Our Story
About The Lucky Ones
Could you imagine being a child and separated from the only family you have ever known, only to be given a trash bag and placed at the doorstep of a stranger? Many of you have asked what inspired me to create The Lucky Ones, and dedicate my life to this work. Why foster youth? Why this mission? I want you to understand the heart and purpose behind everything we do here at The Lucky Ones.
My Earliest Days
Before entering foster care, I spent almost seven years in kinship care. My siblings and I were constantly moving from one home to another, never staying long enough to feel settled. Each new house brought unfamiliar faces and routines. With every move, I was forced to adjust to a new environment. Some families were kind, but others felt more detached, treating us as a responsibility, or a paycheck, rather than a child. It was hard to form connections or feel like I belonged anywhere. Over and over, I packed my life like into a single trash bag, never knowing how long I'd stay at the next house. The uncertainty weighed on me, making me question if I'd ever find a place to truly call home.
Through the System
Although my years in kinship care was difficult, I always had my brother and sister. No matter what happened, we knew that as long as we stuck together, we'd be okay. That lasted right up until the fateful day when my brother and I were separated from our sister and placed into the Kentucky foster care system. I remember that day with painful clarity. We had been sitting in the back playing tic-tac-toe on a legal pad to pass the time. The room, which once stood still, erupted with activity. Quickly, lawyers, social workers, and judges buzzed all around us discussing our future as if we were nothing more than pawns on a chessboard. I frantically searched the room for my sister, hoping to catch one last glimpse of her before our worlds changed. Before I was able to spot her one last time, I felt firm hand grab my shoulder urging me to follow. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. And just like that, the bond that had always keep us together was severed forever.
Striving for the Future
Now, as a sophomore in college, I'm proud to say I've taken all the lessons I've learned from my journey and am working on starting my own nonprofit. As a part of the 3% of foster youth in college, I want to show individuals across the nation that their circumstances don't define their future, and that there's a way forward, no matter how difficult the road has been. That's why I founded The Lucky Ones - to provide the support, resources, and community that I wish I had growing up. Foster youth need to know they are not alone, and they need to see that success is within reach. But we can't do it alone. That's where you come in. By supoprting the Lucky Ones, you're helping us ensure that no child in foster care has to walk their path alone. Together we can break the cycle and give these kids the tools, hope, and mentorship they need to build the future they deserve—because safety shouldn't be a stroke of luck.