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T he smiles and thank you notes say it all. Birthdays for some children and youth in foster care come and go with few, if any, gifts or celebrations to mark the passing of another year. But a pilot project that’s grown from a partnership between Children’s Services and Riverside University Health System Foundation is surprising foster children with handwritten cards and cookies on their special day. The Birthday Circle delivered 500 personalized cards from community volunteers and 1,000 cookies in a happy birthday box to foster children in the desert region during Fiscal Year 23/24. “We are grateful to our community members who have a heart for our foster kids—who understand their need to be celebrated on special days, to enjoy the activities and resources many parents provide their children as part of a normal family experience,” says Lisa Walcker, a regional manager in Children’s Services. Walcker wears a second hat with RUHS Foundation as development director for foster children. Resources and funding for youth in foster care have greatly increased in the first full fiscal year of the DPSS/RUHS Foundation partnership. The First Annual Purses, Poker & Pours Night Out in August 2023 was supported by local businesses and raised $55,000 for the needs of youth in foster care. AT&T contributed $5,000 while advertising company Lamar donated 17 billboards to promote the Pinwheels for Prevention fundraiser in April. Funding from the Pinwheels fundraiser will be used in Fiscal Year 24/25 to remodel family meeting rooms in the Moreno Valley Children’s Services offices. Corinne Awad is Senior Director of Development for RUHS Foundation. The Foundation has been raising funds for pediatric work at RUHS Medical Center for more than 35 years. In recent years, the Foundation expanded fundraising support to other RUHS agencies and partners. Awad says RUHS and DPSS serve many of the same children and families, and the partnership expands and strengthens Riverside County’s safety net. “Bringing hope and healing to a child who has suffered trauma and loss is something we can all get behind.” Walcker says she expects Fiscal Year 24/25 to bring an even greater expansion of resources and funding to foster youth as business and community leaders become more informed about their needs. Partnerships and Outreach Increase Community Support for Children and Youth in Care