Causes: Adult & Child Matching Programs, Children & Youth, Youth Development

Mission: Our mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors—12+ years, no matter what.

Results: 83% of program youth graduate from high school or earn a GED, 98% wait to parent until after their teen years, and 93% remain free of involvement with the juvenile justice system.

Target demographics: Impacting generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what.

Direct beneficiaries per year: We currently serve more than 450 youth in the Portland metro area.

Geographic areas served: Portland Metropolitan Area

Programs: Our Friends are experts in building sustained and nurturing relationships with youth. We specialize in working with youth who have faced a lot of adversity. We have the data to show that it's real and it works. Our model was founded on research showing that the single most important factor in overcoming childhood adversity is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult. Research over the past three decades continues to affirm how much these relationships matter. We walk alongside youth for 12+ years, no matter what.