Got Amex? Vote!

Foster kids are abandoned twice: First by their parents, then by the system designed to raise them. But when they turn 18, we have one last chance to parent them and give them the skills necessary to save their lives and transform them into happy, educated, independent, productive members of their communities.

I’m thrilled to announce that one of The Members Projects that has made it to the Top 50 is called, "Aged out-Kicked out" and will help America’s youth who have aged out of the foster care system (i.e., turned 18 and are left homeless). There are many worthy projects in the Top 50 (which will be further narrowed down after July 15), but as you may know, I’m partial to the cause of emancipated foster youth, and I’ve seen how their lives can completely turn around with love, support and guidance.

The winner of The Members Project will get $1 million to $5 million in funding. Please vote by Sunday, July 15. That’s the day after tomorrow. You do have to be an eligible card-holder. Obviously, vote for whichever project you find most worthy, but if I had to give a plug for the project for former foster youth, it would be a quote, by yours truly, when I was interviewed for a documentary on this topic earlier this year:

I deal with a lot of nonprofits, and all of the causes are close to my heart, but this is the one issue we can resolve in my lifetime.*

Please vote, if you’re eligible. It takes about $15,000 per youth, per year, to provide housing, job-readiness training, education, counseling and life skills training. And within two years, the result is a self-sufficient individual, with at least a high school diploma or GED, who is able to live independently and productively within the community. Without help in the first 18 months out of the foster care system, the result is incarceration, homelessness, institutionalization, pregnancy, and substance abuse. The cost of that? Hundreds of thousands of dollars, per person, per lifetime.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective giving idea that will prevent homelessness (3 of 10 homeless people have a foster care history) and activities that lead to incarceration (and even death!), the cause of youth who are aging out is the one.

*I do think we can ban greyhound racing and other animal uses in my lifetime, but if I said that in the interview it would’ve been edited out.