As my faith grew, I came to understand that God had been writing a beautiful story all along. He used every chapter of my life—including the difficult questions—to develop compassion, purpose, and a heart for those who feel forgotten.

Today, I often think about young people who age out of foster care without the support system I was blessed to receive. Many of them enter adulthood carrying questions similar to the ones I once carried:

Do I matter?

Am I wanted?

Does anyone care about my future?

Who will walk beside me?

Those questions break our hearts. And they are the reason Hope Beyond 18™ exists.

Every organization has a beginning. Some begin with a business plan. Others begin with a burden.

Hope Beyond 18™ began with a calling. A calling rooted in faith, compassion, and a deep understanding that every young person deserves to know they are loved, valued, and never alone.

As we looked at the challenges facing young adults who age out of foster care, we were struck by a heartbreaking reality: when many

of these young people turn eighteen, they are expected to navigate adulthood without the support system most people take for granted.

While some have resources and relationships to help them succeed, many face uncertainty, housing instability, financial hardship, and isolation.

We believed there had to be a better way. We believed that aging out should never mean aging alone.And we believed that

faith-filled people could help change that story.

Why We Founded Hope Beyond 18™

David and I believe that every young person deserves more than survival.

They deserve belonging.

They deserve encouragement.

They deserve guidance.

They deserve opportunity.

Most importantly, they deserve to know that they are deeply loved by God.

Hope Beyond 18™ was created to help bridge the gap between foster care and adulthood through housing support, mentorship, educational opportunities, life-skills development, and a caring community committed to walking alongside these young adults. Our goal is not simply to provide assistance. Our goal is to help build futures.

We want young adults leaving foster care to discover that their past does not determine their future, that their circumstances do not define their identity, and that their lives have purpose, value, and potential.

Looking Ahead

We dream of a future where every young person aging out of foster care has access to safe housing, meaningful mentorship, practical support, and a community that believes in them.

We envision churches, businesses, mentors, donors, and volunteers joining together to create pathways of hope and opportunity. Most of all, we envision lives transformed.

Lives that move from uncertainty to confidence.

From isolation to belonging.

From surviving to thriving.

Because hope should never have an expiration dateand in God's kingdom, no one ages out of love.