Our month-long Pinwheels 4 Prevention campaign culminated in the planting of over 400 pinwheels to create a pinwheel garden on the lawn of the County Administration Center followed by a press conference to help raise awareness and prevent child abuse.

Former Vice Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Nora Vargas, San Diego County Child and Family Well-Being Director Kimberly Giardina, Promises2Kids CEO Tonya Torosian, and Guardian Scholar Dulce Palayo, spoke on the importance of the cause, and more pressingly, what we, as a community, can do to eradicate child abuse.

Thank you to everyone involved in our second annual Pinwheels 4 Prevention, from those who purchased pinwheels, to the ICW Group volunteers who helped plant the garden, our Prevention Partners, Andrew & Kristen Ruiz, California Coast Credit Union, Dustin and Heather TenBroeck, Eakes & Company, Fakouri Electrical Engineering, inc., John Costa, Molly’s Angels Foundation, the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, and Tracie Hager all the way up to the County for partnering in our efforts. Together, we raised over $11,000 to fund programs and services for victims and prevention and brought much needed awareness and discourse to the cause. 

We were so grateful to have so many of our volunteers join us for our 2024 Volunteer Appreciation Event last week.

This was just one opportunity to celebrate the amazing work you do ALL YEAR! As you know, we always put our children and youth first, but this April is our opportunity to center you, your contributions, passion, and efforts, that make an immeasurable impact on those we serve.

In addition to celebrating your generosity, we honored several outstanding efforts over the past year. We truly could not do what we do without dedicated and inspirational volunteers like you.

Looking for somewhere to eat or drink, while supporting local businesses AND foster children in San Diego? We have you covered all month long!

May is National Foster Care Month and today we kick off our 6th Annual Foodies 4 Foster Kids campaign. 🍽

All month, you can explore some of the exciting dining San Diego has to offer and contribute to a good cause. From May 1-31, visit any of our 39 Foodies Partners to help us raise awareness and funds for current and former foster children in our community.

Visit our page for a complete list of our local businesses and their featured items for the month.

A huge thank you to all our amazing partners and our longtime media partner @ranchandcoast!

Guardian Scholars, Makayla and Vanessa, both members of the Advocates for Change group, flew to the nation’s capital for The San Diego Chamber of Commerce 2024 Mission to Washington, D.C.

Makayla and Vanessa volunteered for the chance to advocate on issues facing the foster youth community including housing instability, mental health, child care and development, and the need for mentoring programs.

They were joined by Promises2Kids CEO, Tonya Torosian, Director of Programs, Rashida Elimu, and Special Advisor to the CEO, Lidia Martinez, as they met with many elected officials including @repjuanvargas, @repsarajacobs, @mayortoddgloria, @seaneloriverad9, @cmraulcampillo, @D4SupMonica. @joelandersonca, and others.

It is always inspiring to work alongside these Guardian Scholars harnessing their voice to make positive change for those in the position they were once in.

Thank you to the official airline partner of Promises2Kids, @southwestair for making this trip possible!

Mentors and mentees recently rolled up their sleeves and got crafty together at @boardandbrushsandiego!

This informal afternoon event provided a space for pairs to spend time together while also completing a fun activity that they took home. The project was to prep, paint, and finish a decorative piece to hang on the wall. Pairs collaborated, traded ideas, and encouraged each other to make each board one of a kind!

Promises2Kids prioritizes regular events for mentors and mentees to allow them to further develop their relationships and create lasting memories through fun and diverse activities without the burden of arranging and planning events.

Since this event fell during #VolunteerAppreciationMonth, we find ourselves especially grateful for the dedication, care, and support provided by these outstanding community members.