2 The Next Chapter

At 2 The Next Chapter, we are committed to making our programs more accessible to those who need them.

Unfortunately, the economic decline has resulted in an increase in the number of teens leaving their homes or being placed into state care. These kids need us now more than ever.

At 2TNC, we rely on donations from individuals, community groups, and small businesses to help us achieve our mission. This is your opportunity to help us, help them!

Donations can be made through Benevity, Guidestar, or online, and we also accept mailed-in donations.

Our PayPal donation link can be found by name or email: [email protected].

Checks can be mailed to: 2 The Next Chapter, 610 E Bell Rd suite 2-125, Phoenix AZ 85022.

The direct link to our website will be in the comments.

We have seen a steady decrease in the number of community foster families since the pandemic. Things are getting very desperate for some kids who are in foster care due to no fault of their own.

As of June 17, 2024 Arizona has the highest percentage of young foster kids living in group home settings out of all 50 states, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A DCS spokesman stated 52 group home contractors were awarded contracts this year, while 16 were not. That means 250 kids need to be transitioned out of group homes to other settings like kinship or foster family placements in just five months. That is a sickening amount of kids in a very short time that will have their lives uprooted.

While they're trying to find homes for these 250 kids that need to be moved in such a short amount of time, it's only further proof of how vital our services at 2 The Next Chapter are in the lives of these teens and young adults.

If you can find it on your heart or in your wallet to help, we could use and would appreciate any assistance you are able to provide.

Our "Free 2 Be" bags we try to purchase in bulk and will accept donated new backpacks and duffle bags which are big enough to accommodate someone in high schools needs. There is no shortage for the need of these bags which the kids use to transport their belongings from one home to another.

The journals we normally include are ordered but we'll accept journals that are new. We also usually order our hygienic packs and bundles in bulk, but, like the other items, will accept new and unused items we can create packs with for both boys and girls.

The photo below is from our donated bags to the Heart Gallery for the kids waiting to be adopted. 100 bags from our "Free 2 Be Me" program were donated for these kids.

If you aren't in a position to help by donating, please help in sharing this post. We've come a long way, but we're far from where we'd like to be.

Donations can be made through our page, through Candid/ Guidestar , PayPal using [email protected]

Thank you!

Did you know boys are more likely to age out of foster care than girls are? There it's an increase in that statistic if they enter the foster care system at the age of 12 or older.

What this means is that unless they get proper guidance in these important cultivating years between 12-18, when they age out, they are more likely to suffer from poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, or turn to crime trying to survive. You can help is lower the chances of these kids experiencing this outcome and proving to them, they do matter and are cared about.

At 2 The Next Chapter , we want to help give these teens and young adults the best chance we can at a good life after foster care. This is why we need the help and support of people like you.

We've partnered with a mentor and coach of the only professional teen and youth organization providing the services these kids need and another who's had years of experience with trauma informed and mindfulness care.

What we need now is the funds to pay for the services only they can provide.

Services like these aren't cheap, but the change in outcome providing for these young people is priceless!

Please consider donating today. Ever child deserves a chance at a good life. You can help one achieve this by donating today!

To donate, you can go through this page, too our website, through PayPal, or zelle. Please don't delay, help a child today!

"When you want something bad enough, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. " -Paulo Coelho

Proud to announce the approval of admittance for 2 The Next Chapter to go to Adobe Mountain School, which is a juvenile detention center in Phoenix, Arizona. Where we'll be providing once a week mentoring for teens 13-17 and helping with special on-site events!

Many people may be aware of the "foster care to detention pipeline". While many have beaten these odds and gone on to not have served time and are living very healthy productive lives, some are caught up in unfortunate circumstances.

Our goal is mentoring to encourage better decision making, build up self confidence and self esteem and provide a better role model in their lives.

Opportunities wouldn't be possible without the donations of people, like you, wanting to help make a difference in the lives of those most in need. We appreciate any and all donations, from the $5 to the $10000. Every single donation helps us to move closer to our vision and serve our mission.

You can donate right through this page or through our website.

With Trent Shelton – We just got recognized as one of their rising fans! 🎉Whoo!

Central Florida Teens and Foster Parents:

The Entrepreneurship Camp is a month-long event where students will understand entrepreneurship, how to develop a business plan, understand the market and more! Learn what it takes to be your own boss and gain invaluable knowledge and experience in the world of entrepreneurship.

Camp Fee
This camp is free of charge.

Target Audience
Age appropriate for 14–21-year-old students with an interest in entrepreneurship.

Register
Complete the registration form below to secure your spot! There are limited spots available.

Camp Registration LimitThere are 56 spots available.

Golfers Dream Day fundraising event for Junior Achievement of Arizona repping 2 The Next Chapter

An 11-year-old boy in Arkansas finally found his forever home after being in 25 foster homes in the span of four years.

Adoption proceedings for Luke Kissinger happened on May 14, but his classmates saw it all through a live stream, KAIT reported.

“That day was really special because now I don’t have to worry about moving around,” Luke said.

Luke said that it was exhausting going from one home to another but now he’s happy to finally have a place to call home.

Congratulations on your adoption, Luke!!

Golfers Dream Day fundraising event for Junior Achievement of Arizona helping to support their career readiness and financial literacy programs supporting the 170,000 + kids they serve representing 2 The Next Chapter

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Easter Sunday from all of us at 2 The Next Chapter.
Mary you have a day filled with gratitude 🙏 and appreciation, hope, peace, and happiness, with those you love.

If you are in the area and are in a leadership position on a nonprofit and are interested in growing, leading, and leading with other nonprofit leaders,
The third Thursday of the month we'll be hosting a free nonprofit leadership roundtable. The meeting will be scheduled for an hour and a half and will offer you the opportunity to network learn and help by offering your experience and advice to other nonprofit organizations in the area.
Interested individuals should email [email protected] with your contact info and to confirm your attendance at the first roundtable in April.

"Be careful who you choose as a role model because most of us are just giving you the picture you want to see. " Dion Sanders in an interview with
If you haven't seen the interview, it's on YouTube.

is putting together a one day SUPER empowerment event here in Phoenix Arizona.

We are collaborating with other community organizations and leaders to make this an event those who attend will never forget!
The teens and young adults today need our help more than ever and it's up to you and I, to give them the tools they need to make the gear decisions today which will enable and empower them to create a bigger brighter future for themselves.

If you're interested in volunteering for this event to help make it into the event I know it can be, or, if you know someone who might be, please send an email to [email protected] with EVENT in the subject line.

Did you know about the Tax Credit, our need for shoes, clothing, socks, and underwear, are ways you can get involved!

Your tax credit donation of $1,051 could provide 52 children in foster care or in need with a brand new pair of shoes! Learn more and give today at www.2thenextchapter.org or through our shoes program on Guidestar https://www.guidestar.org/profile/86-1210721

We also need underwear, clothing, hygiene products and are currently doing a drive for our "You are Loved" valentines day bags.

Please share this post if you think you know others who might want to help.

If you have a passion for helping pre-teens and teens who face the difficult challenges of homelessness, entrusted in state foster care, or in at risk communities and are interested in joining our team or leading a committee in helping us grow and connect in our community, there is no better time to join us then NOW! Contact us for details on how you can become a "Hope Dealer" with 2 The Next Chapter!

We've just earned our 2023 Platinum seal with Candid (Guidestar)! We see excited to share the work our nonprofit does through our . Learn how you can support us and make a difference! We now accept for donations!
www.guidestar.org/profile/86-1210721

"Not my problem", right?
"There are close to 14,000 Arizona children in foster care, but there are only about 3,000 licensed foster families. Most children in need of adoption are between the ages of 9 and 20 because while babies get picked quickly, after the age of 7, the chances decrease dramatically.
Ethnicity speaking, white children are more likely to be adopted, then Hispanic, then black children, and the least likely are mixed race children.

Statistics say by age 17, over 50% of foster children will have an encounter with the juvenile legal system through arrest, conviction or detention. In addition, 25% of youth in foster care will be involved with the criminal legal system within two years of leaving foster care.

Children with a diagnosed disability of any kind, including a learning disability, are twice as likely to age out of the foster care system (NEVER GET ADOPTED). Kids who enter the foster care system after the age of 12 have a 2 in 5 chance of being legally emancipated at the age of 18 from the system... kicked out to try to self support themselves.

This is true and very real information. These kids are put in these positions of no fault of their own. They have just as much right to access to college or trade school and a support system of people who believe in them and want to help them succeed.

It's why 2 The Next Chapter was founded. To give them a chance. Instead of a "foster care to prision pipeline" , something better. A brighter future. An opportunity. A chance.

Yesterday I was doubting our relevance in the area here. Today, I'm more fired up than ever! We may not be able to help them all... more get dumped into the foster system every day, but I believe we can help as many as we are able to and THAT will make a change in our world. We may not be around to see the change, if maybe we will, but we MUST do what we can to help who we can.

If you'd like to help, we need all the help we can get. These kids don't have the luxury of time being in their favor. In fact, it's the exact opposite for them.

From when we were in Florida. Now that we're on Arizona, we'll be looking for local professional teams and community organizations to partner with as we continue to serve and grow in the Phoenix area.

The "Free to Be!" Is a program providing teen duffle bags and back packs with 2 The Next Chapter.

The goal was 150 duffle bags (75 Boys, 75 girls) by December 30th with each bag containing self esteem, confidence building tools, along with a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million , a journal with colored pens/pencils, and for those in need, clothes and or hygiene products, and of course, a card with a motivational or inspirational message in it.

We'd asked Target to help us so we can purchase some of these items and they'd agreed to help!

Oh! Remember the autographed Tampa Bay Buccaneers football and the Tampa Bay Lightning autographed baseball, the limited edition Bracelets by Jessii Vee that have ""Believe in yourself and dare to be Remarkable" engraved on them!

In attempt to helping homeless unaccompanied minors in the state of Arizona (Phoenix area), we've learned "Arizona was one of just four states where more than two-thirds of unaccompanied youth under age 25 did not have a place to sleep."

We're trying to help them find shelter. For those who've aged out of state foster care and are a minority, they have the most difficult time getting stable housing and employment.

Please help us help them.
We met this young lady the other day. She feels no one really wants to help.
(Although she appears very young, she is over 18 and needs desperate help).
We really do have a passion for helping. Sometimes this means finding them space in a recovery or rehabilitation program. Sometimes, these programs are very poorly ran due to lack of funding or other various reasons.
Information is in our profile to contact us.
Our vision is to help as many youths and young adults off the streets and giving them the best hand up we can.

We need your help, today.

We need passionate volunteers to fill vacancies on our board. We need monetary donations and supply donations. We need storage space that can be donated. And we need feet on the ground volunteers, too!

Please share this post with those you know in the Phoenix Arizona area or those you think may be willing to help us get our momentum back in making a difference in a life, a community, a state, in the world!

Wednesday, August 10th is the first day of school for Hillsborough County and it is approaching quickly!

We are still in need of numerous school supplies for foster children. Starting school with the right supplies is a huge step towards having a successful school year which is exactly what we want for the youths in foster care! Without a stable support system in their lives, they depend on people like you for help. You can visit our Amazon Wishlist (see our ways to support cover photo) to purchase school supplies that will be sent directly or simply donate on our website and we will do the shopping for you!

Now is the best time to shop because you can also take advantage of the back-to-school sales tax holiday!

Help while you can and spread the word. Together we can help these kids start their school year off right!

High school graduation is a large milestone for young Americans, and one that opens many doors to various opportunities, like attending college or a trade school, joining the military, or entering the workforce. Nationally, 75% of homeless youth drop out of high school and do not earn their diploma. Without their diploma, these youth face tremendous challenges obtaining gainful employment that pays a living wage and provides access to health insurance and benefits. This barrier to higher pay and benefits can lead many youth experiencing homeless to experience chronic homelessness – regularly lacking a safe, stable, and secured housing situation.

A reminder 2 The Next Chapter has the seal of PLATINUM transparency on Candid / Guidestar, and you can donate directly from their website or through ours.
We've got a LOT of work to do to build our residential services facility and then to staff it. Can't do it without your help!
These kids need us more today than ever before! The link is on our bio, but sharing helps, too!

Tonight, we met 11 year old Robert and his family. They live in a 4 door sedan. His dad says his older daughter died back in 2020, and he lost it and simply couldn't recover.
Robert said his last meal was this morning. He was hungry and I could tell!

His family took fresh, healthy foods with them and a couple of clothing items I had in my vehicle.

We're running low so if you have any youth sized clothes, socks, new underwear, like new or gently used gym shoes that would fit a teenager or young adult, hygiene products and kits, or blankets, please contact us. Information is in the profile.

We can't help everyone, but in the ones we do, we make a difference!

Also looking for donated space so we can store more clothing items and necessities in the Phoenix area.

Once again we would like to thank Arizona Fresh Vending for their very generous donation of 3 CASES of fresh, healthy foods to the families with kids in need in our community! 3 big cases of sandwiches, fresh assorted fruit cups, salads, burritos, and tacos were handed out tonight!

We know there are many families struggling right now and feeding kids so they can concentrate on learning instead of the growling of their bellies is one easy but very generous way we can help to give a hand up!

Thank you again Arizona Fresh Vending for your very generous donation!
(My apologies for not having a photo this time around but handing out foods to feed hungry mouths was the priority.

We got here nice and early for our Main Event Tempe fundraising event! Come on out to Main Event from 11am-2pm for FUN, FOOD, and Deposit your receipts in our box! A portion of your purchase will go towards our "Free To Be!" Youth service empowerment program!