Friends of the Children - Utah

Exciting news: Our 2025 Annual Gratitude Report is here, and it marks five years of showing up for Utah's children who need us most. 62 children. Professional mentors. 12+ years of commitment, no matter what. This isn't a short-term program, but a long-term promise: from pre-kindergarten all the way through high school graduation. The data shows what happens when you keep that promise: ✅ Children building skills and confidence year over year ✅ Families navigating real challenges with stronger support ✅ A growing community of partners investing in lasting change As we look to the future, we're getting ready to expand our reach to even more youth across Utah, and we couldn't do it without you. Thank you. Explore the full 2025 Gratitude Report: https://lnkd.in/eu4HNtSy

Ready to turn your passion for youth advocacy into a career with lasting impact? Friends of the Children – Utah is hiring a full-time, bilingual (Spanish/English) Professional Mentor (“Friend”) to support a cohort of 8 male youth and families through long-term, relationship-centered mentorship. We’re looking for someone with experience in education, youth services, or social work who is ready to help youth build resilience, overcome obstacles, and thrive. Join a model backed by 32+ years of evidence and help create lasting change in our community. Apply today or share with someone who’d be a great fit: https://lnkd.in/ehJwcvSB

This is more than a beautiful story. It’s impact you can see and measure. 💛 Through long-term, professional mentorship, children facing the greatest obstacles are building brighter futures with the support of a consistent, caring adult by their side. Our professional mentors, called Friends, show up for 12+ years, no matter what. At the heart of it all is possibility. As our Executive Director Kelseu Lewis shares in this recent video, one of the most important roles of a Friend is helping a child see what’s possible. 🎥 Watch how that belief is transforming futures right here in Utah: https://lnkd.in/eeHUS2d4

Six years. One person. The job of many. John Koranicki — our Operations Director, our unicorn, the reason a hundred things just work — is celebrating six years with Friends - Utah today. From HR to IT to finance to site management, John holds it all together while building the infrastructure that helps our team do more, raise more, and serve more. He has a gift for solving problems and creating systems that remove barriers — and when other chapters in our network want to strengthen their operations, they call John. "There's no one like John. He brings precision, heart, and an almost uncanny ability to see what's missing and fix it before anyone else notices it's gone." — Kelsey Lewis, Executive Director. John, six years in — thank you for everything you do and everything you've built. Here's to many more.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community — and a remarkable lead gift from Mark and Kathie Miller — Friends - Utah's "Turn the Page on Summer Learning" campaign hit our goal of raising $30,000! This funding means our mentors keep showing up every week with intentional, one-on-one time for the young people who count on them. It means more literacy activities, summer camps, and field trips that spark curiosity and build confidence. Every gift, at every level, made this possible. Thank you for helping our resilient youth write their own stories of success.

Today is the final day of our spring campaign, and we want to be clear about something: Your gift creates real, tangible impact. 💙 $20 = a young reader’s first trophy 💙 $50 = a field trip that brings learning to life 💙 $100 = send a youth to summer camp 💙 $250 = help a kid find their spark through art or sports 💙 $500 = a full summer of growth and creativity Danielle’s story is one example of what that impact looks like. When she was falling behind in school and struggling socially, her professional mentor showed up week after week. Together, they worked on communication, managing frustration, and building confidence. This year, Danielle was nominated for Student of the Month. She’s now in Girl Scouts. She sings in choir. She asks for extra help with math and reading because she wants to succeed. That’s the power of consistent, long-term mentoring. And it’s only possible because of supporters like you. Today is your last chance to be part of this campaign. Don’t let it pass. Turn the Page on Summer Learning. Donate today: https://lnkd.in/ekrcfNhD

As we close out Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’re celebrating the power of community, connection, and showing up for families in meaningful ways. 💙 This month reminded us that strong families are built through everyday moments of support, and that prevention starts with all of us. We were proud to bring that spirit to life at our recent Safety Fair, made possible by FinWise Bank. Families spent the evening exploring interactive booths, connecting with community partners, and learning practical tools to keep their children safe. And of course, there were a few “safety superheroes” flying around (our staff😄), making the night both fun and impactful. At Friends of the Children – Utah, we believe that when families have access to resources, trusted relationships, and supportive communities, children can thrive. Thank you to everyone who helped make this month so meaningful. The work doesn’t end here. We are glad you are on this journey with us. 💙

Today is a powerful moment for generosity across Utah. Utah Gives Day is bringing together nonprofits and communities to invest in what matters most, and we’re proud to be part of it. At Friends of the Children, we see every day what’s possible when young people are supported with consistent relationships and the tools to thrive. Right now, the youth in our program are finding their voices—on the page and in the world. We wanted to share just a few lines a youth wrote recently: I see the clouds future so bright I can see the lovely light Saturn got rings but I don't need jewelry Universe talking like it all cool with me This is what becomes possible when a child has a dedicated mentor. This is what your support makes real. 📚 Join us in turning the page on what’s possible: https://lnkd.in/eXbnDwrM ⏳ Today only! Be part of Utah Gives!

He doubled his reading score. Then he started helping someone else learn. At a recent talent showcase, Elijah didn’t choose a sport or performance. He shared something even more powerful: his progress. Over the course of the school year, Elijah, a youth enrolled at Friends - Utah, doubled his reading diagnostic score, moving from below grade level to on grade level. Not long after, he was seen reading aloud to a younger child in our clubhouse. That transformation didn’t happen by chance. It happened because of consistent, relationship-based support, especially from his professional mentor, Will. Will partnered with his teacher, showed up week after week, and never wavered in his belief in Elijah. We see this time and time again: When a child makes academic progress, confidence follows. Elijah’s story is one of many, and your investment can pave the way for more growth during these upcoming summer months. Gifts made during our Turn the Page on Summer Learning campaign are being DOUBLED thanks to a generous match from Mark and Kathie Miller. 📚 Help make more stories like Elijah’s possible: https://lnkd.in/ekrcfNhD

Big news for the future of professional youth mentoring. A recent feature in Inside Philanthropy highlights the growing momentum behind training programs that equip mentors to better support young people—and spotlights Friends of the Children as a leader in this work. At the center of the story is the upcoming Duncan & Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring, set to open in Portland this fall. This new hub will bring together mentors, practitioners, and researchers to strengthen the field and advance professional mentoring as a career path. As Terri Sorensen, Friends of the Children CEO shares: “We want to bring together mentors, leaders and researchers in our space to help move forward professional youth mentoring as a career, and to demonstrate that our long-term professional mentoring model is a solution to some of our nation’s greatest challenges.” 🔗 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e9xb7Ftc