Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin White.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Erin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have felt led for many years to be involved in the adoption and foster care systems. However, I didn’t quite know what that looked like, after attending the Foster-to-Adopt classes at Buckner a few years ago, my husband and I realized that becoming a foster parents was not in cards for us. However, I could not shake the feeling that I needed to be doing something within this community. Fast forward to October of 2017 when I landed on Austin Angels. I immediately knew that THIS was what I was supposed to do. They offered a hands on volunteer opportunity where I could really get to know the foster families and their children. I had to know more. So I called the CEO, Susan Ramirez, and we talked about opening up a chapter here in DFW. A month later, I said “yes” and I started gathering my board of directors and together we started fundraising to get off the ground. As of March 2018, we were officially a chapter of Austin Angels. Our website has launched and we are piloting our Love Box Program, with hopes to offer this to the public in August/September 2018. Our saying at DFW Angels is “Not everyone is called to foster. And not everyone is called to adopt. But everyone can make a difference in a Childs life.”
Our dream with the National Angels brand is to change the way the foster care system is supported. We currently have chapters in Austin, Amarillo, DFW, Cleveland Ohio and Cedar Valley IA.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not going to lie, fundraising is hard and asking people for money is hard, but what I found when raising money for DFW Angles is that people want to give, they want to help out these children, however they never knew where to give to. So when I started asking, they started giving. We raised $10,000 in a matter of 2 months. Being a chapter of an already established non-profit made our start up a little easier than most. A lot of our things (marketing, branding, logo) were already done. We’ve just had to implement these and make them our own here at DFW Angels. So, it’s been hard, but not unbearable. Knowing that we are going to change and help the foster system in DFW is worth every long day or hard thing.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about DFW Angels – what should we know?
Our mission at DFW Angles is to walk alongside children in the foster care system, as well as their caretakers, by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building and mentorship.
INTENTIONAL GIVING:
We define intentional giving as the giving of thoughtful gifts and resources that meet the real needs of a foster child and their entire family. Give Examples/story
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING:
We define relationship building as devoting time and energy to foster healthy relationships that promote healing through connection. Give Examples/story
MENTORSHIP:
We define mentorship as equipping and empowering our children to be prepared for adult living and reach their fullest potential. Give Examples/story
Our Love Box program connects volunteers directly with local foster families to provide monthly care packages meeting practical needs while spending quality time with the whole family building positive community.
We are a community of volunteers and advocates that come together to uplift the most vulnerable youth in our country, foster children. We are passionate about connecting volunteers and foster parents to ensure these kids know that a community cares for them, that their lives are important, and that they will grow up to be successful! We support these kids and the foster parents who care for them. We want to connect you to be a part of our mission!
We know the value of love, friendship and positive role models to speak truth and life into these kids. Showing up month after month after month give the children a sense of value and belonging and it allows the parents to have real genuine support. We want to connect people passionate about making a difference in the foster care community to our most vulnerable children that have experience neglect and abuse in the selfless overwhelmed Foster parents who care for them. There are over 3900 foster children in North Texas. We won’t stop until every family and every child has a love box group.
On top of our Love Box Groups, we also have a DARE TO DREAM program. This is a program that goes hand in hand with the Love Box, but here we match foster youth at risk of aging out of the system with a mentor. These mentors walk our youth through different milestones and at the end, when they turn 18, we help them apply for college, go to a trade school or enter a brand of service.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Compassion. We are not perfect, but I was blessed with a. pretty darn good life. A loving husband, 2 adorable little boys whom I adore. Coming to the aid of these foster families does not mean that I get to judge and come riding in on my white horse. My job is to come in and wrap my arms around these families who are struggling. My job is to offer compassion and love and support and encouragement so each child in that home feels loved. Having 2 little boys of my own, I know that no child should ever have to prove they are worthy of being loved. I also know that it takes a village to raise these kids. At DFW Angels, our goal is to be the village and love these families unconditionally.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6333 E Mockingbird
Ste. 147; PMB 563
Dallas, TX 75214 - Website: www.dfwangels.org
- Phone: 214-435-3060
- Email: info@dfwangels.org
- Instagram: dfwangels
- Facebook: DFW Angels
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