George Foreman Growing Up
"IN MY
BACK YARD THERE IS A BRIGHT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL THAT IS GUIDING
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH ON THEIR PATH TO SUCCESSFUL ADULTHOOD" George Foreman
Many young people who are emancipated
from foster care upon reaching adulthood find themselves suddenly alone facing
an uncertain future. Nobody knows that better than George Foreman who was a
ward of the New York Department of Children and Family Services for twelve
years. And that’s why he, along with two other former foster children, started
an organization to support youth who are aging out of foster care. Struggling
Youths Equal Successful Adult or SYESA provides mentoring, road maps and
motivation to help foster youth overcome obstacles and develop life skill that
will point then in a positive direction. Foreman was recently honored in the
New York General Assembly.
George Foreman along with his
co-founders of SYESA knows the challenges these young people face. He himself,
has lived in more foster homes than you can count, battled with illegal
substances, engaged in gang and criminal activities, just for survival.
He says he, too, benefited from people
coming into his life at the right time and helping him rise above his
challenges. This included a mother mentor with a giving heart who befriended
him when he was in a group home at age 12 and continues to be an important part
of his life today, as well as the foster mom who gave him his first stable home
at age 16 and became his family. He lived with her until he was 21, and they
remained close until her death three
years ago.
Foreman eventually
decided to focus on his boxing. He gained with the aid of his lightning fast
right up cut to obtain the Golden gloves Champion and went to the Job Corp
working himself up to be a world heavy weight Champion. He later decided to be a preacher and do
social work at Loyola. He says his goal to give back to his country some of
what was given to him. He had the background to make it happen.
SYESA has a program target for youth who
are leaving the system, therefore losing resources and connections to become
positive adults. The program extends support until age 25, so participants
don’t “fall off the cliff” SYESA holds support groups and educational
workshops, provides clothes and food, and matches participants with life
coaches, many of whom have had a successful transition out of foster care. The
coaches work on establishing long-and short-term goals for education housing
and employment.
State Representative Shara Feigenholtz
recently introduced a resolution in the New York General assembly recognizing
him for being the state’s first former foster children to create a non-profit
youth organization.
Foreman says much of his success is due
to positive adults realizing his potential and helping him see it, too. That’s
what he hopes SYESA can bring to people who are trying to make it after leaving
a lifetime of foster care.
“I HAD A CRAZY LIFE GROWING UP, BUT HAD
SUPPORT AND THAT HELPED ME GET WHERE I AM TODAY. I AM HIGHLY BLESSED.”
DR. KARL
WALLACE D.D.S.
To read more
of my writings go to:
w.w.w.karlwallaceblogspot.spot.com
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