🌟 Introducing our Hero of the Month, David Ambroz 🌟
David has harnessed more than a decade of homelessness and years in foster care to become a tireless advocate. From his early efforts to improve access to higher education for foster youth, to extending foster care to the age of 21, to protecting queer foster youth, …
Introducing… our Hero of the Month Eddie Leavy! Eddie is a former foster youth, actor, singer, and writer based in Los Angeles and New York. As a Black transracial adoptee, Eddie is an avid proponent of telling stories centered around adoptees and their experiences.
With a background in musical theater and a penchant for comedy, Eddie …
We’re excited to introduce our May Hero of the Month, Francois Reihani! Combining his extensive experience in hospitality and philanthropy, Francois founded La La Land Kind Cafe in 2019 and the La La Land Foundation this month to hire and mentor youth aging out of the foster care system. Since its inception, La La Land …
Meet our April Hero of the Month, Aida Berduo Berry, Vice President of Advisory Services at WSP! With nearly 25 years of experience in transportation, Aida is a trailblazer in civil rights advocacy and inclusion. Her dedication to fostering positive change in our communities is truly inspiring.
Meet Jocelyn. Jocelyn’s journey with United Friends began when she was in the 8th grade. Now, as a freshman at university, her involvement in the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) has become a vital part of her life. For Jocelyn, being part of YAP is more than just participation; it’s a commitment to advocating for foster …
Introducing our Hero of the Month, Franco Vega! Over two decades ago, Franco kickstarted his journey by teaching transition-age foster youth and establishing an employment haven for recovering addicts and the homeless.
In 2011, he founded The RightWay Foundation, a game-changing program tackling trauma and job hurdles for foster youth through mental health services and job readiness …
Karen’s journey with United Friends began a decade ago when she was fourteen. Her involvement in the Youth Ambassador Program has been more than just a role—it’s been her way of connecting with and contributing to a community that has grown to be a significant part of her life.
Karen, thank you for being such a …
Meet Laila!
For over 7 years, since her middle school days, Laila has been an integral part of the UFC family. Her passion lies in advocating for foster youth and sharing her own journey to inspire others. As a Youth Ambassador, Laila offers vital insights and a personal perspective on the challenges and triumphs of transitioning …
Meet Benji! Born and raised in Los Angeles, Benji is a proud alum of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Sociology. Now, he’s making waves in Public Relations at The Walt Disney Studios.
As a participant in UFC’s Youth Ambassador Program, Benji represents us at special events and on social media, passionately speaking about his …
Meet our Hero of the Month: Eric Jones! Eric realized he related to many of the challenges foster youth face daily when his friend Carla introduced him to the foster care space. Since then, Eric has been diligently working with UFC to provide youth with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in their transition …