2020 Update: In 2019, Tipping Point launched Better Futures for Foster Youth – a $30 million initiative to improve support and services for transition-aged foster youth in the Bay Area. Read more about our Better Futures Initiative.
Grace + Steven Voorhis Contribute Gift to Scale Proven Interventions, Leverage Public Funding, and Create New Solutions for Foster Youth in the Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, Tipping Point Community announced it has received a $10 million gift from Grace and Steven Voorhis to create an initiative focused on improving life outcomes for the region’s current and former foster youth.
The initiative will target the more than 4,000 current and former foster youth ages 14 to 24 in San Francisco, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties. Initial focus will be on filling the gaps in services and building a blueprint for how the community can better serve these vulnerable young people.
“Foster youth often face critical challenges that are incredibly difficult to navigate,” said Grace Voorhis. “We hope that our gift will complement existing public funding streams to help improve outcomes for these youth. Tipping Point has a track record of identifying, investing, and advising the best organizations tackling poverty in the region, and we are honored to partner with them to provide the opportunities to foster youth that every child deserves.”
Data exemplifies the challenges foster youth face throughout life. For current and former foster youth:
- 50 percent of children served in child welfare systems have been homeless or in prison by age 25
- Only 6 percent have a college degree, while 24 percent have no high school diploma or GED
- 4 in 5 older foster youth have mental health needs such as PTSD, depression, or substance abuse
“The number of youth in the region who are currently or formerly in the foster system is relatively small. We know who these kids are; we know what their challenges are, and we know what works for them,” said Daniel Lurie, CEO and Founder of Tipping Point. “This level of commitment from the Voorhis’ will allow us to make a marked difference for these youth to not only survive, but thrive. We are incredibly grateful for their support.”
Tipping Point will invest in four core areas with the following focuses:
- Housing — Ensuring appropriate housing and housing opportunities
- Education — Supporting programs to increase college enrollment and completion
- Employment — Creating pathways to employment with advancement and career potential
- Wellness — Supporting mental health of young parents
Tipping Point has already made its first four investments, using the same level of rigor and due diligence the organization has built its reputation on over its 13-year history:
- John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), a statewide non-profit organization based in San Francisco, working to improve the quality of life for California’s foster, former foster, and homeless youth
- Pivotal (formerly Silicon Valley Children’s Fund), a non-profit focusing on creating better life outcomes for foster youth in Silicon Valley
- On the Move’s “SPARK” Initiative, which was launched through Tipping Point funding, is a peer-based advocacy group for current and former foster youth struggling with homelessness
- A study by University of Southern California faculty, Eric Rice and Amanda Yoshioka-Maxwell, to better understand the needs of foster youth who are at risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness, and the impact of Tipping Point’s intervention programs for these youth
Additional investments and grantees will be made and announced in the months ahead. For more information about Tipping Point, go to www.tippingpoint.org.
ABOUT TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY
Tipping Point Community works to break the cycle of poverty for individuals and families in the Bay Area. Since 2005, Tipping Point has raised over $200 million to support the 1.3 million people in the Bay Area who are too poor to meet their basic needs. We leverage the resources and expertise of our community to invest in solutions that prevent poverty: a nurturing early childhood, strong education, gainful employment, and secure housing. Our Board covers 100% of our overhead, so every dollar donated goes where it’s needed most. To learn more, visit www.tippingpoint.org.
Media Contact:
Marisa Giller
415.341.9561 (office), 314.630.4123 (mobile)
mgiller@tippingpoint.org
