Local Foster Youth Honor Community Leaders For Their Support in May, Foster Care Awareness Month

LOS ANGELES - May 17, 2013 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES, CA – In honor of May, Foster Care Awareness Month Living Advantage is recognizing leaders who strive to help make a difference in the lives of our foster youth. USC Civic Engagement Department has sponsored the USC Foster Youth Day on Thursday, May 23, 2013, 9:00am – 5:00pm at the USC Galen Center, 3400 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089.  They welcome members of the community to join the 3rd Annual Foster Youth Salute You Award Luncheon.

The USC Foster Youth Day event provides an opportunity for the organization to thank their supporters and foster youth to showcase their talents. There will be a foster youth life skills workshop, guest speakers, free services and resources, as well as entertainment by the foster youth. Living Advantage looks forward to community support as the tireless efforts of individuals who are dedicated to improving the lives of at risk, homeless and youth living in foster care are highlighted.

Emcee, Alysha Del Valle, KABC Channel 7 Morning News Traffic Reporter, will present the honorees, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Board Chairman, Supervisor 2nd District; Optimist International Pacific South West District Governor T G Thomas; and USC Executive Director of Civic Engagement, Ms. Carolina Castillo. There will also be a special presentation given by Congresswoman Karen Bass.

Invited guests include Senator Curren Price 26th District, Assembly Member Reginald Jones-Sawyer 59th District, and Chad L. Coleman, Former Foster Youth and Actor of hit TV show The Walking Dead among others.

For more information and to purchase your tickets to support our foster youth and leader’s achievements click here. (http://www.livingadvantageinc.org/calendar/6814/74050)

Living Advantage Inc. is empowered by community members who support the work they do for foster youth. As a nonprofit organization, supporters play a big role in the organization’s ability to perform daily operations. The organization welcomes members from the community to come out and help support foster youth at their events.

About Living Advantage, Inc.

Living Advantage, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that supports foster youth in transition as they age-out of the foster care system. Their objective is to prepare foster youth with college planning, independent living, job development skills as well as entrepreneurial opportunities. They also offer youth a vital life document security service, the e-Lockbox. It electronically maintains documents like Birth Certificate, Social Security cards and medical records.

There are nearly 30,000 foster youth living in Los Angeles County—and this year alone 1,400 young adults will “age out” the foster care system thus becoming disqualified for support services. They become vulnerable and exposed to committing theft, prostitution, and drug abuse for survival. Forty to fifty percent of foster youth become homeless and 25 percent will be incarcerated within two years. These are the problems that Living Advantage Inc. seeks to address by helping youth attain self-sufficiency and providing ongoing support.  

USC Civic Engagement Department

The vision of the Civic Engagement initiative is to create more just and livable communities, to nurture a new generation of scholars to continue innovative research in the field, and to build community partnerships for improving the quality and effectiveness of civic engagement in Southern California, the nation, and around the world.

USC has placed a high value on being a good neighbor—and on programs and projects that have a positive impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Through their Civic Engagement Initiative they support and promote more than 400 community initiatives in local neighborhoods, including Living Advantage through their partnership with the Good Neighbors Campaign.