2022 Impact Report

There are over 7,000 children and youth in foster care across the state of iowa.

Children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The compounding traumas of their experience, the removal itself, multiple placement changes, and a system that too often lets children slip through the cracks, often leads to other issues..

50% of foster homes close within the first year

50% of youth in care graduate from high school

3% of foster youth will graduate from college.

1 in 5 former foster youth will become homeless after age 18.

Our Mission

To Walk alongside children, youth, and families in the foster care community by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building, and mentorship.

INTENTIONAL GIVING
Give thoughtful and personal resources, gifts, and care packages that meet the real needs of the child and their entire family.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Devote time and energy to fostering healthy relationships that promote healing through connections and interpersonal bonding.

MENTORSHIP
Equip and empower the youth in our programs to be prepared for independent living and to reach their fullest potential.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN
YOUR LOCAL neighborhood

YEAR AT A GLANCE

LOVE BOX PROGRAM

The Love Box program focuses on holistically supporting and sustaining fostering families. Volunteers spend time building relationships with all members of the family by playing games, sharing meals, and connecting, while also delivering monthly personal care packages (Love Boxes) based on the family’s current needs. The program is designed to increase placement stability and build an infrastructure of support around the home.

Volunteers are matched with a fostering family based on location, compatibility, and scope of needs. This program requires an 18-month commitment of at least one monthly meet up, with the hope of additional touch points.

Love Box Support Can Look Like:

MEALS &
GROCERIES

HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

ACADEMIC
SUPPORT

BABYSITTING
HELP

DARE TO DREAM PROGRAM

The Dare To Dream program focuses on one-on-one mentoring for youth (ages 11-22) who are in care, at risk to age out, or have aged out. Mentors serve as positive role models who meet with their youth to build relationships and empower them to accomplish their goals. Our tailored developmental milestone model equips youth to succeed and be prepared for adulthood.

A mentor commits to initiating hangouts with the youth twice monthly to build a relationship, set and accomplish goals, and help them achieve their dreams. This program requires an 18-month commitment, but these connections will hopefully last a lifetime.

Dare To Dream Support Can Look Like:

HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS

SELF
ESTEEM

ACADEMICS
& CAREER

INTERVIEW &
RESUME SKILLS

Carrie & Lukas' Impact

Carrie & Lukas Steenhoek are long-time donors and supporters of Cedar Valley Angels and Carrie has also recently been matched as a Dare To Dream volunteer.

When asked why our organization is important to them and why they donate, they shared how they specifically want to invest in their community. They believe that Cedar Valley Angels is making a lasting and positive impact on local youth and families.

Carrie & Lukas shared that experiencing fostering and adoption in their extended family and local community has created a strong connection to our Mission for them. This allowed them to see firsthand the impact foster care has on children and youth.

They were also asked what is something about Cedar Valley Angels that they wish more people knew about. In response, they shared their wish for more people to know about Cedar Valley Angels and the programs we have to aid youth in our community.

Our Angel Alliance program is a passionate and committed group of monthly donors who are investing in relational, community-based support that creates real social change.

Through consistent, monthly giving, you can help us continue to match children, youth, and families with committed volunteers who show up consistently and walk the journey alongside them.

Together, we are building a new system focused on community, empowerment, and hope.

Can fund the initial meet up for a Dare To Dream match.

Can cover the cost for an initial meet up for a Love Box match.

Can provide a welcome box to a newly wait-listed family.

Alicia Rogers

Dare To Dream Mentor & Board Member

Alicia Rogers has been a Dare To Dream mentor for over a year and also joined the Cedar Valley Angels Board in 2022.

When asked about why she decided to volunteer with Cedar Valley Angels Alicia shared “I left my job in teaching to pursue another opportunity at a local non-profit and I missed working with kids so much. I loved teaching middle schoolers and remember thinking all the time with many students, ‘I wish I could just take you home and give you structure and guidance and love.’ I even talked to my husband a lot about becoming foster parents, but with two young kids and two full-time careers, it just wasn’t the right time for us as a family. As I explored the options on CVA’s website I learned that there were some great options for supporting children in foster care that weren’t as big of a commitment as foster parenting but still let me make an impact by mentoring and being a stable adult in their life. The Dare to Dream program was the perfect fit for me and exactly what I was looking for.”

In addition to volunteering, Alicia also serves on our board.
She shared more about when there was a possibility of her match moving away and she still wanted to be involved in our mission to some capacity. She felt that as a board member, her professional background in teaching and working in a nonprofit could support the organization on a different level. Thankfully, her mentee was actually able to stay in the area so their match was able to continue fully, and Alicia is able to bring a diverse view to the board with her experience in our program!

Alicia was also asked what motivates her as a volunteer. She shared “As a Dare to Dream mentor I’m motivated by my mentee. They’re amazing and have the biggest heart. I feel so lucky that they have opened up to me and trusted me to be their mentor.”

Ramon Pellizzaro

Dare To Dream Mentor

Ramon Pellizzaro is a current Dare To Dream mentor and has been involved in our program for 8 months. We asked him to share a little bit more about his experience volunteering and the impact he has been able to make.

When asked why he decided to volunteer with us he shared, “Cedar Valley Angels gave me an opportunity to make an impact on the community in a deeper way. Instead of spending time with a lot of children throughout the community, I’m able to build a meaningful relationship with one person, increasing the impact I can make.” Ramon also went on to share “I believe in the betterment of our community by investing in people, doing everything we can to make sure they have equal opportunities to succeed.”

In addition, he also explained more about being helping other being his main motivation for volunteering, and wishing that more people knew about Cedar Valley Angels across our community.

Ramon was also asked more about his Dare To Dream match specifically and shared his favorite part and memory as a mentor has been being able to spend time with his mentee and being able to see them grow into a healthy adult.