For assistance or information on an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy call (877) 558-0333.    

Or visit    www.PregnantAndScared.me

Our mission is to help unwanted, abandoned and orphaned children find permanent loving homes and their own sense of self-worth. We do this by developing and coordinating resources and programs to create community awareness, recruit adoptive families, provide financial aid for adoption and assistance for foster children and orphans.

Thousands of children in San Diego County find themselves unwanted, alone or abandoned. Worst of all, they find themselves without hope or any sense of self-worth. The Rivers of Hope Foundation works with organizations, partners and individuals to develop a network of resources and programs designed to bring HOPE back to these children. This includes the recruitment of prospective parents, working with agencies to make the process easier for those who want to adopt, and giving foster children opportunities and resources to grow as young people. Together, we strive to provide those in need of a full, loving family several paths, or "rivers", to the hope they so desperately need. The Rivers of Hope Foundation's primary goal is to help build Forever Families in San Diego.

The Rivers of Hope  Foundation currently operates or facilitates 8 major programs in San Diego County. They are:

 
RIVERS OF HOPE BIRTHDAY CLUB

For a small child, celebrating a birthday in a shelter or residential care facility can be a lonely and depressing experience. Often the day goes unnoticed and wishes unfulfilled. The Rivers of Hope Birthday Club changes all of that by providing a birthday gift on the child’s special day.  The gift not only gives the children a chance to pick out their own special gift, but it also sends a message that someone cares, and remembers. This program is operated in partnership with Promises 2 Kids.

Through 2013, the Rivers of Hope Foundation has committed to purchasing gift certificates worth $90,000.  

 
SOMETHING SPECIAL FUND

The Something Special Fund provides support for foster children that their parent will not or cannot provide. Special circumstances often arise in a child’s life where they need additional financial support for activities such as sports equipment, music classes, a class photo, or application fees to apply for college.  Because of this lack of funding, many foster youth are unable to fully experience everything life has to offer them at this age which is so critical to a sense of belonging.  The Something Special Fund Program, which is operated in partnership with Promises 2 Kids, was designed to provide foster youth with additional funds so that they don’t have to sit on the sidelines because they don’t have a prom dress or suit or because they can’t afford sheet music, art supplies or a class ring.  Up to $350 in financial support is provided on an ‘as needed’ basis and upon the request of a social worker.

In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Rivers of Hope has committed to funding “something special” for approximately 90 foster kids waiting to be adopted. This is a commitment of at least $22,500 each year.

 
THE HEART GALLERY

The Heart Gallery is a photographic exhibit created to find forever families for children in foster care. It is designed to showcase children in San Diego County in need of permanent homes, letting the public see the faces and learn the stories of these kids in need. 

The Rivers of Hope Foundation funds the San Diego chapter of The Heart Gallery, and works with San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency to find events and other opportunities to display photos of children in San Diego County in need of loving families.

In addition, the Rivers of Hope Foundation hosts the Heart Gallery online at PhilipRivers.com, where it has receives approximately 20,000 unique views per month. Rivers of Hope also pays to have the photos of the children displayed on eye-catching banners, signs and kiosks. The Heart Gallery is one of the best tools for getting kids adopted, and it has proven to be 70 percent effective in matching foster children with adoptive families. 

The Rivers of Hope Foundation hosts the Heart Gallery online at http://philiprivers.com/meet-the-children 

Camp connect

Rivers of Hope Foundation has provided grants since 2011 to provide a facilty, food and fun to allow a sibling reuniting camp for kids in foster care.  For children who have been traumatized by child abuse, abandonment and neglect, a relationship with a brother or sister often is their only source of emotional and psychological support. Sadly, many of these children will have to be removed from their home and placed in foster care and, more often than not, they will be separated from their siblings. Approximately 70 percent of siblings end up separated when they enter foster care.  Because of The Rivers of Hope Camp Connect grant, brothers and sisters separated in foster care, have opportunities to reconnect, strengthen family ties and create lasting childhood memories.

ANGELS FOSTER FAMILY NETWORK

Rivers of Hope has provided $75,000 in grants to Angels Foster Family network, a unique organization that is contracted by San Diego County to place babies and toddlers in quality foster care. Angels operates on the well-documented belief that early intervention can prevent a myriad of problems in later life. Angels places just one baby in a home with screened and well-trained primary caregivers to insure that secure attachment and bonding will take place—a key to later healthy development. The grant from Rivers of Hope has allowed Angels to recruit more special foster parents for this purpose.  Recently Philip donated his time to bring awareness to several little Angels.  Here's their stories:  ANGELS STORIES        http://AngelsFoster.org

 
Voices for children

Rivers of Hope has provided $100,000 in grants to Voices For Children, a nonprofit organization that addresses the child abuse crisis through its volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). With upwards of 7,000 kids in the system at any given time, Voices For Children's purpose is to provide all with CASAs. Voices for Children endeavors to ensure that abused, neglected and abandoned children who have become dependents of the San Diego County Court will have a safe and permanent home. Through their network of trained and educated volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), Voices for Children works with key agencies, legal counsel and community resources to identify and protect the best interests of each child inside and outside of court. For more information on Voice For Children see www.speakupnow.org

Rivers of Hope Foundation supports their purpose and efforts by providing a grant and bringing the plight of unrepresented children to the community.

Just IN TIME for FOSTER YOUTH

Just In Time for Foster Youth (JIT) provides foster youth transitioning from the government system to the 'outside' with opportunities for self-sufficiency through emergency support, essential resources, and caring personal guidance at critical junctures on their path to independence.  The Rivers of Hope Foundation supports these programs with an annual grant.  Find out more on Just In TIme. The Rivers of Hope Foundation recently granted $36,000 to Just In Time, to create a Rivers of Hope for Young Mens program. The Rivers of Hope for Young Mens Program goal is to create a program that will have clear, compelling benefits that will attract young men coming out of foster care to join JIT on a powerful path of responsibility, productivity and self-sufficiency.

Home-start
The Rivers of Hope Foundation supports The Maternity Shelter Program through San Diego charity, Home-Start.  Home-Start gives homeless, or at-risk for homelessness, young women, who are pregnant or parenting, a safe and supportive environment. They and their children are also at increased risk of developing physical or emotional health and safety problems including those related to substance abuse, child maltreatment, domestic violence, and becoming chronically dependent on the social service system. Not only do they get a place to call home but Home Start’s educational programs help to give these young women the tools they will need to rise above these obstacles.

OTHER PROGRAMS

The City of San Diego's Adoptions division of Health and Human Services hosts an annual picnic known as Spring Fling.  It's purpose is to introduce prospective adoptive parents to children in foster care.  Due to budget cuts and lower than expected contributions, recent events were in jeopardy of being cancelled.  The Rivers of Hope Foundation provided a monetary gift to allow the event to continue in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  This Spring Fling event always results in many children finding Forever Families.  

Rivers of Hope also provides outings and opportunities for children in foster care. Outings, such as trips to Sea World for a private dinner and visit with the Park animals; to Petco Park to attend a Padres game; providing tickets and lunch for the San Pasqual football team to attend a home Chargers game; funding for 96 foster kids to attend a summer camp at Whispering Winds Camp in Julian; and Philip's annual Football Camp and 5k Run gives kids in the San Diego foster care system a fun experience they would not otherwise get to enjoy.