Children
MEET 14-YEAR-OLD JADE!
J
ade knows the challenges
of foster care too well.
Jade’s parents were
addicted to drugs. They
frequently had random
guests in their home,
which would cause Jade
to barricade herself and
her younger siblings in a
room to protect them from strangers. One evening,
a loud argument over drugs led to Jade’s parents
being killed. It was then all three children entered
foster care, living separately in different homes.
They lost all contact, but this quickly changed once
they began attending Promises’ Camp Connect.
38 GBSAN.COM | APRIL 2019
Jade and her brothers
Because of the trauma that Jade experienced, she had always been quiet and
timid. She had a difficult time trusting people. Suddenly, the more events she
attended, the more things changed for the better. The consistency of seeing
familiar faces made her feel safe, happy and more open than she had been in
the past. She began to trust again.
Through Camp Connect, Jade and her brothers now see each other every
month. They laugh often and experience new things together. They have
learned about healthy relationships; their bond is stronger than ever and each
one has shown a dramatic improvement in school. It goes without saying
that having the opportunity to reunite at monthly activities has not only had a
positive and life-changing impact on Jade, but also on her brothers. Spending
valuable, quality time with each other has brought joy back into their lives,
when it once seemed that this would never again be the case.
On any given day, there are over 3,000 foster youth living in San Diego
County. Funds raised from the Dream On Concert Gala benefit foster youth
like Jade. To purchase tickets or to learn about sponsorship opportunities
please visit www.Promises2Kids.org.