Aspiranet receives milestone 20th furniture set donation from Ashley Furniture for youth transitioning out of care

Most young adults are lucky enough to have parents who support them through their transition into adulthood, whether it’s helping them open a bank account, applying for their first job, or driving them off to college with a car full of necessities. However, for many in foster care, the scenario can play out rather differently.

Aspiranet, one of the largest and most innovative non-profits supporting children and families across California, specializes in working with transition-age youth ages 18-21 in Southern California. To build the bridge between foster care and independence, Ashley Furniture, the world’s largest manufacturer of furniture, continued its partnership with Aspiranet by donating four furniture sets to four transition aged foster youth (TAY) at a Foster Care Month event in Downtown Los Angeles in May.

The event marked Ashley Furniture’s fifth event in which they’ve donated furniture sets to furnish former foster youths’ new apartments. The event was attended by the four TAY, along with Ashley Furniture executives, Aspiranet staff, and a representative from California Senator Holly J. Mitchell’s office. At the event, the young adults were given their new furniture sets and personalized care packages from local non-profit Tabitha’s Heart Gift. The youth were also presented with Certificates of Recognition from Senator Mitchell’s office.

The heartwarming event included an inspiring speech by Ashley Furniture Regional Manager John Santos who offered words of encouragement. But the most moving moments of the event were when the four young adults, Aaron, Carolina, Warlys and Victoria, each shared their personal stories of life in foster care, their optimism for the future, and their gratitude for the love, support and gifts from the people in the room who are rallying around them to help them succeed.

Through Aspiranet’s Transitional Housing Placement Plus Foster Care (THP + FC) Program, transition-age youth are provided a safe living environment while teaching them life skills that help them become self-sufficient, as well as support for basic needs, emotional support, jobs and education.

“I am extremely thankful to have been a part of this event that bettered not only my life, but the other attendees as well,” Aspiranet THP+FC program recipient Carolina wrote in a Thank You letter to Ashley Furniture. “The event was an amazing experience and highlight of my year.”

For more information about fostering with Aspiranet, visit www.aspiranet.org.

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet is a 501(c) (3), California nonprofit organization with the mission of providing children, youth, and families with a foundation of support and services so they can succeed at home, at school, and in their communities. Aspiranet offers a unique blend of services including foster family support, adoption through foster care, services for foster youth transitioning to adulthood, mental health services, residential care, intensive home-based care, and community-based family resources. For more than 40 years, Aspiranet has been dedicated to offering outstanding services that impact more than 35,000 children, youth and parents at 33 community-based sites statewide. For more information, visit www.aspiranet.org