Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit that selects the most vulnerable children ages 4-6 from high-poverty schools and the foster care system, and pairs them with a salaried, professional mentor (a Friend) who stays with them from kindergarten through graduation - 12 + years, no matter what.

Evaluations on youth who complete the Friends of the Children program show that:
- 83% graduate from high school
- 93% avoid the juvenile justice system
- 98% avoid early parenting

We aren’t just changing the stories of children facing the highest risks. We’re changing the collective stories of our community for the long run. Our work is focused on one child at a time, but it affects everyone.