CLC Birthday Project

All too often foster children move from home to home and school to school. In the wake of a childhood in motion, something as basic as a birthday can easily fall through the cracks of an overburdened foster care system and go unnoticed. While it is inconceivable for most children to imagine a birthday without celebration, this occurrence is the norm for a significant number of foster children.

In an effort to make every foster child’s birthday a joyous occasion and a day worth remembering, the Children’s Law Center has established a “Birthday Project.” With the support of the community, this initiative enables us to acknowledge the birthdays of an often neglected and forgotten population of children.

Client Needs Fund

Youth living in foster care are often prevented from participating in extracurricular or enrichment activities because they lack the funds to pay for sports uniforms, musical instruments or art supplies. Similarly, tuition for summer camp, dance lessons, an overnight field trip or an after school computer class are rarely available to foster children. Items that many children would consider basics, such as school backpacks or supplies for a science fair entry, may also be out of reach. The Client Needs Fund at Children’s Law Center seeks to supplement special requests such as these, which are not funded from other sources.

Lisa E. Mandel Fund for Emancipating Youth

While the child welfare system does its best to ensure that youth leaving foster care as young adults are armed with the tools to survive, the sad reality is that these young people may lack some of the basics needed to succeed in life outside of foster care. Essential household items, computer equipment, basic job skills, or even appropriate clothes to wear to an interview are often not available when we send youth out on their own.

In an effort to fill the gaps experienced by many emancipating foster youth, Children's Law Center has created the Lisa E. Mandel Fund for Emancipating Youth. The Mandel Emancipating Youth Fund, named for former Children's Law Center Legal Director Lisa E. Mandel, who worked tirelessly on behalf of young adults on the verge of aging out of foster care, provides clothing, job skills training, household items, transportation, and other necessities. The fund has no overhead costs attached to it, and every dollar directly benefits youth emancipating from the Los Angeles County foster care system.

To help, send a new unwrapped gift, check or a gift card to Children’s Law Center, 901 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 202, Monterey Park, CA 91754, or phone (323) 980-1700 for additional information.

For more information, see:

Birthday Project Flyer

Mandel Emancipation Fund Flyer