New non-profit organization ramps up to solve housing issue for foster women 18-23

LOS ANGELES - May 20, 2014 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES, CA., May 10, 2014 -- Fostering a Change will open the doors of its first home to
welcome select female students who have been aged out of the foster care system.

On June 1st, The Lotus House will sign the first home lease in LA county as the genesis of a
project that will house aspiring young college students. The initial home will be the
organization’s unique prototype and will provide the girls with a primary education in life skills
that were left untaught within the foster care system. Fourteen homes will be added over the
next 12-24 months, allowing the organization to cover specific collegiate zones within Los
Angeles County. This will ultimately provide over 120 young women with homes and a chance
for a new life.

Fostering a Change has collaborated with universities, colleges, life coaches, nutritionists,
financial advisors, among other professionals, in order to create a fulfilling and robust program
for the house’s residents. The concept promises to develop inspired, functional adults as the
organization will provide aged-out foster youth with a stable and safe home within which they
may grow and thrive.

Jennifer Valko, founder, executive director, and former foster youth, reveals her inspiration for
the project: "I knew this would be my life's contribution after seeing how many young adults
aged out of the foster care system are being forced into homelessness. The donations have
been helpful in getting this organization off the ground and The Lotus House is just the
beginning of this project."

The Lotus House will be located in Belmont Shores in Long Beach, and although furnishings will
be donated, the organization will be running a high-profile fundraising campaign "Small Steps
Toward Big Futures" on Indiegogo in June, and will be accepting contributions from interested
donors.



About Us:

Fostering a Change is an emerging non-profit organization founded to address and fill the gap
for the approximate 1,500 youths who are emancipated each year in Los Angeles County. These
kids often end up homeless, on-drugs, aimless and without hope, skills or a promising future.

To date, there are only approximately 454 government-subsidized beds for this forgotten youth
segment, which leaves an enormous void for the remaining two-thirds. Fostering a Change will
assist in closing the gap and focus on developing functional, thriving young adults through their
college years.

"Small Steps Toward Big Futures" is the organization's fundraising campaign and is intended to
capture the hearts, minds and compassion of Los Angeles county residents to help fund this
vital mission. For more information or to contribute: www.fosteringachange.org

Contact: Jennifer Valko

Phone: 949-572-8413

Email: Jennifervalko@fosteringachange.org