Feet for Families 35th Anniversary Press Release
For immediate release 9.28.10
Aspiranet celebrates 35 years of helping California children, teens and families
(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) – Aspiranet, one of California’s premier nonprofit social services agencies, comes from humble beginnings. What began thirty-five years ago as a small group home for six young boys in Moss Beach, Calif., is today considered to one of the state’s most innovative providers of family service and foster care programs.
Vernon Brown, Aspiranet CEO, has been with the organization almost since its inception. Since joining the firm in 1978, Brown has seen tremendous growth and expansion of the California foster care industry. “Over the years, we have learned that foster children, teens and families have varied needs and Aspiranet’s network of programs and services has grown to meet these needs,” said Brown. “We now offer over 35 core programs addressing everything from foster care to adoptive services to programs tailored to older teens ‘aging out’ of the system. Aspiranet has touched the lives of over 10,000 families and children since its founding.”
Aspiranet is celebrating 35 years of service by hosting four separate Feet for Families foot races in the month of October. The races, being held in San Jose, Fresno, Ventura and Turlock, are designed to raise awareness of and funding for area foster children, teens and families.
California Assemblyman Jim Beall (D-San Jose), foster care proponent and co-author of Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12), The California Fostering Connections to Success Act, will be on hand at the San Jose Feet for Families race on Saturday, Oct. 2 to highlight the need for reform of California’s foster care system. Like other California communities, there is a growing need for new foster families throughout the Bay Area.
According to the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, about 10% of the nation’s children live in California, yet the state is home to approximately 20% of the country’s foster-care population. Studies show that young people who ‘age out’ of foster care at 18, often leave the system ill-prepared to live as adults. They face a significantly increased risk of unemployment, homelessness, mental illness, and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Assemblyman Beall, who has long championed for transitional services to help young adults navigate successfully from foster care to independent adulthood, knows that in the long run, providing transitional care will save California money. Providing a bridge of support foster youth to age 21 will not only help produce productive, responsible citizens, it will save the taxpayers millions in court, prison and social costs.
About Aspiranet’s San Jose Feet for Families Race
When: Saturday, October 2nd
Time: Registration is at 8 AM, Race begins at 9 AM
Where: Almaden Lake Park, located at 15652 Almaden Expressway, San Jose at the Arroyo Picnic Area.
What: Proceeds from the race will benefit several Aspiranet foster care programming areas including support for children and youth with developmental disabilities, foster children and MOUSE Squad CA Student Tech, a program teaching leadership and technology skills to youth.
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About Aspiranet
Aspiranet, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity, supports foster children, siblings, families, and the community with 35 core programs offering specialized services through 44 satellite centers within California.
Founded more than 30 years ago as a six-bed group home for young boys in Moss Beach, Calif., Aspiranet is one of the most diverse nonprofit social service agencies in the state. With a statewide network of innovative services, Aspiranet has touched the lives of over 10,000 families and children since its founding.
Aspiranet’s vision of bringing families together and helping foster children, siblings, and parents thrive is realized through six areas of expertise – Family Services, Foster Care, Adoption, Education, Afterschool programs, and Community Partnerships. For more information, please visit http://www.aspiranet.org.
Media Inquiries:
Consortium Media Services
pressroom@Consortium-media.com
Denise Bean-White, (805) 654-1564 ext. 111
Adrienne Stephens, (805) 654-1564 ext. 116
