“The Teen Project is a parent to the parentless. Foster kids are left on the street to fend for themselves. I will spend the rest of my life bring them home.”-Lauri Burns, Teen Advocate & Founder of The Teen Project
I learned about The Teen Project when I reviewed the founder’s memoir, “Punished for Purpose.” In the book, Lauri Burns shares her story of childhood abuse which led to addiction and prostitution. Lauri’s story also brings to light the plight of young people—teenagers—who are emancipated from the foster care system at eighteen-years-old with no family, no money, and few opportunities to continue their education. It is an issue that is not often considered: What happens to young people after they age out of the system? It is an issue that has become Lauri’s calling in life.
After she repaired the damage in her own life, Lauri turned her focus to helping teens who were often homeless once they left foster care permanently. She started The Teen Project in 2007 after fostering teens for several years. During the last five years, The Teen Project has purchased a house for homeless teens transitioning out of foster care and developed several outreach programs including an online database for shelters and addiction services, a text messaging system that helps homeless teens and abused women find shelter, as well as a national mentoring service to help organizations across the country improve the services they offer to act risk teens.
I was greatly moved by Lauri’s personal story and have made donations to The Teen Project since I read the book two years ago. This year’s annual donation receipt was accompanied by a beautiful picture of Lauri surrounded by several of the young adults that her organization is helping. Four of them have graduated from college.
The Teen Project is changing the lives of teens and young adults by supplying safe housing, access to shelters and addiction treatment, and opportunities for obtaining higher education. It is an exceptional organization to which I will continue to donate. I hope others will join me.
-Melissa Brown Levine
www.melissabrownlevine.com
I learned about The Teen Project when I reviewed the founder’s memoir, “Punished for Purpose.” In the book, Lauri Burns shares her story of childhood abuse which led to addiction and prostitution. Lauri’s story also brings to light the plight of young people—teenagers—who are emancipated from the foster care system at eighteen-years-old with no family, no money, and few opportunities to continue their education. It is an issue that is not often considered: What happens to young people after they age out of the system? It is an issue that has become Lauri’s calling in life.
After she repaired the damage in her own life, Lauri turned her focus to helping teens who were often homeless once they left foster care permanently. She started The Teen Project in 2007 after fostering teens for several years. During the last five years, The Teen Project has purchased a house for homeless teens transitioning out of foster care and developed several outreach programs including an online database for shelters and addiction services, a text messaging system that helps homeless teens and abused women find shelter, as well as a national mentoring service to help organizations across the country improve the services they offer to act risk teens.
I was greatly moved by Lauri’s personal story and have made donations to The Teen Project since I read the book two years ago. This year’s annual donation receipt was accompanied by a beautiful picture of Lauri surrounded by several of the young adults that her organization is helping. Four of them have graduated from college.
The Teen Project is changing the lives of teens and young adults by supplying safe housing, access to shelters and addiction treatment, and opportunities for obtaining higher education. It is an exceptional organization to which I will continue to donate. I hope others will join me.
-Melissa Brown Levine
www.melissabrownlevine.com
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