream school. Now, Anthony has also prepared to save up for a truck. It’s “less about the documents and more about the discussion,” stated Jim, and he listened to other Mentors as they shared what works - and what doesn’t - when they set goals with their Fellows. Have an interest in becoming a Mentor? Email info@rjleonardfoundation.org

​*​ Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the confidentiality and safety of Fellows involved in the R.J. Leonard Foundation's programming.