Executive Summary:

In 2018, one in five U.S. children lived in poverty. Extreme obstacles – generational school failure, parental substance use, incarceration, violence in the home and community, and teen pregnancy – create a cycle where children fail within education, behavioral health and foster care systems, and frequently land in the justice system. We provide these children with intensive, individualized guidance from full-time, salaried professional mentors (Friends) for 12.5 years, from Kindergarten - graduation. Friends of the Children (FOTC) is the solution to breaking the cycle of poverty and intergenerational repetition of low educational attainment, teen parenting, and criminality. FOTC empowers youth to move beyond their circumstances to become healthy, productive citizens. 100&Change will support FOTC growth by establishing 25 new chapters in highest-need communities. 1:1 national and local matching funds will support long-term sustainability. Every $1 invested in FOTC returns $7 to the community. The expansion ROI is $700 million.