Foster Care Awareness Month thank you

hi Blog family!

 Donna Maddox, Tanya Cooper & Brandy Tulo-Lang Sacapanio 2015

Mount kisco Mayor Michael Cindrich & Brandy Tulo-Lang Sacapanio recieving "Citizen Of Change" award May 21, 2015

Tanya and Robert Cooper after foster care, this is how I honor my brother, R.I.P Coop June 10, 2009 he died from heart disease  July 22 is his birthday

Thank you to all our kind donors who not only gave money but took the time to see what our youth needed! We are now officially a 501c3! None of our staff take a salary, including me! 

I have never been so proud to be a Fox Lane High student, as these last few years reconnecting at reunions and finding my 
board members: 
Megan Castellano, (my co founding partner who helped me start FosterKidsUnite, Inc. 
Sara Amuso 
Judy Fazzinga 
and Iris Carvahlo
 i have been so blessed to have talented woman on board and a great man who helps us with our website, Dave L - we thank you!
We also thank you Mayor Michael Cindrich for always supporting foster youth in our area! We also thank The Examiner News paper for sending Laura to interview us! 

i will share an article about our event in the future, (when i scan..)
 but first i must say "The Reality Of Aging Out" Panel was a success! We got rave reviews from many people, 4th year attenders said the panel was "amazing", "informative" and "enlightening"!

* Thank you Brandy Tulo-Lang, Donna Maddox & Moi!! (lol)for not only sharing your story but delivering a message of hope to our foster and aged out youth! 

Agency's often hire fancy speakers but who else can tell a story but those who went through it?
 When it comes to foster care, foster and former fosters should be the ones they call on to bring a message, as we lived it! I hope fosters start delivering and sharing their own message as independent speakers, many have stories.
The food was phenomenal, as always Bedford Hills Diner, Mount Kisco Dinner, Salsa Fresca and bellizzi!!
we gave away two scholarships this year instead of winners receiving they received $500 each and our honorable mentions, because of kind donors, received $200 a piece! 
We are blessed! 
Yes, i had a message today but short...lol
whatever you dream, dream it big! Nothing God can't do! If you have faith and take action WHEN you can, anything GOOD can happen in your life, at any moment, IF you have faith and perseverance! 
I always felt left out as a foster kid, even now i am surrounded by many people but at times a sense of loneliness hovers over me, I can not only admit this today, but i am ok and realize i am never alone. All through my life, neglect, abandonment and abuse, God has always held my hand and comforted me, that is why i am standing (in good mind) today! No matter what you are going though, keep faith and never take no for an answer when it comes to you. Don't allow others to treat you like 2nd best.

May 21 2015 Mount Kisco Public Library The Reality of Aging out panel

hey blog family!

when you fall down, get back up again and again, eventually- u will learn to fall gracefully OR learn to get up after each fall!

Take ownership when you fall down, that is the important to know that you COULD have done better
TRY AGAIN, giving up not an option!

I hope to see some of you
Time: Thursday 4:30
 Where: Mount Kisco Library-100 East Main St,
Mount Kisco, NY 10549

* this is a FREE event to raise awareness on foster care issues. *

 I honor my deceased brother who grew up with me in foster care but died of heart disease at 41 6 years ago!
 This year we have "The Reality Of Aging Out Panel" - 3 former fosters: Donna, Brandy & Tanya  will share the experience the day they aged out of foster care!
*First audience member seated receives a free hand crafted piece of jewelry! *refreshments for attendees after
**RSVP FosterKidsUniteInc@gmail.com 
we are on FB FosterKidsUnite, Inc group

MAY 21 MOUNT KISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY FREE EVENT

 Hi blog family!
so much going on but nothing as important as National Foster Care Awareness Month! Yes, that zip is incorrect its 10549, it has been corrected and the most important part, you know that we would love to see you! Free food after and first attender receives a hand crafted piece of jewelry!

National Foster Care Awareness Month

Hi blog family!

The Reality of Aging out Panel will be sharing personal stories on the day they aged out, please join us. It is not too often you get 3 former fosters and an adoptee in one room to share! This is our 4th year raising awareness in Westchester. Thanks to our kind donors, we hope to honor 6 young people that are in or on their way to  school!

We will also honor those who work with foster or adopted youth in some capacity. We need your help, all you have to do is RSVP FosterKidsUnite.org or join FosterKidsUnite, Inc on Face book! We want to fill that room to capacity so come out and lets celebrate our youth that are trying to make it without parents. We want them to know they have a great community on their side!

Remember: Sometimes our parents are only a VEHICLE to get us here, we have to do the work and let others lead us to our greatness! You are not defined by your current event but your future outcome!

May 21st- lets fill the room! Don't forget to purchase (amazon) a book for a foster youth, all proceeds go to FosterKidsUnite, Inc. We are a not for profit providing non traditional services to aged out fosters in or going to college
www.fosterkidsunite.org

 

sad times can be made into great lessons

Hi blog family!



Happy Easter to you all, I pray that you are all safe, well and with health &  LOVE, the greatest gift on earth!


We are working hard for our event May 21st at The Mount Kisco Public Library 4:30-6pm and we are working on our event flyer!

Our panel: Brandy, Tanya, Donna & Robert will Discuss the day they aged out: The Reality of Aging out" panel and Robert Hafetz will end our panel with thoughts on how we can help foster and adopted children!

Free event- refreshments for guest after! First seated at 4:30pm wins earrings or bracelet crafted by Tanya!
* Our goal to help with scholarships this year $2,000 please see our site to donate to our foster youth in college. This is work you often do not see until much later when people like me come back and help others. Even if you can only send $1 it adds up! Unless requested I will mention each donor in our event program as a thanks! Businesses that make a donation of $20 or more we will list your business!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
Sad times come for all of us at some time in our life IF we live long enough. No person is without this sadness that comes more so to those with trauma, abandonment, neglect and abuse issues. No worries, you are human! God NEVER gives you more than you can handle IF you handle...your past.

Try to sit each day and write down things that are good bad and lovely in your past. By 30 years old whatever haunted you from childhood should have been talked about, discussed and put into your mental Louis Vuitton Luggage by now! IF you have not...it may continue to haunt you, making you feel sadder than usual, depressed. Talk to a professional IF you think the issue is causing you to hurt yourself or others OR isolate and be alone MOST of the time.

We all go though ruff times, don't let it get the best of you. When people are negative, when you have past issues that keep coming up in daily relationships or work...work on them and through them DON"T ignore them!! Write it down IF you don't have money for therapy or you may not truest anyone, its ok, but you have to process!!
We all have down days, but you must always get back up brush yourself off and keep moving forward with life. We only get one we can remember...lol (unless u believe in past life)...I never remember mine!! You deserve a great life, great friends, great job but YOU have to go after it with vigor, love and determination to never settle and perseverance to get through life free of any guilt! You are a winner as God made you..(ok for those who may not believe)..YOUR parents, even if they gave us away.....you are alive, that means God, the universe has great need for you and a message you must share to help others!
Write in your journals daily
Meditate daily
pray daily
LOVE daily...if you have love in your heart, all problems dissolve and don't seem so bad because LOVE takes over and even pain, death, sorrow can turn into a lesson to help others. Remember, this life is not about YOU, its about US. Stay strong stay positive, stay with us, as we need you....sad times, has great lessons!

Tanya

Sam Smith - Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015) ft. John Legend

hi blog family!



I dedicate this version to all those who went thru and going thru life challenges without family. Remember we all have a force guiding and loving us to be our best- remember only that when you are in despair and you will be ok! You are made in Gods likeness, meaning you are divine and meant to be- make your ancestors proud by choosing to start a new fulfilling life, even with challenges and all!! xo

T

save the date: May 21st our annual scholarship event!! flyer soon

check our new web page, (still in progress and we are still waiting for our IRS response..lol u know that could take 90 days!!) but we have time! God is good and nothing will stop my work until my last breath, as it is my mission to help those aged out!

finding your thank you

Hi blog family!

What a month and my how time fly's when the snow is around!

Wanted to share with you today: Finding your thank you!

Often we look for blessings and we never said thank you for what we have in the moment! Learning to be grateful for what you have now, is crucial IF you are to get more.

I heard a girl complaining about what she does not have and why things are not great, she wanted everyone to "give" to her needs, not knowing we all have needs!

 Sometimes we get so caught up in negative language and thought and we forget to be thankful and grateful for whatever we have in our life now, missing our blessings.
Looking for thank you is not that hard, silence and observation, knowing you are still alive, not only breathing but able to process what I am writing - all major blessings!

Be grateful for today and what you have in the moment,  If you have health you can always get money.  IF you are thankful and listen to the universe you find peace and in peace you find your thank you and your blessing!

:)
T
FosterKidsUnite, Inc.
*we are still waiting for our 501c3 status
www.fosterkidsunite.org
 

On The Town with Tanya Cooper

You all know my first idea to help fosters was to have my own late night tv since I was 12 and saw Johnny Carson! follow your dreams even if they don't start off shinning- keep moving forward the sun has to come out! xo

You've Got The Dirtee Love - Dizzee Rascal ft Florence and the Machine (...

we have all had these days, but keep going, things get better IF YOU take action to make change! Small steps lead to big steps and NEVER give up!!



Tanya

* we are working on our website and save the date: May 21st 4:30-6pm at The Mount Kisco Public Library 2nd floor celebrate National Foster Care Awareness Month with us as we honor my brother who grew up with me in foster care all my life and he died 6 years ago. We will give the Robert Cooper Memorial Scholarship and honor those who help foster kids! Free event

 topic: The Reality of Aging Out" a panel 4 former fosters who are now adults and giving back to foster youth 3 will share their aging out story and one will share how we as a community can help those in care in our area! Information is everything!

Michael Bublé - Home [Official Music Video]