Making It Happen Foundation

Forever Family Friday – Sharinna

August 19, 2022

I can’t believe that summer is quickly coming to an end… but sadly it is and you know what that means. It means students all over this country are gearing up for a new school year. Sometimes for kids in foster care it is not always the same experience everyone else is having. It will be a new school for many or maybe even a new city or they don’t have the supplies they need or there’s already a knock on them just because they are in foster care….the list could go on and on. Parents…I urge you to take a minute and talk to your kids about being kind to all at school. Encourage them to sit with the kid at lunch that no one is sitting with. Explain to them the importance of talking up for the kid that is being bullied. Teach them to just be nice and treat their peers as they want to be treated. Please allow me introduce you to an amazing young lady that we are hoping has a fabulous school year. We hope that we can help her find her forever family. A family that can be there for all she needs them to be.

Sharinna is 14 years old and lives in South Carolina. She is a helpful and caring young lady who enjoys going to church. If she were president for a day she would “give all the homeless people a place to stay.” God bless her beautiful heart! She wants to be a hair stylist so she can be her own boss. Girl! I love that entrepreneurial spirit. She is very driven and likes to get things done. Sharinna’s perfect day is being adopted on a sunny beautiful day. Oh sweet girl. She’d like a family with a mom that likes to be active outdoors. Can you help Sharinna with her forever family. Can YOU be that mom? Please share! Please Like this post! Please Repost! All of this will help get the algorithm up so more people will see Sharinna. Thanks so very much!

For more information please contact Holly at (864) 282-4781 [email protected]
Photo Amber Gillum

Forever Family Friday – Dereon

August 15, 2022

What a lovely week it has been! I can not thank you enough for all the birthday wishes! If I have not responded to you I promise I am going to! I undoubtedly have the nicest friends like family on Instagram! I’m serious. I felt very loved and celebrated. And OMG…I thank you so so much for those who have helped #ClearTheLists for the very deserving Foster Parents and Teachers! This has been one of the greatest gifts I received! Do you guys like having this option to give? If you do…we will share lists again at Christmas for our #ForeverFamilyFriday kids. Let me know! The responses we have received from these teachers and foster parents will bring you to tears. I’m going to do something for all the people that have participated in this give. I’m just trying to process that right now. AND…It’s not too late to join in the giving. The lists are on our foundation website www.makingithappenfoundation.com (The link is in the bio) AND also on my Facebook post. Now…Please let me introduce you to Dereon. He is pretty amazing and deserves our undivided attention.

Dereon is 11 years old and lives in Tennessee. He deserves to feel loved and celebrated. He is caring, kind, witty and smart, and loves to tell stories that will make you laugh! One day he would like to go into the army and help people. He loves Michael Jordan and playing sports. His favorite sport is soccer. Dereon loves playing with friends and just being able to be active. He loves school and is very smart. Dereon is resilient and very determined and has big dreams for his life. He longs for a family that is loving, caring, helpful and supportive. Can you be that family for Dereon? We would so appreciate you liking and sharing this post. It makes a difference. For more information please contact AmericasKidsBelong.org or DM us! Click here for Dereon’s video.

Forever Family Friday – Elijah, Maurissa, Omar, Jayson and Andrew

August 9, 2022

One of the most important things in the world to me is family. Having a large, loving, caring, close knit family… that’s what it’s all about. It’s like you have your own set of friends and allies. It’s just a great feeling to know that there’s always somebody there for you. Personally I think we are all part of the human family. We should all be there for each other. Allow me to introduce you to five siblings that are part of our human family. They need us to advocate and champion for them. They need to know somebody is there for them. They are from Florida and range from 8-16 years old! I personally have just one brother, but my cousins, extended family and friends like family certainly make up for just one sibling. I love large gatherings and time spent with them. I want that for these kids. Warm fuzzy moments with their forever family. Can you help us find that family? Please let me introduce you to this beautiful sibling group from Florida!

Elijah is the oldest at 16. He loves to watch TV, draw, play with puppets and is fascinated with ventriloquists. His perfect day would be spent at Disney World meeting his favorite character, Mickey Mouse. Maurissa, the only sister, is 14 and says she is still deciding on a future career path but is considering being a lawyer, a fashion designer or a hairstylist. For fun, she enjoys cheering and running. She would like her adoptive family to know “I laugh a lot.” Omar, 11, is the caretaker of the group. He always makes sure his siblings are well taken care of which is especially sweet not being the oldest. He likes to play football, swim & play video games. He would like his adoptive family to know he’s a “good kid.” Jayson is 10 and is all about football! One day he would like to play professionally. He also enjoys basketball, playing video games and likes dogs. Andrew is 8, loves swimming, riding his bike and listening to music. Andrew’s favorite animal is a hippo. He hopes his adoptive family has a hippo….and a sense of humor.

This dynamic sibling group hopes to find a FUN family who will value their sibling bond while encouraging their individuality. For more info please contact Heart Gallery of Tampa at 813-314-2021. THANK YOU Photo: Marissa Moss Photography

ELIJAH'S LIST FULFILLED

MAURISSA'S LIST FULFILLED!

OMAR'S LIST FULFILLED!

JAYSON'S LIST FULFILLED!

ANDREW'S LIST FULFILLED!

Forever Family Friday – Ciana and Brianna

July 1, 2022

Happy July 1st everyone. I just can not believe that we are celebrating @sjtuohys birthday and Independence Day this weekend. Where has the time gone? I’m praying that your enthusiasm is not dwindling because these kids need more than social media posts and institutions and words and charity. They need us! To invest time in them. To help them understand and overcome and provide and protect them. To help them move forward. Doesn’t The Declaration of Independence say something about the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness as inalienable rights? This is America. These kids deserve the love of a family and happiness. To me it seems like that is their right. So I pray that this weekend while you are enjoying time together with friends and family and being with those you love you think about these kids who aren’t afforded those same luxuries that you are experiencing – because of no fault of their own. Let me introduce you to two amazing young ladies that need our help. Please meet Ciana and Brianna. They deserve happiness. They deserve a forever family.

These sisters are from Alabama. Brianna is 17 and is very shy but family oriented. She enjoys watching movies, playing games on her laptop, talking with friends, doing her nails, and attending church. Brianna is interested in playing on the high school basketball team. When she finishes high school, she would like to open her own nail salon. Her favorite holiday is Christmas because she can be with her siblings and eat! Whoo hoo! Mine too! Her favorite restaurant is McDonalds.

Ciana is 16 and is shy, but very friendly and sweet. She has a contagious smile. Ciana enjoys basketball, football & dancing. Some of her favorite things include spending time outside, eating hot wings, listening to music, and watching shows on the Disney Channel. Her favorite holiday is Christmas! Love this.

Please join me in sharing these sisters with our community. Please help to find their forever family!! For more information contact [email protected]. Or message us! Thank you for continuing to journey with us!

Brianna's wish list - FULFILLED!

#FamiliesDontHaveToMatch

Forever Family Friday – Sierra

June 24, 2022

Have you ever thought something was just so overwhelming or daunting that you just gave up on finding the solution or answer before you ever put any real thought or effort into it? Do you ever wonder if your efforts and actions will really make a difference? If these thoughts have crossed your mind then you are a lot like me. I truly believe we all have the power to make a difference. Here is an opportunity for you to take the first step in being a difference maker…read this post and tell someone about Sierra. Repost Sierra. Pray for Sierra. You have more significance than you realize. I can tell you from personal experience one moment can change your life and the life of someone else. Can you be that one moment for Sierra? Here’s your chance. Please let me introduce her to you.

Sierra is 13 years old and describes herself as funny and playful. She is active and one of her favorite things to do is jump on the trampoline. She also likes to play video games, especially FortNite. In fact, she would like to be a video game designer when she grows up. One day she wants to visit Disney World-maybe with a new forever family. She would like to have a two-parent home and brothers and sisters. She desires a family that likes to go to church and has the same interests as her. She simply says life with a family would be happy. Wow…that statement is heartbreaking. Please help us help Sierra find her forever family.

For more information on Sierra PLEASE contact [email protected]. Or DM us! J. Crowe Photography

Forever Family Friday – Joshua

June 24, 2022

Happy Forever Family Friday everyone. We have officially kicked off summer and we are getting ready to celebrate Father’s Day this weekend and will then roll right into celebrating Independence Day. Wow…Time just keeps rolling by. I feel like I just put up a Forever Family Friday post and poof it’s suddenly time to start working on another one. I lovingly talk to you guys each week about a different kid in the foster care system. Every one of them has a different story as to why they are in foster care. It could be from neglect or abuse or abandonment or overwhelming problems or finances or mental illness or lack of employment or drug and alcohol addiction or numerous other things…The reason matters not…what really matters is that almost all parents love their children and want the absolutely best for them but heartbreakingly many times problems such as the ones mentioned above interfere, disrupt and change the paths of their lives. That’s where we come in. We have the ability to positively intervene in the lives of these foster kids. You have the ability to positively intervene and make a difference in the lives of these kids. They all long and desire to happily live in a loving home with parents and a family. Here’s a young man that is valuable and amazing and desires just that…a family. We need to do all we can to ensure that he has that family. Please allow me to introduce you to Joshua.

Joshua is 13 years old and lives in Arizona! He who loves to listen to rap artists like Eminem and play games on his tablet. Joshua is also starting to get involved with basketball and football and would love to play on his team at school someday.

Joshua’s perfect weekend would include going to out for pizza and maybe going to Disneyland or New York City to see the Statue of Liberty. He would also love to spend time on the beach or get a nice veggie burrito at Chipotle. To top off his perfect weekend, he would have a big bag of Takis or Hot Cheetos because he loves spicy snacks. Joshua’s ideal family would provide him with a lot of structure and one-on-one attention. He hopes his adoptive family will be willing to play football with him and keep him in contact with his brothers and current foster mother in Arizona.

For more information please contact Heather at [email protected].

FULFILLED!

#ForeverFamilyFriday

#FamiliesDontHaveToMatch

#Love

#FosterCare

#Summertime

Forever Family Friday – Kelvin

June 24, 2022

Approximately 24,000 American teenagers in foster care turn 18 years old each year. What a staggering number! Then…at this ripe old age of 18… they are expected to move out and start their lives on their own. Some are still in high school at this point. Some have just graduated and they are expected to find jobs, figure out college, find a place to live, figure out how to eat, get transportation everywhere and on and on and on. Without the love and support of a forever family many of these kids that are aging out find themselves struggling just to survive much less figure out college or jobs. These kids are not failures. They are not damaged goods. They are in this situation because of no fault of their own. They are not just taking up space! They are valuable and amazing and deserve to be loved and cherished and made to feel amazing. Here is one valuable human that’s close to aging out and needs our help. Just give me 5 minutes of your time! Read about Kelvin. Please share Kelvin with someone. He needs us. He is one of the alarming numbers that could age out of foster care. It’s a heartbreaking thought.

Kelvin is sixteen years old and lives in South Carolina. He describes himself as cool and fun. He enjoys playing video games but also likes participating in outdoor activities. Kelvin’s favorite subject is math and although he likes working with numbers, he’s unsure if he wants a career in that subject area. He plans on attending college! Kelvin also enjoys drawing, reading and eating spaghetti and meatballs. He hopes to find a nurturing home. And a family ideally with pets! Let’s help him find a family that can love him and encourage him in his next chapter of life! Can you help us find Kelvin a forever family?

For more info please contact Carly at [email protected] or click here. Photo by Kennedy Exekiel.

FULFILLED!

#ForeverFamilyFriday

#FamiliesDontHaveToMatch

#Love

#AgingOut

#Support

Forever Family Friday – Malia

June 8, 2022

UPDATE: Malia has been matched with her forever family!

Kids in foster care don’t care about the color of your eyes or the color of your skin. They don’t care about the kind of car you drive. They don’t care what your job title is…they just want someone who really cares! Someone who cares about THEM. Someone who cares what grade they make on a test or someone who cares that their birthday is in a week or someone who cares if they have an ear infection…just someone that really cares. It’s heart breaking and I hope everyone that reads this feels bad about it for just a minute. Every child needs someone championing for them. It’s a crazy world we’re living in right now. Bad things are happening far too often but we have an opportunity to be a part of something good. We have an opportunity to change a life. It’s going to take all of us but we can do it. We can roll up our sleeves and put on our thinking caps and take one second to share this post. You never know who may see it and be the person that cares. Please allow me to introduce you to Malia.

Malia is 13 years old and lives in Tennessee. She is a bright and outgoing young lady who describes herself as kind, trustworthy and genuine. She is very creative and loves to draw. She would like to be an illustrator when she grows up. Math is her favorite subject in school. Ugh! It was not mine. She also enjoys reading and her favorite series is Harry Potter.

Malia likes all animals, especially cats. Visiting California is on her list to see the beaches and try new foods. One wish she has is to heal all the children of the world, physically and mentally. What a sweet soul! Malia would like a mother that she could spend time with doing activities such as painting her nails, doing hair and getting dressed up. To Malia, family means love, support and encouragement. Can you be the mother she has always wanted? Can you help us find the perfect family for Malia? Can you help ensure she has someone that cares about her and is cheering her on?!? For more information please contact AmericasKidsBelong.org or DM us!

#ForeverFamilyFriday

#FamiliesDontHaveToMatch

#FosterCare

#Adoption

#Love

Forever Family Friday – Brandon

May 13, 2022

As you know, May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. We want to continue to spread the message that there are 420,000 plus children in need of their forever family. Yes we need more families. Yes we need more people to step up. Yes we need more open hearts and more homes. BUT this week I want to thank all the foster families that are standing in the gap….filling in the space between the time a child is in custody and when they get their forever family. Please know that you are greatly appreciated! There are so many unsung heroes…How about the single 31 year old teacher who fosters not only one child, but has additional children stay with her on the weekends as needed. Or the mom and dad with 3 biological children who love sharing their family unit with foster kids…their door is continuously revolving. There are thousands of stories. I heard some amazing stories last night in Richmond. We are cheering you on! Foster parents come in many forms and we are thankful for you! Now let me introduce you to a young man that will melt your heart.

Please meet Brandon. He is 13, lives in Alabama, and describes himself as funny and cool. He loves sports – football and basketball specifically, playing games and watching TV. If Brandon could travel he would love to see the world….and go to waterparks! We need to get Brandon to Orlando. Reading is Brandon’s favorite subject in school. He enjoys being social and talking with others. Brandon will do well in a family that is patient, active, fun and loving. Can you be Brandon’s forever family? Do you know anyone that could? Your help is greatly appreciated.

For more information please contact [email protected] M. Fehr Photography

FULFILLED!

#NationalFosterCareMonth

Forever Family Friday – Joshua and Donielle

May 10, 2022

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend everyone! A mother’s love is like nothing else in the world. And isn’t it interesting that Mother’s Day is during National Foster Care Month because we clearly know not every child in this world, to no fault of their own, has a mother. Most kids in foster care have no one that will provide a safe, stable healthy environment to grow up in! These kids are looking and longing for that special woman to celebrate and protect them. The one who will invest, love and look out for them day in and day out. My heart truly aches for every child who longs for a mother. So I want to take a minute to thank every mother…whether biological, step, adoptive, foster or whatever title you have for providing kids with that safety, stability, courage, strength, love, kindness and that healthy environment that they so desperately need. Please meet this amazing sibling group Joshua and Donielle. How wonderful it would be if they had their own forever mom to celebrate next year! We need your help to spread the word about them!

Joshua, 16, and Donielle, 14, live in Florida. You won’t find a kinder or friendlier set of siblings! Talkative and outgoing, Joshua will try to make you laugh as he loves using humor in all situations. Donielle will keep you enthralled with her vibrant imagination and creativity. Despite many hardships, these siblings have kept an open attitude towards the world which is truly inspiring. Both show affection and compassion easily. Now they deserve compassion and affection for themselves.

They both love science. Donielle really wants to work with animals someday. Joshua is interested in working in a restaurant and also hopes to learn construction skills. He’d really love to learn virtual skills in programming to build video games. These children seek a loving, compassionate family with the willingness to learn how to best support trauma. They are repeatedly praised for their sweet disposition and smiles. They deserve a world of smiles! Please help us bring a smile to their faces. And Happy Mother’s Day! ❤️ For more info: Heart Gallery of Tampa 813-314-2021. Jessica Fredericks Photography

VIEW JOSHUA'S WISH LIST

DONIELLE'S WISH LIST - FULFILLED!

#MothersDay

#ForeverFamily

#NationalFosterCareMonth

#Love

#Adoption

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