Children's Fund Stories

"Mason" was an eleven-year-old boy who was eager to play Little League baseball. He was living with his grandparents and three other siblings on a very low income. Mason had a great chance of winning a top position on the team but lacked the proper equipment to plan. The Yolo Children's Fund awarded funds for Mason's equipment purchases enabling him to play.

Three teenage girls, "Carrie", "Amanda", and "Helen", were caught in a messy divorce between their parents. The three girls had spent much of the last four years being moved from house to house, often across state borders sleeping at one time in a laundry room. To make matters worse, the mother had several mental disabilities that resulted in abuse toward the girls. The father had no ability to parent and had not requested that is parental rights be terminated. The YCF funded a day outing that allowed the girls to purchase some clothing and to stroll the hallways of the mall like other teenagers and momentarily forget the stress of everyday life.

"José", a seventeen year old boy, had such an unstable home life that he had tried to find a guardian on his own. José took a job to pay for his basic needs and was trying to survive. The YCF funded the fee for José to take the GED exam.

"Sydney", a thirteen year old girl, had been in a foster home and was recently returned to her mother who worked full time with a meager salary. Sydney's goal was to become a veterinarian because she loved horses. The YCF funded the fees for her to attend the UC Davis horse camp.