From Foster Care to the Workforce: How ILP Helps
ILP and Career Readiness for Foster Youth Preparing Youth for the Workforce Independent Living Programs (ILPs) are designed to bridge the gap between foster care and independent adulthood. A major component of this bridge is career readiness. Youth who age out without...
Building a Better Future: The Path to Foster Care Reform
Beyond Buzzwords—Real Change for Youth in Foster Care When people hear “foster care reform,” they may think only of laws and regulations. However, true reform is more than just legislation—it’s about transforming how the system operates for the youth it serves. Reform...
How Foster Care Impacts Academic Opportunities
Understanding the Challenges and Solutions for Academic Success Education is a critical pathway to independence and stability, yet youth in the foster care system often face interrupted schooling and lower graduation rates. According to national studies, they are more...
Why Community Matters in the Growth of Youth in Foster Care
Why It Matters for Youth in the Foster Care System A community does more than provide a backdrop for growing up—it provides connection, identity, and opportunity. For youth in the foster care system, whose lives may be marked by instability, the presence of a caring...
There is something sacred here in Pooler, Georgia—![]()
a building our community protects, cares for, and refuses to overlook.![]()
![]()
This building has a heartbeat.![]()
It pulses with every soul who believes foster care should never fade into the background.![]()
![]()
For anyone who wonders whether foster care is seen—![]()
it is seen here.![]()
Our community is not a stranger to foster care;![]()
they recognize it, honor it, and lift it up.![]()
![]()
Our neighbors look toward our building and always find a way![]()
to keep its light — and its purpose — alive.![]()
![]()
Thank you, Humbug Holiday Lighting,![]()
for climbing all the way to the very top![]()
so our mission can shine farther —![]()
so it can be witnessed, felt, and remembered.![]()
![]()
You illuminated more than a building.![]()
You illuminated hope.![]()
![]()
Thank you for your generous gift in bringing foster care into the light![]()
during this holiday season.
At North Beach Bar & Grill stands a Christmas tree unlike any other — a tree dedicated to the dreams our young adults once whispered as children. ![]()
![]()
Dreams that, through perseverance, love, and community, are still alive today. At Gilliard and Company, we are working every single day to make those dreams a reality. 💙![]()
![]()
This beautiful creation is called “A Thousand Dreams.”![]()
And today, we humbly ask you to vote for our tree — not just for its beauty, but as a powerful stand for the mission of Gilliard & Company.![]()
![]()
✨ Just because our young adults look grown… their inner child is still with us, honored and nurtured every day. ✨![]()
![]()
This tree was:![]()
🎨 Designed by Ms. Whitney![]()
🎄 Assembled with love by her mom![]()
🖌️ Artistically crafted by Nicole Marie Schuster![]()
![]()
Every hand that touched this tree belongs to someone whose heart has been touched by foster care.![]()
![]()
Thank you for supporting us, believing in us, and standing with the youth we serve. 💙![]()
![]()
P.S. If you look closely enough, you’ll see it — the silhouettes of our young adults represented in their child form. 🥹❤️ A special thank you to Nicole for helping bring this magic to life. 💞
