July Face of a Foster Care Graduate Feature-Thomas Leon Watson

July 6, 2009

Our July feature comes to us from Lithia Springs, Georgia. He is inspirational in many ways, one of which is that he continues to stay in touch with the organization that helped him turn his life around. He speaks openly at charity functions, sharing his story with children who are at risk or already in the system. A child in the system can encounter Foster Care homes, Institutions, and Orphanages. Some children who enter the system will spend time in each and others only one. Thomas did not end up in foster care, his area of the system was an institution, however he is still a graduate of the system and we are honored to share our platform with him. Regardless of which area a child spends time in, the likely emotional traumas and risk for abuse are similar. Please welcome Thomas Leon…….

Name: Thomas Leon Watson

State: Georgia

Occupation: Financial Industry Professional

Marital Status: Married

Favorite source of inspiration: Sharing his story and volunteering his time with charitable organizations

Favorite inspirational book: The Bible-New International Version

Church: Atlanta Metropolitan Christian Church

Thomas started out like most children-innocent, trusting and full of love

The power of overcoming:

I remember at the age of four years old, my mother decided to move from Virginia to Georgia. My father helped load the truck and my brother, myself and mom got in the truck and left. I remember asking my mother why my father is not coming with us. I started to cry because I did not understand why my father was not going with us. This was the first of many times that I felt abandoned. But as kids do, I went with the flow. I wanted my father to be there to throw the football, shoot the basketball, and hit the baseball with me. The neighborhood that I grew up in there had only one family that had a father figure around and that was my best friend’s father. Nobody else in the projects where I grew up at had a father in their household. I remember the first boyfriend that my mom had. I thought he’s going to become my father, he will teach me football, basketball, baseball and teach me how to be a man… Then I remember that day. Let’s say his name was Mr. J, he picked me up, sat me on the countertop and said that he’s leaving, that he will no longer be around. My eye’s teared up and tears ran down my face. I remember thinking what did I do? Why are you leaving…? Then, he turned his back and left never to return again. As a kid, this did hurt, but I returned back to playing and being a kid. But the scars were there. The same scenario repeated itself at least ten more times. After the fifth boyfriend or so the hurt and disappointment turned into anger, resentment and hatred toward any man that came into our lives. I decided that I would not TRUST anyone. I put a protective shield around my heart and said nobody will ever hurt me again.

This anger and resentment turned into rage and at the age of twelve years old I plotted to murder my mother’s boyfriend, he was emotionally and physically abusive to her. I told my brother to get his attention and I would come from the back of MR B (boyfriend) and stab him from the back thru his heart. As soon as I was about to carry out this act I heard a gunshot in the air and MR B ran off, he got away. The man that shot the gun into the air saw what I was about to do and he messed my plan up… This made me mad. Later I realized that what that neighbor did saved me from life as a criminal and life in jail. The anger, resentment, bitterness, hatred that I had filled up in my heart lead me to be institutionalized at the age of fourteen. Yes, I was placed in a mental hospital and had to take medication. This I did not understand. Why am I here? Why do I have to take medication? I’m an athlete- Why me? I was hospitalized each year as a teenager from 14-18 years old (staying at least 3 months at a time). After being discharged I would have to return to the hospital to get stabilized on medication because I would stop taking it. I stopped taking it because I did not think it was normal. None of my other friends or classmates had to take any kind of medication. Plus, I was an athlete and felt like I could not function taking that medication. It was a challenge going to school every day, to study, focus, concentrate and to just be a normal kid. People around me did not understand what I was going through, especially my closest friends and family. During these years between high school and mental hospital I experienced a lot of rejection, loss friends and broken relationships.

Then in 1987, a young lady met me in the hospital and she connected me with an organization called Chris Kids. This organization has group homes for ages 6-17 and Independent Living Program for ages 17-21(to transitions teenagers and young adults from foster care, treatment facilities or detention into self-sufficient adults). After graduating high school I went to Chris Kids Independent Living Program. This was one of the changes that helped turn my life around. I arrived at Chris Kids at the age of 17 and scared to death. I took an Amtrak train ride from my hometown to Atlanta, Georgia by myself. All I had was a suitcase full of clothes and I remember thinking, “what am I doing leaving the projects where I grew up, my mother, brother and friends?” Then, I remembered that this decision for me to go to Chris Kids was made by my mother, therapist and doctors. My first day at Chris Kids I met my Therapist; she picked me up from the train station. Then took me to the place where I was going to be staying. We drove into an apartment complex and she introduced me to my residential counselor. Then I was taken to the apartment where I would be living. Honestly, it was a nice apartment, fully furnished. Then I was introduced to my roommate and to the other kids that were in the program. Then came the rules: curfews, cleaning, must work 20- 40 hrs week or be in school (college), had to buy my own food and cook for myself. I said this is no group home. This is living on my own. With a lot of rules and supervision. To a 17 year old transitioning from a mental hospital I thought this was a bit too much. But I adjusted. We had group sessions about looking for a job, interviewing, etc. I went on to get a job at Old Country Buffet, and then I started working two jobs at Long John Silver’s and Captain D’s. But I soon would lose job after job because I still carried around the anger, resentment, hatred, and I did not trust people. I would get into fights on the job. Meanwhile, I’m going to therapy, I had to attend sessions if I was going to stay in Chris Kids. This is where the layer of onions began to peel. I began to talk about my childhood and all the feeling that I had. Someone, after all these visits to the mental hospital really took an interest in me and listened. It took years of counseling to work on me. Chris kid’s motto is healing children, strengthening families, and building community. I’m a walking testimony that a child can be healed, and move on to become a productive citizen in society. My relationship with my family was strengthened and I’m now helping to build a community that gives to this great organization that helped save my life.

Before leaving Chris Kids I was introduced to God by a member of the Atlanta Church of Christ (now known as Atlanta Metropolitan Christian Church). Reading the bible and seeing that Jesus died for me and that all the inner pain that I had carried for years: the anger, bitterness, resentment, hatred, and abandonment he carried on the cross and he died for me. Too see that he also died for all those that may have caused me pain whether they knew it or not. This helped me to forgive, heal and move on. Today, I thank God for every part of my life. The good, bad, ugly and sad. I would not be the Man I am today without this or him. I thank God for every person that he put in my life that helped me through these difficult times and you know who you are. I hope and pray that my story can touch and give hope to any person that’s in need of inspiration.

A Transformed man with large and loving heart

I’m proud to say I’m 39 years old and married to an awesome lady named Juliana Watson. I’ve had the opportunity to work for Bellsouth Mobility, AT&T, Prudential Bank, Verizon and presently I work at Hyundai Motor America in their finance department. The major highlight in my life is volunteering at Chris Kids and Hope worldwide. It’s been a blessing to have been given a chance to speak with the kids at Chris kids, corporate donors and volunteers and to share my story. I am not ashamed of my story and where I came from and will tell it to a rock if it will listen. Sharing my story allows me to connect with my passion which brings me great joy. Thank you for listening, please comment and pass our website links to everyone on your e-mail list. You never know who may need inspired.

What is CHRIS kids?

“Our mission is to heal children, strengthen families, and build community. Our core values are Creativity, Honor, Respect, Integrity and Safety: CHRIS.”

“Since 1981, we have delivered a broad continuum of critical services to children, youth and families allowing them to reach their natural potential for happiness, health and success. We offer free residential and summer programs to homeless children and youth and affordable mental health and substance abuse counseling to local families.We believe kids are assets to be developed, not problems to be solved. Our goal is to save kids from slipping through the cracks and help them grow up to be productive citizens.”

To learn more about this amazing organization, please visit www.chriskids.org

What is Hope World Wide?

“HOPE worldwide is an international charity that changes lives by harnessing the compassion and commitment of dedicated staff and volunteers to deliver sustainable, high-impact, community-based services to the poor and needy.”

Hope worldwide: www.hopeww.org

June 2009 Face of a Foster Care Graduate – Lin Seahorn

May 26, 2009

Our June 2009 Face of a Foster Care Graduate comes to us from Alpharetta, Georgia. Lin is a true example of a survivor who continues to turn her past pain and tragedy into triumph. Growing up, Lin spent time in orphanages and foster care homes, she has experienced abuse at the hands of many. As you read her story you will notice that she never gave up, never mentions wanting to give up. You will also read about a wonderful non-profit organization called Children Without a Voice USA, which is dedicated to fighting child abuse in the United States. This organization was founded by this amazing graduate. Honored to introduce you to Lin…..

Name: Lin Seahorn

State: Georgia

Occupation: Founder & Executive Director

Marital Status: Married

A remarkable example of a survivor.

I learned to survive at an early age. I lived with hundreds of other children in Parmadale, a large catholic orphanage/group home, whatever you want to call it, in Cleveland, Ohio. Let me tell you, these ARE orphanages because these are children who have been handed over for society to take care of. I lived in another orphanage when I was 3 in Bean Station, Tennessee. I lived in private foster homes in two states and saw lots of sickness as a child. At age 11, my best friend at Parmadale was a little 5 year old boy who was raped by his father. I heard his story and would seek him out every day and protect him. I think of my little friend often and it tears me apart. I wonder who he is today, where is he? Is he alive…is he happy? Did he commit suicide? I will find him some day and be able to share with him how he kept me alive all of these years.

As a little girl, I was violently beaten, punched in the face, kicked, called names, sexually abused by my father, beaten across my bare back with belts, forced to stay in a small dark attic (with the pull down stairs and very little space to sit and was warned of moving, for fear of coming through the ceiling), forced awake all night sitting in a corner on my hands, deprived food, forced to stay between the door and screen door until late hours in the winter, not allowed to ever talk on a phone (never knew my own phone number), go in the kitchen where the food was, drank powdered milk because we were poor and was forced to stay up late hours washing all of the dishes in every cupboard in the kitchen for missing a dirty plate or not consuming every kernel of corn on my cob. I was never allowed to have friends and locked in my bedroom for days, staring out the window watching other children play because I was an inconvenience to my parents. My mother once took me to a hospital and tried to have me admitted into a psychiatric home, because she didn’t want me anymore. Thank God for those doctors who had me returned to my home. Looking back, I am forever grateful for the physical pain I endured at the hands of my parents instead of being put into a mental hospital where I knew I did not belong. When I was kicked out of the house daily, I was fondled by the neighborhood boys, beaten up and chased home from school every day by the girls because I was pretty. I learned little in school from having been deprived of sleep the night before. Eventually I ended up in the system which it too, would have consequences.

Of all of the things I experienced as a child, none were more traumatic than the time when there were no foster homes in East Tennessee for children my age. The few foster parents there were, only wanted small babies and not a pre-teen. No one told me anything the night a police man showed up at my foster home, placed me in the back seat and drove me 45 miles to the next biggest town, Knoxville, Tn. He walked me up a long concrete walkway towards a drabby brick building. I remember being so excited to see if this home would be “nicer” than the last home I was in. I proudly wore my long maxi coat and even carried a tiny suitcase with a few clothes in it. It turned out to be a “holding” place for me where I lived for a few weeks. It was a detention center for delinquents. We stayed in jail like cells and the girls beat me up every day for being different. They thought I had a perfect life because I showed up with a suitcase and a nice coat on. I was transferred by the police 45 miles to that location and the ride alone was terrifying, with not knowing why I was in a police car or where I was going. To this day, I refuse to visit Knoxville, Tn. and drive by the center but I could find it blindfolded if I wanted too. The image and experience is still very clear in my mind.

Tennessee has gotten better recently in improving their foster program but only after a lawsuit was filed against the state in 2000 and then after several more motions since 2003 asking them to improve the system. http://www.childrensrights.org/reform-campaigns/legal-cases/tennessee-brian-a-v-bredesen/

I wonder how many innocent children had to suffer all of those 40 something years since I was in the system.

I got my first apartment at 15, finished high school and entered college at 16. At 18, I dropped out of college to take care of my 13 year old younger sister whom I gained custody of, in attempt to keep her out of the foster system or jail. I worked two jobs. At 21, I was supporting my 14 year old younger brother. At age 25, I became a successful entrepreneur as a founder of a cellular company.

TODAY, I LEAD A PRODUCTIVE LIFE and I am thankful I have been given life and have finally accepted what it is I am supposed to do. Forgive, inspire, love and give hope to others and be an advocate for children.

I have seen much of what is out there, overcome many extreme hurdles and obstacles, and somehow came out of it, with a great sense of humor, blessed with a huge heart, determination, strength, vision, insatiable curiosity, courage and thankfulness. I understand my purpose clearly now and have been blessed tremendously by given life. I will do everything I can to help children and those who share my cause.

For the past 25 years I have devoted my spare time to doing humanitarian work while going through my own struggles. Helping others in what little way I could also helped me to overcome many obstacles and break the cycles of abuse and destruction. I have been an active advocate for crimes against children and animals on a domestic and international level. Most all of my work has been raising awareness and campaigning privately for tougher sentencing against child abusers and molesters in the U.S. I have files full of my work. I founded Children Without A Voice USA Christmas eve, 2007 and spent nearly 5,000 volunteer hours in its first 12 months in building the organization from the ground up. We have international support with chapters in four other countries, Brazil, Uganda, Belgium and Germany.

About Children Without A Voice USA

Nearly 3 million American child abuse cases are reported each year in this country. REPORTED. BUT the Department of Justice and experts estimate the number to be three times greater, putting child abuse cases at 9 MILLION in America. This is at EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. Every day, 4 children die from abuse in THIS country. Abusive Head Trauma/SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome) is a horrible tragedy and rapidly growing.

Let’s start right now in THIS country and stop the rampant heinous crimes against OUR MOST PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCE-OUR CHILDREN. I challenge ALL celebrities, musicians, corporations AND ALL OTHERS to join me in being a voice for our children. All we need is your voice, time or money. It’s your choice. We are the only national abuse prevention organization to offer free educational materials on our website for download. Please help America’s children by going to our official website and making a donation or volunteering your time today.

Please visit ChildrenWithoutAVoiceUSA.org

May Face of a Foster Care Graduate-Lexy

May 3, 2009

Our May graduate comes to us from the state of Missouri. Her name is Alexandra, Lexy for short. We never know what source of inspiration will come to us in our time of need. For Lexy, her inspiration was found after viewing a movie called The Passion of Christ. Her life changed forever and she shares her story with you…meet Lexy…

Name: Lexy Ann

State: Missouri

Occupation: College Student

Marital Status: Single

Favorite Inspirational Book: KJV Bible

Passion of the Christ Movie

Beautiful Child

My five years in foster care from the ages of 8 to 13 was very miserable. I felt so very alone, isolated from everyone moving in the world as well. I didn’t talk very much in school or which ever home I was in because I figured I would just be moving to another foster home soon, so why try to make friends. I remember many nights I longed for a Mom to tuck me in and tell me she loves me, but my only comfort was a blanket and a pillow. I held a lot of hurt and anger in from everybody, trying to act like I had it all together but deep down I was about ready to have a nervous breakdown. I was split up from my two brothers and one sister during the years I was in foster care. They were in different homes. I hated that because other kids would talk about their siblings, but I would hang down my head in shame as if it was my fault I was split up from them. I thought it was my fault we were taken away from our abusive home. It wasn’t until my early 20s I realized nothing that happened in my childhood was my fault. I blamed myself, but now, I realize the things that happened, I had no control over. I was only a little girl, not 30 years old, which often times I acted like. I had to grow up at a very young age, which no child should have to do.

At about age 20 a devastating and very traumatic event took place. I was left feeling desperate, alone, very hurt, scared, deeply depressed, angry, scared by people who were suppose to be my family and protect me, and so much more. A friend from a collage I was attending at the time asked me if I wanted to go to church with her. I thought to myself, it’s either commit suicide or see what this “church” has to offer. I soon found out it wasn’t so much what the “church” had to offer, it was about what’s already been I offered. That night of May 14th, 2004 was the start of a new life in Christ for me. I realized I have sinned and fallen short of God’s Grace. My sins were revealed to me. I remember as I heard the truth, “is there any hope for me? Will God give up on me now?” Soon after, the preacher said, but there’s good news, GOD LOVES YOU, HE SENT JESUS CHRIST IN THE FLESH TO DIE FOR YOU ON THE CROSS SO YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN OF YOUR SINS. All you have to do is repent and be born again. Hearing the words God loves you was the most beautiful words I have ever heard in my entire life! I didn’t care who was on the right or left side watching me as I made my way to the altar, but I walked with tears filling my eyes as the simplicity of Jesus Christ and His Loving message filled my heart. I repented of my sins and as soon as I did it felt like a human hand inside my heart mending every broken, shattered piece back together. What happened, I couldn’t explain in words, all I can say is I had an unspeakable miraculous encounter with God. My life has never been the same. I am so happy now! Even my friends who knew me in grade school as well as high school who have gotten in touch with me recently notices the happiness in my eyes now they hadn’t ever seen before.

Yes, my childhood was robbed from me, but now I have a future and I’m the one who decides what I want in this life. I choose to serve Jesus Christ and open up a Safe Haven for Abused Children to make a difference in other children’s lives. I want to let them know that they can come out of foster care and do something wonderful with their lives. I want these children to know that their lives don’t have to be over (as they often feel like they are) they can be just beginning.

I’ve never had another flashback or nightmare of my childhood since Jesus has taken over in my life. I am so THANKFUL!

In order to begin Safe Haven for Abused Children, I will need a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration most likely. Also, I’m planning working for the Division of Family Services for a couple years after I obtain Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. I have already contacted the state of Missouri asking the requirements needed to run an organization such as Safe Haven. I know I will need to go to college to get the correct degrees to make sure Safe Haven is State approved. I currently attend a wonderful college in Missouri. I know it’s going to be a long hard road, but in the end it will all be worth it. I’ve come a long way already, what’s a few more obstacles to push through? I’m ready for the challenge of becoming a stronger person. I want to help these abused children to know there is Hope (God) in this cold dark world. These abused children are the ones that need the most help and I want to begin helping them as soon as possible. Thank you so very much for reading my story and taking the time to hear about Safe Haven, a place where abused children will know they are loved by God.

Confident and Strong

God Bless You Continuously,
Lexy Ann

April 2009 Face of a Foster Care Graduate

April 18, 2009

Young Carolina-Innocent and precious child that the system failed.....

The power of the human spirit to overcome adversities is a magnificent gift. Many of us can not comprehend the level of power it would take to get through extremely neglectful situations. Imagine you are an innocent child at the mercy of emotionally and mentally deficient adults? Do you think you would continue to stand tall? Would you still be able to dream of a future and set goals for yourself? I am always honored to speak with such great examples of amazing individuals. What continues to surprise me is how many of these great warriors do not view themselves as someone to be celebrated. I do! It is with great honor that I introduce Carolina……

Name: Carolina Hoffman

State: Florida

Occupation: College Student

Marital Status: Married

Favorite Inspirational Book: Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre the Movie

My name is Carolina, (I go by Kat to my friends) and I’ve been out of the system for about 9 years now. I will soon be 27 and although 9 years seems like a long time, I was in and out of foster care from birth until the age of 17. My time in the system lasted almost 15 years. During that time I had two failed adoptions, one that lasted about two years and the other was about to or had just gone through. The best estimate I can recall regarding the number of homes I lived in was 48 or more. When I think back, I see it as a dark time. I always knew that I would fight till the end but as an adult I sometimes think on my younger self as being very strong and I wonder how I survived. I have the mentality now to realize that I really should not be here right now. I always heard how it was my fault no one wanted me. My dad left because I was born a girl and I was crippled. When I saw myself, it was never in the way others did. I saw with my heart. I always wanted to fix things and make my momma love me, but it did not happen that way. As I got older my mother would beat me because she had to take me to the hospital for my legs. I remember her telling my brothers and sisters that we had no money because I was a crippled. It was after she let gangrene set into my leg that HRS stepped in.

Foster care was both my Savior and my worst nightmare. With my mother I knew abuse, neglect, deep hunger, and fear. With the system, a new more terrifying emotion came to play and that was anger and eventually hate. No matter where I went in foster care I was subjected to abuse, hunger, and hate. I have seven siblings of which I have no contact. We all disliked and mistrusted each another. My older brother was one of my biggest abusers, and he was one who should have protected me. Instead, he almost killed me by trying to drown me. Fortunately, I was able to get away and someone finally listened. For a time I felt weak and turned to drugs and prostitution to numb the pain but even that eventually no longer worked. I can remember how easy it was to do those things because my soul was lost, locked up so deep I could not reach it. Eventually I got some help and I started focusing on school. My dream had always been to go to college, and I knew only hard work would make it happen. At 17 I emancipated myself from foster care. It was scary, and the most wonderful feeling in the world. I went to Job Corp, obtained my GED, a skill and began on the road to college. At 18 I married and have been happily married for 8 years.

Beautiful, strong and couragious woman who never gave up on herself...

Adult Carolina-Beautiful, strong and courageous woman who never gave up on herself...

For 3 1/2 years my husband and I opened our home and hearts to a shelter Child. We loved and nurtured him until he was placed with his adoptive family.

Currently, I am working on my Bachelors degree and will soon graduate. I hope to go on to med school soon after graduation. One thing I have learned is never give up! Love yourself, know that you are important, and know that you don’t need anyone else to make you feel you are. Children don’t get to choose their parents but they do get to choose who they become. Fight and stay with it, you can succeed. No matter what, be a Survivor and don’t ever let the system break you.

March Face of a Foster Care Graduate-Tod

March 11, 2009

Some children in foster care end up in good homes with loving parents and some do not. Meet Tod Davis, a father, a husband, a god loving man, and most impressively….A SURVIVOR. At the end of the day, we all feel kicked or knocked down at times. Most of us will endure some difficult times at some point in life. What if your life began with enormous obstacles and they seemed to continually compound? There are those people who manage to overcome much more than the average, more than many of us can imagine. They keep getting up, no matter what, no matter how high they have to climb to get out of the hole . These people demonstrate the incredible power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. These people remind us that it’s more important to focus on what you can do NOW rather than sit back and accept what others did or said to you THEN. Welcome Tod, this is his story and he shares it openly with you in his own words.

Name: Tod Davis

State: Mississippi

Occupation: Music Industry A & R Rep

Marital Status: Married

Children: 3

Favorite source of inspiration: Music

Favorite inspirational book: The Hiding Place

Church: Grace Independent Baptist Church

Tod Davis-The Face of a Foster Care Graduate-March 2009

My testimony

I was adopted in Arizona in a little town called Avondale when I was four years old by a couple who could not have kids. This adoption followed numerous foster home placements and numerous adoption failures. I was adopted by A couple. She was a Sunday school Teacher and he was a church deacon. Things in the church environment were great but the Home environment was a different story. It seemed like my mom wanted a child but my dad Did not or did not know how to handle raising a child. My father would take me to the airport And while he worked on his plane and did not pay much attention to me I wandered around and Picked up stuff off the ground. As a child I was not able to play with other kids and could not Leave our property. I only could play in certain places in the house and only had a set of legos And a set of Lincoln logs and a couple of Tonka trucks. Things were ok for awhile but then all That changed and my dad became very angry with me even being around he would hit me with The buckle part of his belt and shove my head to the front screen door and make me shout to the Whole neighborhood I was a bastard child. My mother would just sit and watch him beat me and Never stepped in to stop it. The beatings got worse and worse and he started using sticks and switches off the tree in our backyard. During this whole time we would go to church every Sunday and Wednesday and I had to act like nothing was going on and that all was ok. But deep Down inside I was dieing my heart was broke and I began to hate god for allowing me to be hurt. Then one day my father tried to push my head into the bottom of a porcelain bathtub and cracked My head open and I was rushed to the hospital.

As a child that is when anger set in and there was No more love in my heart for anyone. It was a Monday morning and I remember it like it was only yesterday I was at school and the teacher told me to sit down in class but I couldn’t due to The bruises and cuts on my butt and legs. I was then sent to the principles office and then the Nurses office and the police were called and I was taken away from them. I started going through Foster homes like left and right one after another it was during this time I started smoking because I had a foster parent that forced me to light his cigarettes. It was also during that time I Began to get into drugs and drinking beer. I then ran away and lived on the streets in the roughest Part of Phoenix Arizona south mountain. It was a heavily populated gang area and drugs were Everywhere. I tried suicide two times during that time and almost died once from a drug overdose of pills and acid. That time I was hospitalized and underwent electric shock therapy for depression and then put back into foster care again. I then ran again and lived on the streets and stayed in cement tubes you find in school playgrounds. It was also during that time I was introduced on the streets to adult bookstores and Another way to make money I now am not proud of.

I thank Jesus I never caught any disease and Lived. Then came a day where I just could not take the pain anymore and I was standing on a part of a freeway overpass and looking down on the traffic below timing when to jump over the Edge so I would die and just as I was getting ready to jump a voice screamed at me from the side Of the road. I looked over and there was a motor home parked in a abandoned gas station with a Sign on it that read Trent Franks for senate. I was like what do you want to the Youngman that Had called over to me. He was like come in I got something for you brother. Now at this time I Was thinking cool were going to get drunk or high so I was like ok. I remember stepping into the Motor home and there sat a bible on the table. Now normally I would turn around and run but I Just could not. We sat there and he told me about Jesus love and how he died on the cross for me. He also told me it was not gods fault I was beat and hurt and that he loved me and I was his child.

It was that day I gave my heart to god. I went to north phoenix Baptist church and was involved very much into the youth ministry and a teen singing group that toured everywhere singing in different churches all over the country and reached souls for Christ. I then moved to Chicago and that is Where I strayed from god I got into music and toured with a band and got back into alcohol. I then moved to Mississippi and went through hurricane Katrina and after that I started working with rock bands and my kids were going to Grace and begging me daily to go to church with them but I would not go. But god had different plans for me I lost A very profitable business in one day and that is when I came to church finally and was broke down and submitted I remember talking to brother Jerry and giving my heart back to god. I Since then have felt a strong calling to work with troubled youth for the lord.

God has been very good to me in my life.I have been married for 14yrs to my wife and even though its tough having three kids I would not trade it for the world. My son who is 15 helps me when I go and perform gospel at other places. My daughter who is 11 has a beutiful singing voice as well and has performed already in crowds up to 800 people or more. My other son is great at anything that has to do with computers.And my wife works in the medical field with pediatric patients. I’m currently working with one of the best unsigned Rock bands Allyria and they are doing charity work for kids as well. I’m also very involved at my church and recently made it known to my pastor of gods will to work with young people who have struggles in their life and In final closing of my story I say this to the young people people never give up in your struggles god will take care of you always.

Words of wisdom from former foster care kids

March 9, 2009

Be brave child and always remember you have a friend in
this world that knows your pain. But I tell you be strong
you can do it.Dont be a statistic be a fighter stand tall.
And always remember if you want something in life you have
to fight for it make it yours and only yours.Because like you
I suffered and felt like giving up feeling like there was no
love for me.But I gave it everything I had and I won.You to
can be a winner just fight and never give up.

From A Friend
Foster Graduate
Tod Davis

Upcoming…first March Face of a Foster Care Graduate

March 3, 2009

The posting of the first March Face of a Foster Care Graduate will occur shortly. This featured graduate is a truly remarkable person and I can’t wait for you to meet him so please check back later on in the week to read about his amazing journey.

The Face of a Foster Care Graduate Campaign-Postcard Mailing

October 10, 2008

The Face of a Foster Care Graduate Campaign is officially launched. A postcard (shown below) went out to associations all over the country that work with foster care children and/or alumni. The postcard, hopefully will inspire former foster care children (alumni) to submit their story and photo. It is our hope that we will receive enough content to allow us to post a new Face of a Foster Care Graduate each week.

For complete information, visit “fostercareinamerica.com/graduates/”