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Friends of the Children - National

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Portland, OR
Friends of the Children - National

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Impacting generational change by pairing youth with a paid, professional mentor.

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit that is impacting generational change by giving children the ability to create a new story. We do this by providing children facing the greatest obstacles with a long-term, paid, professional mentor, who we call a “Friend,” from as early as age 4 through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what.

10/21/2026

Friends of the Children is honored to be featured in the NFL Inspire Change 2026 Impact Report! 🏈

Check out page 3 to see Friend Timothy and youth Tylen from Friends of the Children - Chicago lighting up the stage at the 2026 NFL Draft, then head to page 8 to see how 97% of youth across our national network advanced on their educational journey in the 2025–2026 school year. You’ll also meet Enrique and his Friend Andy. With Andy’s support, Enrique cut his school tardies from 48 to 4. He became the first in his family to graduate from college, and this year he graduated from Gonzaga Law School.

Thank you, NFL, for investing in long-term professional mentoring. Read more here: https://heyor.ca/dY8QCb

10/16/2026

From outing buddies to business partners! This summer, three youth-owned businesses debuted at the Seaport x Black Owned Bos. Outdoor Market, completing Friends of the Children-Boston’s Young Entrepreneurs program.

After a 12-week intensive, youth pitched and sold their work! It featured J'yaire's mobile car wash, Mordecai's crochet plushies, and JK Jewelry. The JK Jewelry's founders, Kamara and Jessica, were first paired for outings in elementary school. They've grown up side by side, and now they are now official business partners!

As one youth proudly looked at their table, they said, "Wow, I have my own business at 18, that's crazy."

Read more about their incredible story here: https://heyor.ca/Nfj7TX

10/13/2026

Our 2025–2026 Impact Report is here!

Meet Enrique, a Portland graduate now clerking for the Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court. Ashley, a Boston grad headed to art school. Adrian in Utah, who found a love of reading with his Friend. And our first-ever Austin class, starting high school alongside their professional mentors.

We’re now serving youth in 48 locations, and we just opened the Duncan & Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring.

Every story is a promise kept. Read them here: https://impact.friendsofthechildren.org/

10/12/2026

This summer, Friends of the Children - Klamath Basin hosted an Indigenous Skills series teaching the traditional practices of the Klamath Tribes. Guided by "Grandma" Felicia, youth gathered tule, a water-resistant marsh plant, to weave visors, sandals, and mats.

The series ended at an Earthen Lodge, where youth sat on their handwoven mats for a traditional ceremony. For youth like Sincerity, it sparked a profound cultural connection. Taking pride in learning the Klamath language and traditions, she shared, “I feel the music inside me. It's so beautiful I feel like I want to cry.”

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Today and every day, we are proud to celebrate and honor these beautiful traditions across the nation.

*Youth name changed to protect privacy

10/08/2026

Happy ! 💙 Donor-advised funds (DAFs) provide a powerful, flexible way to support the causes you care about most. We are deeply grateful to the DAF donors who help make our "12+ year, no matter what" commitment to youth a reality. As one of our generous supporters recently shared:

"Giving through our donor-advised fund allows us to thoughtfully support the causes we care about as needs and opportunities arise. We increased our gift to Friends of the Children this year because we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. We are inspired by the organization's commitment to walking alongside young people for the long term and hope our support encourages others to join in making a lasting difference."
— Anonymous Friends of the Children Donor

If you have a donor-advised fund, we invite you to join us! Your DAF grant ensures we can continue walking alongside children for the long term, empowering them to overcome obstacles and unlock their full potential.

Make a lasting difference and recommend a grant to Friends of the Children today: https://friendsofthechildren.org/get-involved

10/06/2026

"This is the best day EVER! It's infinitely better than recess!"

As a proud NFL Inspire Change grant partner, we love seeing our chapters connect with local teams! Thanks to the Chicago Bears Community All Pro Grant, youth and their Friends from Friends of the Children - Chicago got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Bears practice. They tried the training equipment, watched how the team prepares, and met the players. For Tylen, the team's #1 fan who also announced the Bears NFL draft pick live on TV, it was another dream come true.

Thank you, Chicago Bears, for an unforgettable day!

10/02/2026

What an unforgettable day! This week, we officially cut the ribbon on the Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence and the Friends of the Children - Portland Albina Campus, surrounded by the incredible community that made it all possible.

Joined by friends, supporters, local leaders, staff, youth and families, and members of the Campbell family, we marked a milestone more than 30 years in the making. From guided tours of the beautiful new Albina campus to inspiring remarks, it was a day full of people who have been picturing this for years and an incredible reminder of the power of connection.

"The Center is a hub where research meets practice," said Terri Sorensen, CEO of Friends of the Children. "It's a home where we will deepen and broaden our impact for youth and families, allowing us to innovate, research, convene, and collaborate on cutting-edge practices."

Swipe through to see a few of our favorite moments from the celebration!

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life—from the donors who invested in the Center to the staff, partners and community members who helped make this day possible. The building is open. Now, the real work begins in our new home!

09/30/2026

Friends of the Children's September newsletter is here! From summer adventures to back-to-school excitement, inside you'll see: Friends of the Children - Chicago hit the practice field with the Chicago Bears, youth in Friends of the Children - Klamath Basin connect with their heritage through an Indigenous skills series, and youth from Friends of the Children-Boston launch their own businesses at the market. Plus, CEO Terri Sorensen joins Sharpe Insights Podcast to talk about why the strongest nonprofits plan for the next generation.

Youth continue to learn, create, and dream big as they head back to school this fall—and their Friends are right there with them. 12+ years, no matter what. Read the September newsletter here: https://heyor.ca/mfvf9C

09/29/2026

"The secret sauce is love."

Friends of the Children - National's CEO Terri Sorensen recently joined the Business of Giving Podcast to talk about what it takes to give children facing the greatest obstacles a paid, professional mentor for 12+ years, no matter what.

Throughout the conversation, she shared how we've grown to nearly 50 locations, what 20 years of data are showing, and inspiring stories like that of Enrique, who recently graduated from law school with his Friend cheering him on.

Listen now: https://heyor.ca/aR1Q2b

09/23/2026

What happens in the National Center of Excellence?

At the Center, four areas will guide the work:

💙 Training & Development
💙 Innovation
💙 Research & Evaluation
💙 Thought Leadership

The Duncan & Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring will strengthen the practice of professional youth mentoring so more young people facing the greatest obstacles can experience the power of a long-term, professional relationship.

An example of training and development taking place at the National Center of excellence includes our new Professional Youth Mentoring Certificate, built with the University of South Carolina's Youth Empowerment in Schools and Systems Lab. The first cohort of 25 professional mentors from 17 chapters, with 2 to 20+ years of experience, earned their certificates this summer.

As Friends of the Children CEO Terri Sorensen says: “The Center is a hub where research meets practice.” And downstairs, just as importantly: a gathering space for the youth and families of Friends of the Children - Portland. And soon, we will officially open its doors.

Address

44 NE Morris Street
Portland, OR
97212

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18003483105

Website

http://friendsofthechildren.org/

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