FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gustavo Caraveo | Gustavo@childadvocatessv.org
San Jose, CA — The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation of $15,000 to Child Advocates for the launch of the Essential Life Skills Program, a comprehensive six-month initiative designed to equip Non- Minor Dependents (NMDs: young adults, ages 18-21, in foster care) with the practical skills, confidence, and support needed to transition successfully into adulthood. The program, developed and facilitated by Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, began its rollout in October 2025.
Built around hands-on learning and real-world experiences, the Essential Life Skills Program provides workshops across six key domains: financial literacy, employment readiness, housing stability, academic advancement, mental and physical wellness, and personal growth through creativity. Each session includes expert-led instruction, experiential activities, resource-building, and reflection exercises—ensuring participants gain both knowledge and tangible tools for independence. The curriculum also aligns with extended foster care requirements for education, further supporting NMDs as they work toward long-term stability.
Through the generosity of the Foxwynd Foundation and partners like Excite Credit Union, Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, Pivotal, and Left Coast Fitness, participants will receive resources such as grocery and budgeting supplies, housing application materials, academic planning tools, and self-care kits. Incentives—including gift cards, meal prep materials, and a personal Kintsugi art project—will also be provided to recognize and reinforce sustained engagement.
“The Foxwynd Foundation’s support allows us to offer NMDs the kind of hands-on, empowering learning experiences that can change the trajectory of a young person’s life,” said Sabrina Martire, Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives. “These workshops are designed not only to teach essential skills, but to help youth feel seen, supported, and prepared for the future.”
“At Foxwynd Foundation, we are pleased to support initiatives that help young people in foster care transition into independent adulthood by providing them with practical skills and essential resources to move forward with confidence,” said Pamela Villagra, Executive Director of Foxwynd Foundation.
The program culminated in a community celebration, The Tree We Build Together, where youth showcase their Kintsugi-inspired creations as symbols of resilience and growth at downtown San Jose’s famous Christmas In The Park.
About Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is an independent nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization created in 1986. We serve children aged birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. We are responsible for operating the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program in Santa Clara County, which entails recruiting, training and supporting CASA Volunteers according to the National CASA Association standards. To learn more, please visit ChildAdvocatesSV.org.
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