Eddie Nash Foundation

THE PURPOSE OF THE EDDIE NASH FOUNDATION IS TO WORK TO CREATE AN ENLIGHTENED WORLD WITHOUT VIOLENCE, BY BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HATE RESULTING FROM ABUSE,PREJUDICE, AND ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AFFECTING OUR YOUTH, THROUGH RECOGNITION AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION

THE PASSPORTS TO SUCCESS (PTS) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO GIVE FOSTER YOUTH MUCH NEEDED LIFE SKILLS BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE SYSTEM. THE UNIQUE CURRICULUM WAS CREATED BY TRINITY WALLACE-ELLIS AND BRYAN NASH, FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WHO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THESE YOUTH FACE. NOTED CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AND FOSTER CARE CONSULTANT, DR. GREG MANNING, ALSO HELPS WITH THE CURRICULUM AND FACILITATES THE WORKSHOPS.SADLY, MOST FOSTER YOUTH ARE EMANCIPATED WITHOUT THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FUNCTION AS INDEPENDENT ADULTS. THE STATISTICS ARE DISMAL AND THE COST TO THESE CHILDREN AND TO SOCIETY IS IMMENSE AS 80% OF PRISON BEDS AND 3 OUT OF 10 HOMELESS ARE FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.PASSPORTS TO SUCCESS PARTNERS WITH COMPANIES TO ASSIST FOSTER YOUTHTHE EDDIE NASH FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH CORPORATIONS AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS TO TEACH THE YOUTH (AGES 14-21) REAL LIFE SCENARIOS AND LESSONS RATHER THAN USING TEXTBOOK THEORIES. OUR WORKSHOPS HAVE HAD CHICK-FIL- A TEACHING THEM TO STAND OUT IN A JOB INTERVIEW; JAMS (JUDGES AND MEDIATORS) FOUNDATION TEACHING THEM HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT AND STAY OUT OF THE COURTS; AND UNION BANK PROVIDING INSIGHT ON FINANCIAL NEEDS VERSUS WANTS.ANOTHER CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HAVE THE FOSTER YOUTH LEARN SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH A TRUSTED ADULT. THOSE WHO ATTEND WITHOUT A CAREGIVER ARE PARTNERED WITH AN EDDIE NASH FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER. THESE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND BRING SUPPORT AND EXPERIENCES THAT GIVE THE FOSTER YOUTH FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON ADULTHOOD.THE PROGRAM ENROLLS 30 TO 50 YOUTH PER SESSION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A ONE-ON-ONE EXPERIENCE. TOO OFTEN THESE YOUTH BECOME A MERE NUMBER TO THE WORLD. IN PTS, EACH YOUTH IS TREATED AS A HIGHLY VALUED INDIVIDUAL.CLASSES OCCUR MONTHLY AND EACH WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC.

CAMP TO BELONG IS A DESIGNATED PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIP. CAMP TO BELONG IS A DESIGNED PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIP.THE ACTIVITIES OUR YOUTH EXPERIENCE HELPS THEM BUILD CHILDHOOD MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.CAMP IS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CAMPERS TO MEET OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATIONS. WE OFTEN WITNESS MUTUAL SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG CAMPERS, ESPECIALLY DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. THE CAMP HAS PROVEN AN INVALUABLE AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS ALIKE

CAMP TO BELONG INTERNATIONAL IS A DESIGNATED PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIP. CAMP TO BELONG IS A DESIGNED PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIP.THE ACTIVITIES OUR YOUTH EXPERIENCE HELPS THEM BUILD CHILDHOOD MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.CAMP IS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CAMPERS TO MEET OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATIONS. WE OFTEN WITNESS MUTUAL SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG CAMPERS, ESPECIALLY DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. THE CAMP HAS PROVEN AN INVALUABLE AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS ALIKE