Give a Care Package to an Orphan This Holiday Season

This holiday season, consider giving a care package to an orphan who has aged out of the foster care system and is going to college without a family to provide emotional or financial support. Three times a year, the Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) sends care packages to thousands of foster students at colleges and training programs nationwide. Each care package is filled with school supplies, snacks, gift cards from major retailers, daily necessities and fun things that college students appreciate.

WASHINGTON (Business Wire EON) November 20, 2008 -- "During the holidays, young people who are particularly vulnerable in this economy are often forgotten," said Eileen McCaffrey, executive director of OFA, a Washington, D.C.-based, national not-for-profit focused on education, mentoring and workforce readiness for youth who have aged out. "These students rarely receive anything in the mail other than bills. Our care packages convey family-like support, boost their spirits and encourage them to succeed in school."

To support OFA's Care Package program:

Donate to the cause: A donation of only $20 will help fill a care package. Donations can be made in honor of a loved one or on behalf of an organization. Be sure to include an encouraging personal note with each donation. It is easy to donate online.

Hold a care package event: Rally family, neighbors or community groups to create care packages for OFA students. Guidelines are available online.

Encourage company involvement: Ask your employer to provide gifts-in-kind or make monetary contributions. OFA's current corporate contributors include Fed Ex, Schering-Plough, Hershey's and Oracle.

There are more than 500,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. Every year, more than 25,000 age out and face a difficult transition into adulthood. Only 13 percent start college and of those, half drop out in the first year. However, the Orphan Foundation reports that more than 65 percent of its scholarship recipients graduate within five years, a rate exceeding that of their peers in the general public.

Visit www.orphan.org to learn how to help during this holiday season.

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