“If we can create a relationship with a child where they feel safe, we have created a relationship that can heal past trauma.” —Katie Quartucci
Daring to Dream
Established in 2010, Austin Angels is a foster care nonprofit created to help empower children and build sustainable foster homes. They wrap community around children in the foster care system and their caretakers by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building and mentorship. Austin Angels utilizes community support through two main programs: Love Box and Dare to Dream. Austin Angels is the headquarters for National Angels, which has more than a dozen chapters across the country.
The programs offered by Austin Angels focus on the root causes that can make future success a challenge for children in foster care. The future of these children depends on the investment of our community.
“There is a beautiful margin of people who are called to adopt and a beautiful margin of people who are called to foster, but then there’s this huge portion of people who see this big need but don’t know how they can be a part of the solution. So we created a nonprofit that gives people the ability to walk alongside foster children and truly change how they experience care,” says Susan Ramirez, Founder and CEO of Austin Angels.
Love Box and Dare to Dream
In the Love Box program, volunteers are connected with families on a monthly basis to help meet practical and emotional needs. Volunteers commit to a year of delivering monthly love boxes containing household items, food, school supplies, clothes and “extras”, all of which are tailored to the family’s specific needs. The Love Box program strives to connect with foster families to ensure that every family member receives support and encouragement from their community. The Love Box is more than just a box, it’s a resource to build long-term relationships for kids in care. The Dare to Dream program connects older children and youth to mentors in an effort to build deeper relationships with an increased focus on teaching life skills, exploring possible career paths and discussing goals and dreams and how to reach them. Mentors meet regularly with each child to work on skills including money management, obtaining a driver's license and navigating public transportation. Mentors provide extra support and guidance in order to help these youth reach their fullest potential.
Join Our Efforts
There are many ways to partner with Austin Angels and support them in their mission, including donating, volunteering or hosting a fundraising event. To service foster families that do not yet have Love Box sponsors, Austin Angels holds fundraisers throughout the year. On Oct. 26, 2019, they will host a Masquerade Ball at the Austin-American Statesman. Their goal is to raise money in order to grow and serve even more children in Central Texas.
