For many supporters of FosterClub, the decision to give begins with a moment of connection: hearing a story, recognizing a need, or seeing the resilience of young people navigating foster care. For one longtime supporter and monthly donor, that connection grew from both personal conviction and a lifelong career caring for people as a Registered Nurse of 38 years, four of which he spent in pediatrics caring for vulnerable children.

After making a recurring gift last year, Bernard chose to deepen his support for FosterClub because he believes every young person deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued. In this conversation, he reflects on the stories of foster youth that have stayed with him, how his professional experiences shaped his perspective, and why recurring support matters now more than ever. Bernie also shares an encouraging message for anyone who feels moved by this cause and is considering getting involved.
 

You shared that hearing the stories of foster youth deeply affected you. What is it about those stories, and about this community, that stays with you emotionally?

The stories of foster youth paints a picture of a uniquely challenged group. They get an infrastructure of housing, food and healthcare but that’s kinda where the security ends. They have no one who’s got their long term emotional, psychological, and social health in mind and they can be exposed to situations where people around them might have mixed motives. They don’t have that cocoon of security one finds in traditional family units. When they age out of the foster system a new set of challenges awaits. They are vulnerable to emotional injuries that create the conditions for lifelong poor health outcomes. The pain in their stories touches me emotionally.

You mentioned feeling concerned by the ways vulnerable communities are treated today and wanting to stand against that. How does supporting FosterClub help you respond to those feelings?

Yes, over the last several years it seems a permission structure has been created in our culture and politics that normalizes bullying people who might be different. I think it’s even reached a point we are witnessing bullying at an institutional level of certain groups of people. By supporting FosterClub I am making a statement that I do not abide the cruelty. We live in a big diverse country and I want to connect with other people’s humanity and support organizations who share those values.

As a Registered Nurse who worked in Pediatrics for a few years during your career, how have those experiences shaped the way you view children and youth who may be vulnerable or overlooked?

My exposure to foster youth when I worked Pediatrics only reinforces why I feel so hopeful around the work being done by FosterClub. In Pediatrics we dealt with a lot: near drowning, gunshot wound (GSW), car wreck, genetic anomalies and disease, cancer, viral syndromes and infections. When a foster youth was admitted, her injuries were psycho-social and emotional, often times a root cause of an autoimmune disorder. Unlike the other tragedies in Pediatrics, she had no family who loved her; she was alone. She was emotionally shut down like her mind had dissociated from her body. She was at the mercy of the good intentions of her healthcare team and then she was going back into the system. It was painful. The resources available through FosterClub can provide a lifeline to give this group hope, network opportunities and peer support role models.

What does being a recurring donor mean to you personally, and why do you believe ongoing support matters for organizations like FosterClub?

Being a recurring donor means I am putting my money where my mouth is. I’m not just talking. It’s a way to remember Rochelle, an early adolescent foster youth I worked with who had an autoimmune disorder. FosterClub cannot exist without the support of a lot of small recurring donations.

What would you say to someone who feels moved by this cause but hasn’t yet decided to get involved or make a donation?

FosterClub is a lifeline to these children and youth and FosterClub is demonstrating positive outcomes. Additionally they have opened their books to third party review and transparency. If you believe this organization is making a difference in a marginalized group of young people, rip the band-aid off, cancel a media subscription and be a recurring donor. It’s time for all of us to step up.