Foster Progress

Celebrating 5 Years of Kate Kelly! 🎉

Today, we’re celebrating Kate Kelly, our Director of Finance & Development, and five incredible years with Foster Progress!

Kate wears a lot of hats across finance, operations, and development, helping Foster Progress grow and build a strong foundation for the future. We’re so grateful for the experience, dedication, and heart she brings to our team every day.

To celebrate her milestone, we sat down with Kate to learn more about her work at Foster Progress, what she loves most about our community, and a few fun facts about her life outside of work.

Read Kate’s Staff Highlight on our blog by clicking the link in our bio or visiting our website!

Here’s to 5 years, Kate! We’re so lucky to have you! 💙🎉

What a night! Thank you to everyone who came out to our Friendraiser at Scratch Public House! We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us, brought a friend, shared our work, and helped make the evening such a fun way to support Foster Progress.

A huge thank you to the team at Scratch Public House for hosting us and donating 10% of proceeds to Foster Progress! And another big thank you to our board member, Ellen, for organizing such a wonderful event. 👏

We loved spending the evening with our Foster Progress community and are so grateful for everyone who continues to show up for young people with foster care experience.

📸 Check out some highlights from the night!

We’re launching Foster Progress Monthly! 📨

Want to stay connected with what’s happening across the Foster Progress community? Each month, we’ll bring you updates from our programs, student and alumni stories, recent highlights, upcoming events, ways to get involved, and more.

📩 Sign up now to receive our very first Foster Progress Monthly TODAY! Visit our website or click the link in our bio to join our mailing list.

There’s always something happening at Foster Progress, and we’re excited to bring you along! 💙

🚨 THIS WEEK! 🚨

Our Foster Progress Friendraiser is happening this Wednesday, September 2, and we’d love to see you there! 💙

Join us at Scratch Public House from 5–10 PM for a night out with friends while supporting young people with foster care experience. Just mention Foster Progress at checkout, and 10% of your purchase will be donated to support our work.

Plus, stick around for trivia at 7 PM if you’re ready to put your knowledge to the test! 🧠

📅 September 2 | 5–10 PM
📍 Scratch Public House
🧠 Optional Trivia at 7 PM

This is your last reminder—save the date, tag a friend, and come hang out with us and there is no need to RSVP! We can’t wait to see you there. 💙

Kaia is heading to Northern Illinois University with a little extra support from her Foster Progress community! 🎓💙

Through our Wishlist Campaign, 22 graduating students created wishlists with items they needed and wanted as they prepared for their next chapter. Our community came together to make sure every single wishlist was fulfilled, and Kaia was one of the students who received a bunch of items from hers!

From practical essentials to things that make a new space feel like home, these gifts are more than just items. They’re a reminder to our students that their community is cheering them on as they take this next step.

We’re so excited to see all that Kaia accomplishes at NIU! Congratulations, Kaia! 💙🎓

Today, on Women’s Equality Day, we’re celebrating the generations of women who have pushed for greater opportunity, representation, and equality; and the young people who are continuing to shape what comes next. ✨

As a woman-founded and woman-led organization, we’re especially proud to be part of this ongoing work. At Foster Progress, we believe every young person deserves access to the support, education, mentorship, and opportunities they need to pursue their goals and build the future they envision for themselves.

There’s still work to do, and we’re proud to continue creating opportunities for the next generation. Here’s to the women who paved the way, the young people carrying that work forward, and the progress still ahead. 💙

Bring a friend. Make an impact. Our Foster Progress Friendraiser is coming up, and we’d love to see you there!

Join us on September 2nd from 5 PM – 10 PM at Scratch Public House for an easy night out that supports young people with foster care experience. Just mention Foster Progress at checkout, and 10% of your purchase will be donated to support our work.

And if you’re feeling competitive, stick around for trivia at 7 PM! 🧠

The best part? You don’t have to come alone. Bring a friend, invite a few people, and help us introduce more people to Foster Progress. And no need to RSVP!

📅 September 2 | 5–10 PM
📍 Scratch Public House
🧠 Optional Trivia at 7 PM

Save the date, tag a friend, and come hang out with us! 💙

📣 Still interested in becoming a Foster Progress Peer Advocate? You can still apply!

Our priority consideration deadline has passed, but applications are still being accepted as space allows!

Peer Advocates are college students with lived experience in foster care who help support and connect other students in care on their campus. It’s a great opportunity to build leadership skills, give back to your community, and make a difference for other students navigating college.

We’re currently recruiting Peer Advocates at:
🎓 University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
🎓 City Colleges of Chicago (CCC)
🎓 Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
🎓 Chicago State University (CSU)
🎓 Governors State University (GSU)

If you’re eligible and interested, don’t wait to apply!

👉 Apply through the link in our bio or visit foster-progress.org/ycap to learn more and apply.

One scholarship. One big step toward independence. 🚗✨

Our student Tamara used her Foster Progress scholarship money to make a down payment on a car, and we couldn’t be more excited for her!

Reliable transportation can make a huge difference for young people navigating college and entering the workforce. Having dependable transportation can help students get to class, work, internships, and other opportunities as they build independence and take their next steps into adulthood.

Did you know that students in our Mentoring & Scholarship Program earn $100 every time they meet with their mentor? That support can add up to make a real difference as students work toward their goals and build their futures.

We’re so proud of you, Tamara! 💙