WE GIVE!
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Listen to Fostering Imagination executive director/founder Ilia Jauregui, psychotherapist Jeanette Yoffe, and FI Youth Shimia Gray and Dante Brown discuss crucial foster care issues which aired on AM 830 May 26, 2010 on The Free Your Mind Project hosted by Brian Canning and Wendy Almasy.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “SHIPWRECKED” GALA BENEFITING LOCAL FOSTER YOUTH MAKES LAND OCTOBER 9TH Contact: Ilia Jauregui, (310) 733-8443 Santa Monica, CA (August 9, 2010) – An evening of fun, food and fabulous prizes comes to Venice Beach on Saturday, October 9th to support free programs for local foster youth. “Shipwrecked: A Celebration of Imagination” is presented by Fostering Imagination, a 501(c)3 organization that provides mentorship and free programs to LA foster youth. This annual benefit will feature live entertainment, food, a silent auction and raffle prizes, as well as special appearances by foster youth whose lives have been impacted by Fostering Imagination’s programs. The island-themed event will take place at the Law Offices of Schonbrun, DeSimone, Seplow, Harris & Hoffman located at 723 Ocean Front Walk on the historic Venice Boardwalk. The cornerstone of “Shipwrecked” will be an impressive silent auction, featuring delectable packages such as a one-week stay in a beautiful bed-and-breakfast in Chiapas, Mexico. Other prizes include local spa services, original paintings by local artists, entertainment packages, theme park tickets and more that attendees will have the opportunity to bid on throughout the evening. All proceeds from “Shipwrecked” will fund much-services provided by Fostering Imagination, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that has been devoting one-on-one attention to foster youth for five years. “Foster youth not only experience the regular challenges that other teens face,” says executive director Ilia Jauregui, “but they’re also looking at an uncertain future when they turn 18 and the system all but abandons them. FI is all about giving foster kids a stable, loving environment where they can gain advice on their journey to adulthood – but we also strive to give them a place to just have fun and enjoy being kids as well.” Tickets for the gala are $40 per person in advance and $50 at the door. All tickets are fully tax-deductible and offer guests complimentary parking at Rose Café (220 Rose Ave.) and shuttle service to/from the event, an island-themed gourmet buffet, a full-service bar and raffle tickets. Tickets can be purchased via cash, check or credit card, with payment and additional information available through www.fosteringimagination.org or by calling (310) 733-8443. This event is sponsored by Schonbrun, DeSimone, Seplow, Harris & Hoffman LLP and Business Smarts. “Beyond being a fabulously fun event at the beach in Venice, ‘Shipwrecked’ is a great opportunity to meet some of our youth from the past five years and to hear about their experiences,” Jauregui says. “I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening.” About Fostering Imagination Fostering Imagination mentors at-risk displaced foster youth in Los Angeles through free, structured one-on-one creative arts and social development programs. FI programs impart stability, responsibility and self-esteem to unlock personal potential and empower youth to become positive peers, future mentors and community role models.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 10, 2010
Contact: Ilia Jauregui, Fostering Imagination
(310)733-8443
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FOSTER YOUTH SHINE IN FOSTERING IMAGINATION’S “YOUTH TAKE THE STAGE: MAGIC OF HOLLYWOOD”
Santa Monica, CA – The curtain will rise on some talented, yet often overlooked, area foster youth as Fostering Imagination puts on its annual “FI Youth Take the Stage” event June 13th in Santa Monica.
Themed “The Magic of Hollywood,” this intimate evening of original performances will take place on Sunday, June 13th at the Ruskin Theatre with shows at 5:30pm and 7:30pm. It is the fourth annual event presented by Fostering Imagination, a local 501(c)3 organization that mentors at-risk LA foster youth through free creative arts and social development programs.
Youth performing in “The Magic of Hollywood” are part of Fostering Imagination’s 12-week core theatre program, “Fostering Creativity,” where they gain an introduction to theatre by learning different acting techniques and exercises, and FI’s Masters of Creativity Program, an advanced program whereby foster youth become junior mentors in training.
Along with celebrating the children’s completion in the program, Fostering Imagination Executive Director Ilia Jauregui says she hopes the FI Youth Take the Stage event will help bring awareness to the issues facing over 34,000 foster kids in Los Angeles.
“Foster youth often go overlooked – from the daunting challenges many face in their home lives to a serious lack of resources in the school system and from all branches of government,” Jauregui says. “The FI Youth Take the Stage event is important because it gives our youth a chance to feel like the stars that they are. We are so excited to give our kids a chance to shine and show off all their creativity, hard work and commitment.”
The suggested tax-deductible donation for “The Magic of Hollywood” is $10 per person (cash, check or credit card). All event proceeds go directly to Fostering Imagination to support its free mentoring and enrichment programs.
Doors open at 5:00pm with parking available on site. The Ruskin Theatre is located at 3000 Airport Ave. in Santa Monica.
For more information on Fostering Imagination and its programs, visit www.fosteringimagination.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A MONTH FILLED WITH PARTIES TO BRING AWARENESS TO FOSTER CARE
Los Angeles, CA (1 May, 2010) – To commemorate May’s Foster Care Awareness Month, Fostering Imagination is planning a month filled with events to raise awareness of the challenges faced by L.A. foster youth while in foster care and once they emancipate from the system.
Fostering Imagination will host “House Parties for Foster Youth” throughout Los Angeles, where party hosts will compete for a chance to win a one-week stay at a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Chiapas, Mexico for two. The campaign culminates on Sunday, May 23rd at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica with “From Foster Care to Fabulous,” an evening of art, music and theatre.
“House Parties for Foster Youth” will take place throughout Los Angeles in the month of May. To participate and become eligible to win the Chiapas trip, hosts simply plan a party of their choosing and register online at www.fosteringimagination.org. The host who succeeds in raising the most funds for L.A. foster youth and Fostering Imagination programs will win the week stay at Bela’s Bed and Breakfast voted #1 in San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico.
The culmination of Fostering Imagination’s Foster Care Awareness Month festivities is its From Foster Care to Fabulous, An Evening of Entertainment on Sunday, May 23rd at 7:00pm at the Ruskin Group Theatre located at 3000 Airport Avenue in Santa Monica. The event will begin with a wine and cheese reception while guests enjoy live music and an art auction featuring work by local artists. Headlining the evening will be actor/writer Patrick Burns, who will perform his one-man show also titled “From Foster Care to Fabulous,” about his experiences growing up in the foster care system.
The May event proceeds will benefit Fostering Imagination, a local 501(c)3 organization that provides free enrichment and mentoring programs for L.A. foster youth. “We are celebrating our fifth year building better futures for foster kids,” says Ilia Jauregui, Fostering Imagination executive director. “These events are vitally important in bringing awareness to the serious issues facing local foster youth face and in helping us continue to provide much-needed programs. I hope everyone will come out to support these great young people and, best of all, to have a wonderful time doing it.”
To register your “House Party” or to purchase tickets for From Foster Care to Fabulous, An Evening of Entertainment, and for more information on Fostering Imagination, visit www.fosteringimagination.org.
Contact:
Ilia Jauregui, Executive Director, Fostering Imagination (310)733-8443 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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PressMay is Foster Care Awareness Month! Fostering Imagination invites you to join our grassroots organization in shining a light on the crucial issues facing tens of thousands of foster youth in Los Angeles each year.
Fostering Imagination (FI) is planning a month filled with events throughout Los Angeles to bring awareness to the challenges foster youth face while in foster care, and upon emancipation. FI mentors at-risk, displaced foster youth in Los Angeles through free, structured one-on-one creative arts and social development programs. FI programs impart stability, responsibility and self-esteem building to unlock personal potential and empower youth to become positive peers, future mentors and community role models.
Fostering Imagination would be delighted to collaborate with you on a media piece about Foster Care Awareness Month and the challenges facing area foster youth. Please do not hesitate to contact FI at (310)733-8443 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Ilia Jauregui
Founder and Executive Director of Fostering Imagination
www.fosteringimagination.org
LISTEN to Fostering Imagination's executive director Ilia Jauregui, two of our youth participants, Shimia Gray and Dante Brown, and child therapist Jeanette Yoffe on AM 830 for a discussion about foster care issues and Fostering Imagination's programs. The show is hosted by Brian and Wendy from FREE YOUR MIND PROJECT and airs on Sunday May 23, 2010.
