Community Connections

San Diego Foster Youth Current Events

Oct 11, 2022

2022 Dream On Concert Gala is a Record-Setting Success!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our 13th annual Dream On Concert Gala presented by Kevin and Raegan Prior on September 12th. The event took place under the stars at the La Jolla estate home of Joan Waitt. Thank you to premier sponsors, Southwest Airlines– Promises2Kids’ Official Airline, Aetna, Orli, Dowling & Yhanke, Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani, La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Center, and VIP Media Partner Ranch & Coast.

This year’s event was attended by over 500 philanthropists, community, and business leaders, and included a reception, dinner, live auction, speech by a former Guardian Scholar, and a concert by Berlin, one of the greatest synth electro-pop bands of all time. The evening’s special menu was prepared by Owner and Executive Chef, Jeffrey Strauss, of Pamplemousse Grille.

Thanks to our supporters, nearly $1.8 million (net) was raised for foster youth!

A special thank you to our event chairs Stephanie Brown, Lynne Doyle, Deborah Marengo, Merrilee Neal, and Joan Waitt.

 

Latinx Group Launches New Year for Guardian Scholar Specialty Groups

Guardian Scholars’ Latinx Group started the new year as students, mentors, and staff gathered for dinner at Miguel’s in Old Town.

Belonging to a group like Guardian Scholars’ Latinx is a valuable way for students to connect with their culture, identity, and heritage.

Guardian Scholars’ Latinx specialty group provides Guardian Scholars from Latinx backgrounds with a safe space, guidance, mentorship from leaders in the community, and lasting relationships with peers from common backgrounds. Community leaders help students navigate pressing topics and how they intersect with their cultural backgrounds.

Promises2Kids Interviewed on ABC 10 News to Raise Awareness on World Mental Health Day

Promises2Kids CEO, Tonya Torosian, joined ABC10 News yesterday, World Mental Health Day, to raise awareness about mental health struggles among foster youth.

Tonya discussed how the particular set of circumstances facing current and former foster youth leave them especially vulnerable when it comes to struggles with mental health.

She also talked about what Promises2Kids is doing to address this issue, including taking on outside partnerships that provide training to both foster youth and their caregivers, as well as having a doctor on staff to oversee mental health checks, crisis intervention, and to connect youth to services.

CEO Tonya Torosian interviewed in Giving Back Magazine

Our CEO, Tonya Torosian, was featured in a Q&A style interview in Giving Back Magazine. Learn more about the amazing work Tonya does at Promises2Kids and how Southwest Airlines, the Official Airline of Promises2Kids, has supported foster youth for many years!