Provided by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announces the launch of the Our Children Fund, devoted to supporting the approximately 260 children in the Fairfax County foster care system. The Our Children Fund was established by Deborah G. Matthews, a trust and estate attorney devoted to supporting foster children.
“The Our Children Fund is focused on the needs of foster children which are immediate and present every single day. It’s important that foster children not be treated as our forgotten children. They are in the foster care system because they are victims, they’ve done nothing wrong. The Our Children Fund will help normalize expenses and experiences for foster children,” said Ms. Matthews.
The Our Children Fund provides financial assistance for items and experiences for children in the Fairfax County foster system between the ages of birth and 17 years, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 21, if permanency (return home, relative placement, or adoption) is not achieved. This Fund addresses their otherwise unmet medical, social, emotional and educational needs. Some examples of what might be supported include fees for afterschool activities, camps, and sports as well as dental and health services. To-date, the Fund has supported three students by providing computer equipment. One boy, 16, had trouble completing his homework for the last year because his foster family did not have a computer or printer. Now he has his own and even if he changes foster homes, he will continue to have what he needs to get his homework done because of the Fund.
Applications are available on a rolling basis through the Community Foundation’s website at cfnova.org/our-children. Families or foster children age 18-21 can complete the online application which will be signed by both the foster care parent and substantiated by a social worker, medical professional, or clergy member. Once the request is approved, a check will be sent to the company that will provide the resource or service.
Tax deductible donations to support this Fund may be made through the Community Foundation’s website at cfnova.org/for-donors/foundation-funds/donor-funds/our-children-fund/donation or by sending payment to the Community Foundation’s office: 2940 Hunter Mill Road, Suite 201, Oakton, VA 22124.
