This holiday party went above and beyond
We had the privilege of hosting a holiday party for some of our older teens who are transitioning out of foster care to live on their own. It was a great chance to show the kids they weren’t forgotten at Christmas. The event wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of Amber Gray, her organization Where2Next, and Hope Ware, who runs the Sickle Cell aWAREness foundation with her husband, Spencer, a tailback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Gray and the Wares grew up in Cincinnati.
There are not enough words for how appreciative we are for this tremendous help. Amber had the idea to do something for kids in foster care and made it happen on a grand scale. We are grateful and are very much looking forward to the future of this partnership. And the kids? They were so happy. It is good to see them like that. They left with not only gifts (and some really great gifts), but with the promise that this professional basketball player and her network are going to help them work toward great futures. Quoting Christian, after he opened his game system: “I don’t know if this is a dream or it’s really happening!”
Amber made it clear throughout the night that this event was about more than just gifts, but about a long-term relationship between her and the kids. She took the time to visit each table and connect with everyone involved. This kind of support is what kids in foster care need. We encourage you to get involved in any way that you can.
Merry Christmas to Amber, Hope, Spencer, Amber’s family and to everyone who helped her make this happen.
