Friends of the Children - Tampa Bay

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Friends of the Children - Tampa Bay

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

10/26/2026

🏈 Friends of the Children is featured in the NFL Inspire Change 2026 Impact Report.

Inspire Change is the NFL’s social justice initiative, focused on reducing barriers to opportunity in underserved communities.

The report was presented to all 32 NFL team owners and shared with community relations teams across the league. For Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay, this recognition creates an opportunity to introduce more people to the work of professional mentoring and explore what we could build together with our hometown team, players, sponsors, and fans.

Our work is built around a simple commitment: a professional mentor by a child’s side for 12+ years, no matter what.

Thank you to the NFL for helping bring attention to the importance of long-term relationships in young people’s lives.

10/22/2026

A Friend’s recap of a day with our boys, in his own words:

“Man, what a bunch of fun dudes! They got to select the group soccer ball, colored pens and journals for goal setting and journaling. One of them really enjoys journaling, which surprised me!

We played a cutthroat game of soccer where I was goalie, and only one of them scored. At McDonald’s, I went to get our drinks, and the guys told the youngest about the dad tax. When I got back to my seat, they all chipped in a nugget and a few fries!!! It made me laugh out loud. We had a blast.”

Ken, Friend at Friends of the Children Tampa Bay 💛

10/19/2026

Our youth recently took to the water for an incredible hands-on learning experience through our partnership with AMIkids and 🌊

During our Floating Classroom outing, they explored Tampa Bay’s marine ecosystems through dip netting and learned how mangroves, oyster beds, and seagrass protect our waterways and support marine life. 🦀🌿

Experiences like this help our youth build confidence, try new things, and discover the world around them in ways they may never have had the chance to before.

A huge thank you to AMIkids and Sierra Club Florida for making this day possible! We can’t wait to keep getting our youth outdoors, learning through exploration, and building a deeper connection to our community and environment. 💙

10/13/2026

Self-Determination: “I believe in myself and am able to set goals and achieve them.”

At Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay, professional mentors called Friends walk alongside young people facing significant obstacles for 12+ years, no matter what.

Over time, young people build the confidence to make their own decisions, set goals, and work toward them, knowing they have someone consistently in their corner.

Self-Determination is one of nine research-based Core Assets that guide our work and support young people’s social and emotional growth.

Learn more about our work: friendstampabay.org

10/11/2026

Every girl deserves time to figure out her future.

On International Day of the Girl, we’re thinking about the choices girls should have as they grow up, including when they’re ready to become parents.

At Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay, 95% of our youth wait to parent until after their teen years.

With a professional mentor by their side for 12+ years, girls have someone in their corner as they learn, explore their interests, build relationships, and think about the future they want for themselves.

Today, and every day, we’re rooting for girls to have that chance. 💜

Learn more about our work: friendstampabay.org

10/08/2026

The world needs us right now. Today is a day to answer that call. 💛

It's the 3rd annual DAF Day, a national day of giving with donor advised funds. If you have a DAF, today is a great day to put it to work for kids in our community.

Every child in our program is paired with a full-time, paid professional mentor, called a Friend, who stays with them for 12+ years, no matter what.

Recommend your DAF grant today.

10/06/2026

Ken's first outing with Marcus was supposed to be simple: read a book, grab a bite, spend some time together.

It didn't stay simple for long.

Between the books and the Spider-Man soundtrack blasting in the car, the two of them were having more fun than either one expected. "He belly laughed as I read him a story," Ken said. "He belly laughed as he read me the Dog Man book I got him. Then we jammed out to the Spider-Man soundtrack and ate a meal."

Right before they ate, Marcus stopped .They needed to say their prayers first. Later, when a server brought over a free shake, Marcus gave her a high five on the way out, just to say thank you.

One outing in, and Ken already knew the shape of the kid across from him: he loves to laugh, he loves a good book, he knows everything about Spider-Man, he doesn't forget to pray, and he never leaves without saying thank you.

That's what one outing with a trained, consistent Friend can uncover. Imagine what 12+ years can build.

Name changed to protect the child’s privacy.

09/30/2026

Today is the day. 🎉

This morning in Portland's historic Albina neighborhood, the Friends of the Children Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring officially opens.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience as the nation's only long-term, professional youth mentoring model, the Center is a national hub dedicated to:

🔹 Advancing the Field: Establishing standards that define the vocation of professional youth mentoring through training, resources, and a new Certificate for Professional Youth Mentoring

🔹 Thought Leadership: Creating in-person and virtual opportunities to amplify best practices in professional youth mentoring and beyond

🔹 Research and Impact: Bridging research and practice by partnering with researchers, practitioners, young people, and families to inform the field, policymakers, and the Friends of the Children Network

🔹 Innovation: Serving as our hub for innovation, bringing together expertise, best practices, and emerging ideas to accelerate outcomes and drive continuous improvement

What does that mean for youth in Tampa Bay? Every Friend at Friends of the Children - Tampa Bay who shows up for youth each week is trained to a national standard and backed by the best evidence in the field.

Together, we are raising the bar for professional youth mentoring nationwide, and the youth of Hillsborough County deserve nothing less.

09/29/2026

Tomorrow, September 30, we officially open the Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring. There, we will offer the Professional Youth Mentoring Certificate, which formalizes what our network has known for more than 30 years: professional mentoring is skilled work that deserves training, credentialing, and a career pathway. The certificate establishes a shared standard of practice for the field and creates a meaningful professional development opportunity for the Friends in every chapter.

09/28/2026

On September 30, in Portland's historic Albina neighborhood, the Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring will officially open. Named for our founders, the Center is a global hub dedicated to setting standards, building capabilities, and sharing best practices drawn from more than 30 years of long-term, professional youth mentoring.

What does that mean for youth in Tampa Bay? Every Friend at Friends of the Children - Tampa Bay who shows up for youth each week is trained to a national standard and backed by the best evidence in the field. Together, we are raising the bar for professional youth mentoring nationwide, and the youth of Hillsborough County, Florida, deserve nothing less.

Address

7028 W. Water Avenue #214
Tampa, FL
33634

Website

https://friendstampabay.org/

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