Soar For Youth

IN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH UC BERKELEY, SOAR HELPS BAY AREA FOSTER YOUTH AGED 11-21 MOVE THROUGH ADOLESCENCE AND INTO THEIR ADULT LIVES WITH INDEPENDENCE. WE TEACH, COACH, AND COUNSEL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN ACADEMICS, LEADERSHIP, LIFE SKILLS, AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. WE PROVIDE THEM WITH ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD TRUST, PROMOTE TEAMWORK, AND ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM. THE SOAR PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, ATTEND COLLEGE, AND SUCCEED IN LIFE WITH PURPOSE.

SUMMER PRECOLLEGIATE ACADEMIES (PREVIOUSLY FOSTER YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAM):WE PARTNERED WITH BAY AREA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AND CASA CHAPTERS TO IDENTIFY CANDIDATES FOR OUR PROGRAM. WE HELD FOUR ONE WEEK RESIDENTIAL PRECOLLEGIATE ACADEMIES (PREPARE TO SOAR, LEARN TO SOAR, TIME TO SOAR, AND SOAR TO COLLEGE) IN 2023.FORTY SIX FOSTER (46) YOUTHS ATTENDED THE SUMMER ACADEMIES.

SCHOOL-YEAR ACADEMIC SUPPORT (PREVIOUSLY FOSTER YOUTH ACADEMIC SUPPORT):SOAR PROVIDES ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, TO HELP ENSURE THAT SOAR YOUTH'S GRADE POINT AVERAGE CONSISTENTLY INCREASE, AND THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PURSUE AN EDUCATIONAL COURSE LEADING TO THE FULFILLMENT OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.EIGHT OF OUR NINE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATED ON TIME. ONLY ONE DID NOT MAKE IT TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. CUMULATIVELY, 97% OF SOAR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE GRADUATED (96% ON TIME). 92% OF THEM WENT ON TO COLLEGE, 46% TO A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY.SOAR STRIVES TO FIND AND MATCH AN ACADEMIC ADVOCATE FOR EVERY SOAR YOUTH WHO NEEDED AND WANTED AN ACADEMIC ADVOCATE. WE SERVED 55 YOUTHS.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:SOAR LAUNCHED A SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN 2018 TO MOTIVATE AND REWARD OUR SUMMER PROGRAM GRADUATES FOR THEIR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. WE HAVE DEEPENED THIS OFFERING BY PAYING FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS IN ADDITION TO A STIPEND. WE PLACED 16 SOAR INTERNS WITH EMPLOYERS WHOSE BUSINESSES WERE ALIGNED WITH THEIR CAREER INTERESTS IN 2023. IN 2023 SOAR ALSO HOSTED FIVE STAYING CONNECTED EVENTS TO HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE STAY CONNECTED, TO MAKE THEM FEEL THEY HAVE A HOME BASE TO RETURN TO, AND TO REMIND THEM THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2023 THE SOARING FORWARD PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE:* DONOR-DIRECTED SCHOLARSHIPS: THE DONOR HAS THE OPTION OF RESTRICTING SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY TO STUDENTS MEETING SPECIFIC CRITERIA REPRESENTING A PARTICULAR INTEREST OR PASSION. * SOAR CHAMPION AWARD * VOCATIONAL ASSISTANCE * 3RD PARTY INTERNSHIP/WORKSHOP STIPEND* RELIEF FUND: THIS AWARD PROVIDES SMALL GRANTS TO SOAR YOUTHS WHO ENCOUNTER UNANTICIPATED FINANCIAL BURDENS WHICH, WITHOUT SOAR'S ASSISTANCE, MIGHT JEOPARDIZE THEIR CONTINUED ACADEMIC PROGRESS. IN TOTAL, SOAR SERVED 127 FOSTER YOUTHS IN 2023.