2009 Outstanding Young Leaders

Johnathan entered the foster care system at birth, where he was placed in kinship care with his grandmother and remained there until age 18. Johnathan had a rough start to “independence” finding him without a home for a period of time. In spite of challenges he continued with school and... Read more

Angelene entered the foster care system at the age of eight. At that time she was lucky enough to stay with her aunt, which unfortunately ended when she was fourteen. She then bounced around to foster homes and her schoolwork was negatively affected. Luckily she was able to make up... Read more

Antonio first entered the foster care system as an infant. A few years later her grandmother was granted custody but he was removed because due to his grandmother’s health issues. He went back into foster care and moved around between foster and group homes before being placed with his godparents... Read more

Read the National Press Release announcing FosterClub's 100 Outstanding Young Leaders Ryan entered the foster care system at the age of 11. He was first placed in an emergency shelter, bounced to a residential treatment center, and finally placed in a group home in where he would stay until he... Read more

Paris was placed in the system at age of 7 and remained there for 11 years. At the age of 18 she was placed in a different foster home which is her current home. Paris will graduate in May with a degree in Consumer Science and Merchandising, and a specialization... Read more

Dustin entered the foster care system at the age of eight with his older sister who was in her teens. While he was in care he had thirteen placements and attended 13 different schools. Dustin was placed in group homes, shelters, foster homes and kinship placements. He found stability in... Read more

"TJ" was a premie drug baby that immediately entered the Texas foster care system. He was placed back with his biological family only to return to foster care after further abuse and neglect. TJ's health concerns and traumatic first years were coupled with multiple foster care placements before finally finding... Read more

Geylen Martinez was born in Juarez, Mexico, and moved with her family back and forth between Mexico and Texas throughout the first seven years of her life. At seven Geylen entered the foster care system when she and her siblings were placed in kinship care with their maternal aunt. Geylen... Read more

Meghan came into foster care in 2006 due to abuse and her mother's drug usage. None of her family members have provided a home for Meghan, though they have taken in her siblings. She had to testify in a trial against her father. Despite her circumstances, Meghan’s service and leadership... Read more

Taylor was placed in foster care when he was 16 years old. After a few months at a shelter he was placed in a foster home where he stayed until he aged out and started college. Currently he is a sophomore at the University of Texas San Antonio and is... Read more