Milton Foster Children's Fund (MFCF)

The Milton Foster Children’s Fund (MFCF) Program provides youth in foster care with enrichment and educational opportunities, typically not available through other agencies, that help them build the self-esteem and resiliency needed to become healthy, contributing adults.

Through years of seeing the needs that local children and teens in foster care have, the program has developed into three parts: MFCF Funding, Teen Life Skills & Events, and The Hanger. Volunteers and donations, both monetary and in-kind are always needed. Other opportunities include gift cards for the holidays, items for graduation gift baskets, and more. Please contact Jill on the contact page for information on how you can get involved.

The program was named in honor of long-time CASA volunteer, Dick Milton. Read more about Dick's contributions to our community's children here.

MFCF image

MFCF FUNDING

A teenage boy celebrating that he passed his driver's test.

MFCF funding helps youth in foster care where there are gaps in available funding. Requests fall into three categories:

  • Educational – tutoring, school trips, graduation items, instruments, etc.
  • Skills and Social – lessons, fees, or supplies for classes or hobbies, day or overnight camps, etc.
  • Health – items not covered/fully covered by insurance such as dental procedures, sensory or therapeutic items.

Youth ages 0-18 living in out-of-home placement (or 1 funded request if living with biological parent(s)) and currently placed through El Paso or Teller County with an open Dependency & Neglect case are eligible for funding. To apply, click here.

TEEN LIFE SKILLS

tutor

For the most part, when a foster child turns 18, they age out of the foster care system and enter society as adults. To prepare them for this transition, MFCF provides teen life skills classes and events. Offerings have included:

  • Resume Writing
  • Job Searching
  • Personal Finance
  • Cooking/Grocery Shopping
  • Tutoring/Homework Help
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Teen Social Events

We are currently looking for a volunteer who is a professional in their field to teach cooking classes (baker, chef, nutritionist, etc.). If you are interested and qualified to teach cooking, please email Jill at mfcf@casappr.org

THE HANGER

hanger

The Hanger is a store which gives foster teens the opportunity to shop for clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, toiletries, and more for free.

Most teens in foster care are only able to take a small bag of belongings with them, if anything, when placed in a new living situation. Prompted to take action when one foster teen refused to go to school because she only had the clothes on her back, CASA volunteer Jane Hegstrom created the store. Now, 500 teens a year shop to pick out their own clothes to fit their style, which builds self-esteem and confidence. Read about Jane here.

The Hanger operates thanks to generous donations of new and gently used items from the community. Find out more about the Hanger and learn how to donate here.