Jim Lillis

Friends of the Children - Portland

Friends of the Children breaks the cycle of generational poverty by giving children facing the highest-risks the ability to create a new story. This brings life transformation to the most vulnerable children and tremendous economic impact to our community. Our model is courageous, unique, and proven. We provide each child with a salaried, professional mentor, who we call a Friend, from kindergarten through graduation. 12 ½ years. No matter what. Moving mentoring out of the volunteer realm ensures the quality, consistency, and commitment needed to help the child create a new story and break the cycle of poverty. We have many stories of the highest-risk children realizing their potential: • 83% graduate from high school, while 60% have parents who did not. • 93% avoid the juvenile justice system, while 50% have parents who were incarcerated. • 98% avoid early parenting, while 85% were born to a teen parent. Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 by Portland entrepreneur Duncan Campbell. Campbell was inspired by his own troubled childhood in NE Portland to start a revolutionary new program to help at-risk children in the same neighborhood where he grew up. In 1992, The Institute for Children conducted extensive research on resilient youth and factors that influenced their success. The research discovered that the single most important factor that fosters resiliency in at-risk children is a caring and supportive relationship with an adult. Intervention and support must begin early, continue as the child matures, and consistently address the needs of the whole person.