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Meet Marquis

Marquis is a hands-on boy who enjoys creating and building things by himself or with others.

He enjoys playing with Legos, building model cars and completing other hands-on activities.
He enjoys spending time outside, riding his bike and climbing trees. He wants to play sports, as he likes to be competitive.

Marquis would do best in a home with structure where he is praised and can earn rewards for his good behavior. He would also do well with older siblings who can be positive role models.

Back-to-school 
donations needed

We know there are a lot of requests this time of year for back-to-school items. But if you're interested in helping our older kids in foster care be ready for school, here's a great way to do it:

Donate to HEMI's Back 2 School Bash, which is Aug. 3. To donate new supplies, email HEMImentors@uc.edu or call 613-556-3566. 
HEMI (Higher Education Mentoring Initiative) is a partnership between the University of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and other agencies. Its mission is to guide teens in foster care through high school and college.

Do you know a teen in foster care who needs a bike?

We may soon be receiving more bicycles for our kids in foster care. They are likely to be larger bikes, for teens.

The bikes are coming to us from a program called RIDE OUT in which young men serving time in adult prisons build the bikes as a way for them to learn about giving back to others.

If you know a child in care who could use a bike,
email Jane Prendergast
Story helps illustrate need for more foster homes

We talk all the time about having to place more than 40 percent of our foster kids in spots outside Hamilton County. We just don't have enough local homes.

Foster parent Miranda Evans did a great job of explaining what the lack of Cincinnati homes means to foster parents who live farther away from downtown and have to bring their foster kids longer distances for appointments and to visit family.


Celebration of Dreams 2017: another great group of graduates
 

We had the honor of celebrating the high school graduations of almost 50 of our teens in foster care - our annual Celebration of Dreams was so much fun. 
The Grand Ballroom at The Phoenix was full of grads, families and friends.

Graduating from high school is a huge accomplishment anyway, but even moreso when you have to persevere through abuse, neglect and the challenges of being in foster care.
 
Thank you to everyone who attended to help us honor these deserving students. 
These grads were part of the Kids in School Rule! program.