Our Foster Care program held an appreciation dinner on May 21 at La Cucina di Hampden House in Hampden to celebrate our foster parents and their incredible contributions in the lives of foster youth.

“One of the things I admire most about you is that you open your doors to kids in one of the most difficult times in their lives,” said CHD President and CEO Jim Goodwin. “They’re going through all sorts of trauma, they go through an adjustment period, and it takes an amazing amount of emotional intelligence, perseverance, and skill for you to help them get through those periods.”

Guest Cyndi Wagner, workforce development manager for Hope for Youth and Families, spoke about her organization’s free summer arts program in downtown Springfield for middle school and high school students. Hope for Youth and Families was founded by Bob Bolduc, the former CEO of Pride Stores and a major supporter of CHD’s work over the years—especially that of CHD’s MaryAnne’s Kids fund, which provides opportunities to foster children that would otherwise be out of reach.

It’s National Foster Care Month! Read how foster parents make a difference in the lives of foster children.