Friends of the Children - Philadelphia

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United States
Philadelphia, PA
Friends of the Children - Philadelphia

Impacting generational change by pairing youth with paid, professional mentors. Our model is distinct, courageous and proven. This is at the core of what we do.

Friends of the Children–Philadelphia is part of a national network of Friends of the Children chapters across the United States. Friends of the Children connects children – all of whom have unique talents – to a paid, professional mentor called a Friend. We hire and train Friends whose full-time jobs are to support our youth to succeed, despite the extremely challenging situations most experience,

from as early as age 4 through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what. We revolutionized the youth mentoring field by creating the first and only long-term professional mentoring program in the country. We are experts in building sustained and nurturing relationships with youth. Each child gets a dedicated, one-on-one Friend who listens to their hopes and dreams. Friends empower our youth to set – and achieve – their goals. Friends also create meaningful experiences that empower youth to build life skills and make healthy choices while exploring the child's diverse talents and interests. Our model is real, and it works.

06/16/2026

Kindergarten graduation ✅

Mr. Kevin has been by their side all year long, and he wasn’t about to miss this celebration. These two are ready for everything first grade has in store, and we couldn’t be more proud!

06/10/2026

Fresh lemons, a little sugar, and a lot of focus. 🍋

Malik* spent the afternoon in his kitchen with his Friend Mr. John, squeezing, stirring, and taste-testing along the way. By the end, he had a pitcher of homemade lemonade and a new skill to show off.

And yes, Mr. John confirmed... it turned out pretty great.

*Youth name changed for privacy

06/09/2026

Our Friends recently participated in a guided meditation led by board member Rob Lamb.

Breathing, resetting, being present.

An intentional pause so they can show up more fully for the young people they serve.

06/08/2026

On , we're celebrating the everyday moments where connection grows: laughing between turns down the slide, sharing something sweet, and simply enjoying being together.

For the youth we serve, these moments matter. And behind them is intentional work: professional mentors who we call Friends showing up each week and modeling what healthy, lasting relationships look and feel like.

06/04/2026

Look at that concentration. 🤔

Hakim* spent the afternoon at the library with his Friend, Mr. John, turning a warm spring day into a chance to create, learn, and grow together.

*Youth name changed to protect privacy

06/03/2026

Chris* and his Friend Mr. Kevin spent a warm spring afternoon at , and somewhere between the water ice and the ride home, Chris reminded everyone what it looks like when a young person is fully in their element.

Watch him belting out an MJ classic, with pure joy and confidence on full display. 🎶💛

*Youth name changed to protect privacy

06/02/2026

Jayla* spent the day with her Friend Ms. Tanya picking out something special for her mom's birthday, and her smile shows how much it meant to her. 💛

*Youth name changed to protect privacy

06/01/2026

Our Executive Director Dr. Betty Handy is personally inviting YOU to join us June 4 from 3–6 PM at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Fishtown! 🍦 Come meet the team, enjoy your favorite flavor, or try our signature "Forever Friend."

25% of all purchases will be donated back to Friends of the Children – Philadelphia to support long-term professional mentorship. See you there!

05/29/2026

As we close out National Foster Care Month, here is what our Executive Director Dr. Betty Handy shared at FunTimes Magazine Women of Influence Awards.

Dr. Betty was raised in foster care. Today she leads Friends of the Children-Philadelphia with one unwavering belief: every child deserves access to people who show up consistently and believe in them unconditionally.

05/28/2026

Last week, our Executive Director Dr. Betty Handy accepted a city citation from PHLCouncil at the FunTimes Magazine Women of Influence Awards in recognition of the work Friends of the Children-Philadelphia does every day in our community.

Research tells us that one consistent, caring adult in a child's life changes what is possible for that child. That's why we show up differently. Our professional mentors walk alongside youth from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years, no matter what. And because every child's success is tied to the people raising them, we support the whole family too, whatever that looks like.

That long-term commitment is what helps children thrive, families strengthen, and our city grow.

We are grateful to everyone who believes in this work. 💙

Learn more about how we work to keep youth in loving homes: https://friendsphiladelphia.org/how-it-works/foster-care

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Philadelphia, PA

Website

https://friendsphiladelphia.org/

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