As another school year come to an end, we are celebrating all of the learning and growing that has happened this year - inside and outside the classroom!
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Back in March, Calvin* was accepted into a new school — one with a program specifically designed to support his unique learning needs. You can imagine the daunting feeling of stepping into a brand-new classroom in the middle of the school year, uncertainty and anxiety swirling.
“We really had to work together on developing hope,” says Chris, Calvin’s mentor. “Giving a new place a chance is hard — especially when past schools haven’t felt like the right fit.”
But Calvin not only quickly embraced his new environment; within just a month, he was already helping another new student navigate their own transition! Chris captured their ice cream celebration on camera, and Calvin's proud smile is radiant!
"Watching him use his positive relationship-building skills to welcome and support others made me a proud mentor," Chris adds. We are so proud of Calvin, and of all the Friends - Utah youth. They have all grown so much this school year, and we are excited to continue walking alongside them as they build their core assets and turn challenges into opportunities for empowerment.
*Youth's name changed to protect privacy
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Announcing an Exciting New Partnership with Waterford.org Early Learning
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We are so excited to be partnering with Waterford, a national early education nonprofit that provides research-backed PreK through 2nd grade reading, math, and science programs that children can use wherever they learn. Their tailored programs have demonstrated success in helping children reach critical milestones by third grade, laying the foundation for future success for every child. We held a fun kickoff event with Waterford last month, and are looking forward to sharing more about our partnership!
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Major Win: New Grant for Child Abuse Prevention!
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We have some fantastic news to share! Our organization has been awarded the highly competitive Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) Grant. This crucial federal funding supports community-led efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect, and we've been anticipating this opportunity since we began in 2020. We're very proud to announce that we've received the maximum possible award for five years to strengthen families and keep them together safely.
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A Heartfelt Thank You to Recent Supporters
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Thank You to everyone who generously supported our spring campaign to unlock a summer of potential for our resilient youth! We are especially grateful to our lead donors, the Mark and Kathie Miller Foundation, and Jane and Karl Braithwaite for kicking off the campaign and amplifying the impact of every gift. Thanks to your generosity, summer will be full of academically enriching activities, consistent, caring mentorship, and exciting adventures!
We are so grateful to Rich and Ronda Stayner for making a generous gift to Friends-Utah following a clubhouse visit this spring. We also want to shout a big thank you to Nordstrom for their generous donation to support our mission earlier this spring. We're very grateful for your partnership in this work empowering youth facing systemic obstacles. Thank you for helping to create lasting change!
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Strengthening Partnership with Intermountain Health
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We're also excited to announce a generous multi-year grant over three years from the Intermountain Community Care Foundation! As a founding donor and long-standing partner, this significant commitment from Intermountain Health will greatly boost our innovative strategies for whole-family well-being. We deeply appreciate Intermountain Health's ongoing support, which strengthens our valuable partnership and directly helps us expand our impact on youth and families.
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Save the Date for Our Community Arts and Crafts Fundraiser
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September 11, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 pm
The Sugar Space: 132 S 800 W SLC
We are thrilled to announce our Community Arts and Crafts Friendraiser as our premier public-facing event of 2025! This inspiring gathering will bring together local artists, youth, supporters, and community members for a vibrant celebration of creativity, connection, and purpose.
This unique event will showcase artwork from professional local artists as well as the talented youth we serve. Guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase these pieces, with all proceeds going directly to support our mission: breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty through the power of consistent, caring mentorship. Mark your calendars today and stay tuned for more details and a link to RSVP!
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Meet Our Newest Board Member
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Diana Harter
We’re excited to welcome Diana Harter, Strategic Marketing Sourcing Manager at Adobe, to our Friends - Utah Board of Directors! Diana brings a passion for connection, building strategic partnerships, and a commitment to making a difference.
She shares, “I’ve been wanting to serve on a nonprofit board for a while. I believe in giving back—especially to causes focused on well-being, education, children, and women. I'm inspired by the impact Friends of the Children – Utah brings to our community and honored to further the organization’s mission.” Welcome, Diana!
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Our Fruitful Spring Calendar
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It has been a busy spring here at Friends - Utah! In addition to launching our partnership with Waterford, we held a wonderful family engagement event sharing youth projects, spent time on Zoom learning calming breathing techniques with Simone Biles, and sent Friends - Utah leadership to D.C. to engage with lawmakers around the importance of mentorship.
Our summer calendar is looking just as full. Thanks to our community's support of our fundraising efforts, youth will have the opportunity to experience new places and activities while continuing to build their core assets and academic skills. We look forward to sharing about their adventures!
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Our mailing address is:
Friends of the Children - Utah
5361 S 4220 W
Suite B
Kearns, UT 84118
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