<– Click to watch clips from our latest Start Above for Emily!  Each year more than 25,000 youth age out of the foster care system in the United States. 40% will experience homelessness. 25% will be incarcerated. 54% will drop out of high school and less than 5% will earn a bachelor’s  degree. Without the consistent family support to guide …

Join us on Monday, July 24th at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, MA Funds raised from the Scramble will support our Start Above initiative, which provides apartment renovation, furnishings, and necessities for young adults aging out of foster care. Special thank you to the event’s presenting sponsor Pelletier Properties, and sponsors that include TJX, Fidelity Bank, Main Street Bank and Vision Payroll. If your …

In early April, Rise Above sent out 219 College Care Packages to young adults who grew up in foster care and who are continuing their education beyond high school. Each care package will be filled with study snacks, hygiene and school supplies, and gift cards and shipped off to the recipient. “Thank you so much for the care package. You …

Show your support of Rise Above and the youth we serve with Rise Above-branded items! We’re offering sweatshirts, t-shirts and yoga mats. Shop our store!

On November 5th, hundreds of guests came out for a good laugh at our annual Fostering Laughs Comedy Show in Shrewsbury, MA. The event, hosted by Orlando Baxter, headlined by Paul D’Angelo and featuring Rafi Gonzalez, raised thousands of dollars for kids in foster care.      

In early November we shipped out College Care Packages to 268 young adults who grew up in foster care  and are continuing their education beyond high school. Each care package was filled to the brim with study snacks, candy, hygiene and school supplies, and gift cards. “Thank you so much for the care package. The lipstick I received is my …

Giovanni (seen here on his first day of camp last week) is one of more than 100 youth we’re helping attend specialty camps this summer! From horseback riding camps to overnight camps, and leadership camps to theater camps, youth will be building skills, making friends, having fun and creating wonderful memories this summer!

Rise Above’s Start Above project provides a life-changing, positive opportunity to young adults aging out of foster care. Our most recent recipient was Quejanae, a rising junior at Fitchburg State University who’s majoring in psychology and criminal justice. In addition to being a full-time student, she has two part-time jobs, one of which is serving as a mentor to adults with …

In partnership with Compass, Rise Above is pleased to offer a unique travel, team building, and leadership experience for young adults in foster care. This three part experience will happen over the course of one year, between this summer to summer 2023 and will include: -an out-of-state 6-day wilderness trip -an in-state weekend-long leadership training -and a service trip to …

In early April we sent out 208 College Care Packages to college students who grew up in foster care. Each care package was filled with study snacks, hygiene and school supplies, and gift cards and shipped off to a young adult who is continuing their education beyond high school. “Thank you so much for the care package. You have no …