Fountain of Youth Foundation is a new nonprofit dedicated to helping children in foster care feel celebrated and supported through milestone moments.
Founder Nancy Wilkov is a retired magistrate judge. She spent a lot of time talking with kids in foster care and saw that many were passionate about art, sports and music but had limited opportunities to pursue these things. She witnessed how foster parents and caregivers went above and beyond for the children in their care, but sometimes they needed additional support.
She had an idea to start a nonprofit to celebrate milestones in kids’ lives and fund classes and camps to help them pursue their passions. In the first week of March, Fountain of Youth Foundation officially launched.
Fountain of Youth Foundation provides opportunities for caregivers to request funds needed to give kids personalized birthday gifts and parties, as well as gifts for graduation, good grades and other accomplishments. The foundation also provides funds for prom nights, summer camps, classes and sports.
Wilkov recognized that it’s important for kids to feel encouraged, appreciated and valued. Kids in foster care are just regular kids and “deserve to be celebrated,” she said. Fountain of Youth Foundation uniquely allows caregivers to request what each child wants under a tab on its website.
Wilkov said that, when Fountain of Youth Foundation officially launched, the response was overwhelming. So far, kids have received birthday gifts, had birthday parties at local venues, received money for classes and camp, and one teen received a much-needed cellphone.
To give, the nonprofit encourages donors to turn their birthday, graduation or special events into something meaningful by inviting friends and family to donate to the foundation in lieu of gifts to help make kids’ birthdays a little brighter.
To learn more and donate, go to https://fountainofyouthfoundation.org.
