Join us in prayer for all impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and provide immediate, urgent assistance to families facing the devastation today. Learn More
Upbring is excited to participate in the Annual Austin Adoption Day! If you’ve never been, we highly suggest coming by. The 16th Annual Adoption Day project on November 2, 2017, brings together attorneys, caseworkers, judges and many others from across the state to celebrate the creation of new families:
Upbring board member Terry Kieschnick and 70 other pastors’ wives donated 111 pairs of shoes to Bokenkamp Children’s Shelter in Corpus Christi. Rev. Mike Coppersmith of Zion Lutheran Church in Walburg blessed the kids shoes before Terry and her husband Jerry delivered them.
Kennedy Franklin (seated) and Jeye Johnson hosted two bake sales to help families impacted by Hurricane Harvey recover and rebuild. The bake sales were a creative way to help hurricane victims, as well as a blessing to so many families who need our help.
Gary and Sabina of San Antonio were blessed with three biological children. Their hearts led them to partner with Upbring foster-to-adopt to add two more to their family. If their story ended there, it would still be worth telling.
But the day they held a 3-month-old with two broken ribs and a broken leg, they knew they had to do more. Read More
The nearly 300 golfers who recently teed off during the annual Upbring Golf Austin and Houston tournaments were playing for more than birdies, pars and hole-in-ones. For these athletes, a few hours on the course offered a powerful way to change a child’s life.
The events raised a combined $113,000 for Upbring Foster In Texas (FIT), BeREAL, Krause Children’s Center and New Life Children’s Center.
“I was walking through the dormitories the other day, Read More
When you think back to your childhood, were there adults who helped you become the person you are today? Maybe it was a coach, a pastor or a family friend who invested in you by listening and encouraging you.
Simply by showing up, Upbring mentors help children and young adults write a new story, one where someone believes in them, laughs with them and chooses them.
“One of the best gifts you can give a young person is your time,” said Trevon, an Upbring BeREAL participant.
“When you’re in foster care, people constantly come and go from your life. BeREAL connected me with adults who are always there for me. I want to give back to the program as a mentor someday.”
Research shows that the support of adults makes a life-changing impact young people’s lives. According to MENTOR: National Mentoring Partnership, at-risk young adults who have mentors are:
Mentors can be especially important when it comes to education, one of Upbring’s five markers of every child’s well-being.
The Christian Science Monitor notes that if students feel supported by adults in school, it can reduce the likelihood of them dropping out by 25 percent.
Furthermore, youth with mentors have fewer unexcused absences from class than students without mentors, according to a study cited by youth.gov.
Even with the growth of mentoring groups during the past two decades, an estimated 9 million at-risk U.S. children will turn 19 without that connection, reports MENTOR.
Mentors are an essential part of the work we do to end the cycle of child abuse. Your willingness to share your hobbies, talents, encouragement and time with our Texas children makes a tremendous impact on their lives.
If you are interested in mentoring and other volunteer opportunities, visit our Volunteer page or contact Amanda Angell, volunteer and stewardship coordinator, at [email protected] or 512-706-7856.
As images of Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath flood our social media feeds and television screens, our hearts break for Texans and Louisianians who have experienced tremendous loss. As our Upbring staff work tirelessly to serve those in need, we know so many of you are asking how you, too, can help.
Whether you live locally or across the country, there are three easy ways that you can make a difference and support those who will soon start rebuilding their lives as the flood waters recede.
1. Give. Whether you donate to Upbring on our website or set up your own Facebook fundraiser, any amount you can donate will be used to give families the tools they need to get back on their feet. Businesses interested in giving to Upbring can contact our Director of Corporate Relations, Ryan Armstrong, directly at: [email protected]
2. Share. Letting your friends and family know about Upbring’s disaster response efforts and the work we’re doing to support families in crisis will help us reach even more people. The more people we reach, the more donations we receive, and the more lives we can impact. Invite your friends to our Facebook page where we are constantly providing updates, or take a few seconds to share a Facebook post or Tweet is a small act that can make a big difference.
Here is a tweet you can Re-Tweet:
Need has increased as we're now servicing 350 families affected by #HurricaneHarvey/#HarveyFlood. Please donate at: https://t.co/1fiyANkI6g
— Upbring (@UpbringOrg) August 29, 2017
Here is a status you can share on Facebook:
3. Pray. Please keep families, first responders, disaster response teams, volunteers and officials in your prayers. We believe in the power of prayer, and hope you’ll keep Upbring, our staff, and those we serve in your prayers. “Lord God All-Powerful, there is no one like you. You are strong, Lord, and always faithful. You rule the stormy sea. You can calm its angry waves.” Psalm 89:8-9
More than 350 of our families that Upbring serves were impacted by Hurricane Harvey — with many more at risk as subsequent flooding and lingering storms unfold.
Upbring works to provide for the needs of families throughout the year, but now, more than ever, they need our help.
Please invite your friends and family to join us as we work together to raise $25,000. Setting up a fundraiser on Facebook is easy, and the funds will come directly to Upbring.
Together, we can show our Texas children and incredible families they are seen, cared for and loved. Together, we can offer hope, and help, to those who need it most.
Image courtesy KHOU
