RFL 2023-2024 Annual Impact Report by readyforlifeinc

Years Impact Report 2023-2024

Celebrating 15 Years of Leveraging Resiliency!

In a year marked by remarkable progress and transformation, Ready for Life has continued to build bridges of hope for former foster youth across our community. Guided by the voice of those we serve, we set our sights on three major goals: addressing the homelessness crisis, reaching foster care youth before they exit the system, and establishing our presence in Pasco County.

With your help, we are proud to say we have achieved all three objectives. From opening our first satellite office in Pasco County, to securing nearly $1,000,000 through the Youth Opportunity Grants program with the City of St. Petersburg, all while reaching a record number of foster youth under age 18, we’re meeting these young adults where they are—and walking alongside them as they define their own success stories. These results are a testament to the unwavering support of our donors, partners, and volunteers who make our mission possible.

As we mark 15 years of service, our community’s investment continues to yield powerful returns: $1,043,883 in total funds raised, 347 young adults served, 4,630 services performed, and countless moments of triumph as young adults move from crisis to stability to self-sufficiency.

This milestone year celebrates not just our numbers, but the resilient spirit of every young adult who walks through our doors. Thank you for helping us Change Lives Beyond Foster Care.

YOUR Impact

Every step forward we took this year to help former foster care youth only happened because of the incredible support from YOU, our donors, partners, and community members.

This year, we focus on resilience and progress, reflecting our commitment to empowering former foster care young adults as they build their futures and journey to self-sufficiency. We hope these pages inspire you as much as your support has inspired us!

$107,034 in in-kind donations

$41,765 in volunteer hours

$1,043,883 total funds raised 102 Heroes giving $80,648 annually

Honoring Our Supporters

Volunteer of the Year: Anne Condor

Anne’s heart to help is evident in the many hours she spends volunteering at RFL. Anne has spent much of her time mentoring a young single mother, and she also jumps in to volunteer whenever called upon.

RFL MVP: Jennifer Dittman

The RFL MVP Award is given annually to an individual who has gone “Above and Beyond” to assist the organization. The MVP offers their personal generosity as well as their connections and dedicates many hours to helping RFL. Jennifer not only serves on the Board, but spends countless hours assembling baskets for our auctions.

Mentor of the Year: Yvette Gaines Bean Yvette has made life-changing impacts on her mentees by forging deep connections and helping them overcome adversity. Yvette’s mentoring style blends gentle encouragement with firm guidance, fostering a dedication to making positive choices, and cherishing life’s moments together.

Founders Award: Santa’s Angels, Suncoast Kingfish Classic, & Jeni Mitchell The Ready for Life Founders Award is given in honor of our founders David Fischer, Gerry Hogan, Bud Risser, and Kathy Mize, who remains our CEO today. The recipients of this award are those who have joined with RFL to ensure the legacy of the work started by our founders continues.

Expanding Our Reach

In the past year, Ready for Life has made significant progress in expanding our reach, including opening our first satellite office in Pasco County. Furthermore, we have sharpened our focus on connecting with foster youth under 18, catching them before they fall by ensuring they have the resources, life skills, and support networks they need well before they age out of the system.

347 total served By the Numbers

231 new intakes

114 served under 18

4,630 total services

40 served in Pasco

New Office in Pasco County

One of our most significant impacts last year was our expansion into Pasco County with a new satellite office, bringing hope and support to even more young people in need. Pasco and Pinellas counties together represent one of Florida’s largest child welfare districts, and this new satellite office removes the difficulty young adults in Pasco were experiencing in connecting with our services.

Like our Pinellas location, we created a collaborative community effort to bridge the gap in services and provided easy access to resources and support for those we serve in Pasco County. Through this strategic step, we were able to directly connect with 40 young adults in Pasco County last year.

Thank you to our Pasco Partners!

Meeting Basic Needs

Many young adults arrive at the Skill Center in crisis—often hungry, without stable housing, or lacking other basic necessities. Our first step is to meet these immediate needs, giving them the stability they must have to move forward with confidence.

$15,500+ donations to eliminate hunger (crisis stabilization, disaster preparedness & recovery, meal planning, heat & eat meals)

$5,000 from the Rays to the Clean Sweep Day Stop Shower & Laundry

$13,750 in hygiene supplies from Santa’s Angels for the Good Day Store

$1,000 of new interview clothing for our Career Fair participants from Beth’s Corner

97 visits to Beth’s Corner

253 visits to the Good Day Store

347 uses of the Day Stop Shower & Laundry facility

588 uses of the Emergency Pantry

95 bus distributedpasses

$24,000+ donations to support transportation (annual PSTA bus passes, gas cards, Uber/Lyft to special appointments and GED testing)

pantry bus pass day stop day store beths

Participation & Graduation

From literacy gaps to financial barriers, former foster care young adults face unique challenges on their path to independence. Through innovative partnerships and unique learning environments, we turn these challenges into opportunities for growth.

Of the 231 new intakes at Ready for Life this year, the top 3 goals young adults wanted to achieve included furthering their education, finding and keeping a job, and finding support in parenting:

We successfully piloted our Ready for Reading course. Literacy is critical to success and opens doors to better health, education, employment opportunities, and overall life stability. We partnered with AMI Kids to also bring this course to teens that have yet to age out of foster care.

74 young adults graduated Opportunity Passport, with over $69,504 in matched savings! Through this 5-week program with Suncoast Voices for Children, former foster youth complete financial literacy training and develop a savings plan that is matched up to $3,000—helping them invest in cars, housing, and other assets crucial for independence.

96 youth filled in learning gaps through Life Skills Reimagined. This one-of-a-kind course equips current and former foster youth with practical tools for independent living through interactive workshops and hands-on learning.

39 young adults took charge of their health at our BayCare Healthcare Headquarters.

30 moms participated in our Mommy & Me support group

12 Paws for Progress graduates! Our partnership program with SPCA Tampa Bay combines weekly volunteering with paid group sessions, teaching young adults essential life skills and compassion.

Breaking the Cycle

25 Mommy & Me moms have custody of their children

118 little ones are being successfully parented

2 families piloted our Exchange Parent Aide Program

Leveraging Resiliency

At Ready for Life's June career fair—in partnership with Suncoast Voices for Children, Camelot Community Care, and ManUp—twelve forward-thinking vendors collaborated with us to engage with resilient former foster youth seeking employment, many of whom have overcome significant life challenges. These industry leaders, including Power Design, Leaders Furniture, SPC Rise, Baycare, among others, recognized the untapped potential in the young adults attending the career fair, and offered pathways across construction, finance, healthcare, and military sectors.

The transformative power of resilience was evident as young adults who initially sought only basic necessities found the courage to engage with employers, demonstrating their ability to adapt and seize opportunities. This mindset particularly resonated with vendors like Leaders Furniture, who immediately hired two young men, acknowledging that their life experiences and determination to overcome obstacles made them valuable additions to their team. Leveraging resilience can transform challenges into stepping stones for former foster care young adults.

Though Denise originally came to Ready for Life on the same day as the career fair just to pick up a bus pass, Falana Shannon, her Program Specialist, encouraged Denise to participate in the Career Fair. Falana helped Denise find a business casual outfit to explore the many opportunities that awaited at the event. “I was interested in learning more about possible careers that could help me accomplish becoming a professional chef one day,” Denise said of the event. Denise ended up leaving the career fair with two raffle gifts and a newfound motivation for reaching her goals.

Youth Opportunity Grants Program

This year Ready for Life partnered with the City of St. Petersburg to pioneer an innovative program that directly addresses the economic challenges facing former foster young adults. In May 2024, the St. Petersburg City Council approved a groundbreaking nearly $1 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act to launch the Youth Opportunity Grants program—providing monthly $500 disbursements for one year to young adults aged 18-27 who have aged out of foster care without formal aftercare support.

Financial stability is fundamental to breaking the cycles of adversity former foster care youth face. While these young adults demonstrate remarkable resilience, they often face disproportionate rates of housing instability and mental health challenges, compounded by limited access to family resources in an increasingly challenging economy. The Youth Opportunity Grants program creates an economic foundation that allows participants to focus on their future, whether that be pursuing education, maintaining a stable housing situation, or investing in their careers.

Early research from similar programs shows promising results: increased employment, greater financial stability, and improved emotional well-being—outcomes that align with Ready for Life's mission to support young adults in lasting self-sufficiency and a successful future. Learn more at readyforlifepinellas.org/YOG

Home Sweet Home

Last year we celebrated two of our Program Specialists Falana and Nate as they achieved what many former foster youth consider impossible: homeownership. Their journeys from the foster care system to becoming homeowners through Habitat for Humanity represent more than personal triumphs; as staff members who now guide young adults through similar challenges they once faced, Falana and Nate demonstrate that stable foundations are possible with support, determination, and hard work. Their success offers tangible hope to every young person who walks through our doors, proving that the cycle of instability can be broken.

Falana Shannon

Falana is the first of seven siblings in her family to become a homeowner. Falana lived in 40 different foster homes over 10 years, attended 12 different schools, and faced many hardships. Despite all of her difficulties, she's remained positive and motivated to reach her goals.

“I will finally break the barriers of poverty and hardships... All of the faith, consistency and hard work in the Habitat program will be worth it. It will teach me responsibility, but it will mean 'home.' I never knew what it was like to have a place called 'home.' I have dreams to inspire someone just like me and to give people and myself hope for a better future. My house will be my safe place, my refuge, my place of peace and my serenity garden of love.”

Falana’s full story at rflp.info/falanahome

Nate Johnson

Nate is the first single dad to receive support from former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Warrick Dunn’s charity, which provided $5,000 towards the down payment of his new home. Nate grew up in the foster care system and now helps teens who are aging out of foster care into adulthood. He said he and his son are grateful beyond words.

"I didn't have a whole lot being in the foster care system. Bouncing around from home to home or group home to group home, you lose a lot of stuff along the way. So, whatever you can get your hands on is you want to hold on to it for as long as you can. I want to see any foster youth coming out of foster care now make themselves a homeowner like myself.”

Nate’s full story at rflp.info/natehome

A Sense of Belonging

200+ young adults and little ones came to our Thanksgiving Feast

7 Rays games spent together in the Box Suite

150+ young adults and their children were celebrated during Home for the Holidays

Never Alone: From Foster Care to Fighting Cancer

We were privileged to support Ashley, a former foster care young adult raising two young children on her own, when she faced an overwhelming cancer diagnosis. Already dealing with financial hardships and mental health challenges, she reached out to us, remembering the support we provided when she aged out of foster care. Our team immediately mobilized to stand beside her through this difficult journey, ensuring all the support she and her kids would need. We coordinated meals, financial assistance, and childcare arrangements so she could focus on her health. Our staff arranged reliable transportation to medical appointments, connected her with mental health services, and helped her navigate complex insurance matters.

While we, and she, knew she possessed incredible resilience from her past experiences, we committed to being her steady support system through every step of her cancer treatment. Now, as she approaches the end of her treatment journey, we are inspired by her strength and honored to have played a role in supporting her family during this challenging time. Her story exemplifies our mission of providing continued support to former foster youth long after they age out of the system, ensuring they never have to face life’s challenges alone.

A Fork in the Road

When young adults age out of foster care, they face a critical crossroads. Without support, statistics paint a stark reality: a path often marked by homelessness, unemployment, addiction, incarceration, and tragically, watching their own children enter the foster care system. Ready for Life offers an alternative journey— one where comprehensive support, resources, and guidance create opportunities for stability, growth, and success. Our mission is to ensure no young adult has to walk this path alone.

Missteps happen; The RFL Family (staff, volunteers, mentors, and community supporters) is always there to catch them before they fall too far, and help them back onto the path to success. A Successful Transition to Adulthood Sense of Belonging in the World • Consistently Employed • Received Degree or Certificate • Renting or Own a Home • Free from Legal Issues or Incarceration • Successfully Parenting and Breaking the Cycle of Child Abuse and Foster Care! The

Ready for Action Goals Setting Class • Opportunity Passport™ with Suncoast Voices Paws for Progress with SPCA Tampa Bay • Financial Assistance for GED & Continuing Education • Keys to Independence • Wheels of Success

Mentor Program • Mental Health Counseling • Trauma-Informed Staff and Volunteers • Former-Foster Youth Specialists • Community Law Program Mommy & Me parenting support • Wingmen Group • Exchange Parent Aide Program • Fun Fridays • Thanksgiving Feast • Home for the Holidays

Ready for Jobs • Financial Literacy • Ready for Reading • Life Skills Reimagined • BayCare Ready for Health • Teledoc Appointments Dental Services • Cooking with Kate Meal Planning

Housing Resources and Connections • Emergency Food and Supplies • Laundry and Shower • Bicycles and Bus Passes Uber/Lyft To Appointments • Assistance Obtaining Personal Documents or License

We meet youth where they are. Until immediate basic needs are met, it’s nearly impossible for former foster care youth to contemplate the future.

SenseofBelonging

Finding

Ready for Life

» 1 in 5 youth will be homeless within one year of aging out of foster care.

» Over 24% of former foster youth become parents before the age of 21, with 1 in 10 parenting at just 19 years old.

» 50% of youth aging out of foster care do not have a high school diploma, and only 3% will earn a college degree.

» Former foster care youth are 62% more likely to face mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, than their peers in the general population.

Our Crisis Stabilization services include the increasingly important bridges of disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery. When storms, pandemics, or the like strike, we are ready to assist the young adults we serve in forming a plan, gathering supplies, and then rebuilding their lives.

» 1 in 5 former foster care youth report being incarcerated by the time they are 21 years old.

EarlyDeath

» 80% of death row inmates spent time in foster care.

Community Connection

Thank you to all of our many supporters and community partners. Without your help, the results we see at Ready for Life would not be possible. Please see readyforlifepinellas.org/supporters for the full list partners, supporters, and Heroes Society members. Partners providing direct support to programming:

$50,000 Lightning Foundation Grant Expands Ready for Life Services

Ready for Life’s CEO, Kathy Mize, was honored as the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero on December 6, 2023, receiving a $50,000 donation for Ready for Life from the Lightning Foundation and Lightning Community Heroes program! This generous grant helped us expand our vital services, including education support, employment readiness, and housing assistance, into Pasco County.