Friends of the Children - Tampa Bay

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Friends of the Children - Tampa Bay

We select children who could most benefit from a relationship with a long-term professional mentor.

06/16/2026

Every child deserves support they can count on.
But for many children facing instability, consistency is what’s missing the most.

With support from a full-time, professional mentor whose role is to show up every single week, relationships begin to take root in ways that feel steady and reliable.
Over time, this leads to trust, confidence, and the kind of growth that comes from knowing someone will be there.

What makes our model different:

• A full-time, paid professional mentor
• 3–4 hours spent with each child every week
• A commitment that lasts 12+ years
• Support across school, home, and community
• A relationship that doesn’t walk away

06/15/2026

Every child deserves someone who shows up for them.

But for many children facing instability, that kind of consistency is hard to find.

Trust doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built over time, through someone being there again and again, in the small moments and the big ones.

That’s why our model focuses on one simple idea: a long-term relationship with a professional mentor who shows up, 3-4 hours every week. 12+ years. No matter what.

Over time, that consistency builds confidence, stability, and new possibilities for a child’s future.

Follow along to see how relationships like this change everything.

06/12/2026

We’re still reflecting on the graduation ceremonies from the past few weeks.

Donovan’s story, alongside his friend Ken, is one that stays with you.

It doesn’t feel long ago that Donovan joined the program.
Adoption day feels just as close.

The road in between wasn’t easy. There were challenges along the way.

As Ken shared, it’s been everything from onboarding, to adoption day with his grandmother, to losing her in a car accident, to joining band and the wrestling team, to getting his license, to graduation… and all the small moments in between.

But somehow, he kept moving forward, turning moments into milestones.

And now, there’s this.

Donovan, in a cap and gown.

What you see is the moment.
What it holds is everything that came before it.

06/08/2026

In Tampa Bay this month, graduation ceremonies fill gymnasiums and stadiums, marking years of effort for students and their families.

Among them are young people who have navigated foster care, frequent moves, and other disruptions that often interrupt school continuity.

At Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay, each child is paired with a paid, professional mentor who remains in their life for more than a decade. The model is designed to outlast changes in schools, housing, and circumstance.

Studies consistently show that stable, long-term relationships with a consistent adult are linked to stronger educational and life outcomes for young people. Mentors are present through daily routines and major transitions, including high school graduation.

For these students, the ceremony reflects not only academic achievement, but years of steady support that remained in place throughout.

06/03/2026

Big moment. Bigger impact.

Our Board Chair, , proudly represented Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay on the field at the Tampa Bay Rays game as Raymond James presented an $18 million Ready for School Grant.

This investment, shared among incredible community partners, means more resources, more opportunities, and a stronger start for the children and families we serve.

Thank you 💙

06/01/2026

You did it again.

When your community needed you, you showed up.

Because of you, families now have spring cleaning kits filled with essentials to refresh their homes and start the season strong.

Together, we assembled 30 kits packed with everything from cleaning supplies to household basics, small items that make a big difference.

To everyone who donated, volunteered, and supported this effort: thank you. Your generosity is felt in every home these kits reach.

This is what community looks like. 💙

05/27/2026

For over 30 years, Friends of the Children has supported children and families impacted by the foster care system through long-term, relationship-based mentorship.
Our model focuses on children who are at the highest risk of entering, or who are already involved in, the child welfare system. Through a healing-centered and family-led approach, we work to support the well-being of both children and caregivers together.
The goal is not only to respond to challenges, but to help prevent deeper involvement with the foster care system by creating consistent support early in a child’s life.
In partnership with schools, child welfare agencies, and community organizations, we pair children ages 4–6 with a salaried, professional mentor (called a Friend), who stays alongside them from kindergarten through graduation, 12+ years, no matter what.
By working closely with community partners, we help ensure that children and families who need support most are met with long-term relationships, stability, and hope.

05/26/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about mentoring is that it’s just occasional volunteering.

At Friends of the Children Tampa Bay, we know that one of the most important interventions for a child is a consistent relationship with a caring adult.

That’s why our paid, professional mentors commit to one child for 12+ years, no matter what, spending 3–4 hours each week building trust through everyday moments, challenges, milestones, and real life.

In communities across Tampa Bay, that consistency can become a source of stability for children and families.

Right now, our team is preparing Spring Cleaning Kits for families in our program ahead of our May 29 assembly. Each kit includes essentials like disinfecting wipes, trash bags, glass cleaner, and other household basics that help ease everyday pressure for families.

If you’d like to help us prepare these kits for families, you can shop directly from our Amazon Wish List and support children and caregivers in our community.

05/24/2026

We’re coming together for our families 💙

This spring, we’re collecting supplies to create cleaning baskets for the caregivers in our community.

Want to help? It takes less than a minute.

Shop our wishlist here:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/7R9YNG0UL3S6/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?content_source=fb&fb_content_id=Q9-wBQE2i2XIz99xcsUJgk-JuD_Kvokp0TPagAiDsWHqdQDsq0uWjtmK2ocZEkC8xRQ&channel_type=fb
—or simply scan the QR code on our flyer.

Every item goes directly to a family who needs it.

05/21/2026

We’re coming together for our families 💙

This spring, we’re collecting supplies to create cleaning baskets for the caregivers in our community.

Want to help? It takes less than a minute.

Shop our wishlist here:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/7R9YNG0UL3S6/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?content_source=fb&fb_content_id=Q9-wBQE2i2XIz99xcsUJgk-JuD_Kvokp0TPagAiDsWHqdQDsq0uWjtmK2ocZEkC8xRQ&channel_type=fb
or simply scan the QR code on our flyer.

Every item goes directly to a family who needs it.

Address

7028 W. Water Avenue #214
Tampa, FL
33634

Website

https://friendstampabay.org/

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