Foster Children Obtain College Degrees and More with the Help of The R.J. Leonard Foundation

By Sarah A. Steers, Esquire

Think back on the mix of emotions you felt when you opened the letter from your dream law school and saw that one fateful word: “Accepted.” Your body probably flooded with a mix of excitement, relief, and joy (not to mention a little bit of fear).

Now imagine how powerful those emotions must be for a young adult recently aged out of the foster care system, upon finding out that he’s been accepted to his top choice master’s degree program. A dream that seemed inaccessible now rests within reach, thanks to the R.J. Leonard Foundation (“RJLF”).

The RJLF is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Doylestown. Each year, it admits a small cohort of young adults formerly housed in the foster care system and bestows upon them the title “Fellow.” Fellows are selected, in part, for an interest in continuing educational opportunities.

The RJLF matches each Fellow with a dedicated Mentor — someone who can serve as an active listener and a pragmatic advisor. Working with business partners and donors in the Bucks and Montgomery County communities, the RJLF also helps each Fellow find meaningful jobs and internships, identify reliable modes of transportation, try new cultural programs, and engage in professional development opportunities.

Educational scholarships are vital to the RJLF, and to the Fellows themselves.

Jack, a recent RJLF Fellow, wasn’t prepared to embrace his own potential until coaxed by his Mentor. College wasn’t on the table. But Jack grew to trust his Mentor after bonding over a shared love of football, and decided to give Bucks County Community College a try. After earning his Associate’s Degree, and with the encouragement of his Mentor, Jack transferred to a four-year degree program and received a B.A. in Social Work. The RJLF continued with scholarship assistance. With a now deep-rooted sense of confidence, Jack was recently admitted to the University of Missouri Kansas City’s School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences to begin his Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Jo Leonard, the founder of the R.J. Leonard Foundation, knew achievements like Jack’s were possible if young adults were given positive, proactive one-on-one attention and a financial boost. When she learned that only 3% of young adults formerly housed in the foster care system graduate from college, she knew a local, education-focused organization would be a meaningful way to change lives — not only the immediate lives of the Fellows, but also lives in future generations. Education improves minds and nurtures each Fellow’s sense of value and dignity. But it also provides each Fellow with better long-term job opportunities, allowing success to flow to their future families and helping to break intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty.

With education — often, college — a goal for RJLF Fellows, it’s important to remember that young adults formerly housed in the foster care system aren’t just struggling with their first major term paper. These young adults are working to pay rent while simultaneously teaching themselves basic life skills. It’s the sort of life that could overwhelm a 19-year-old with no support system. That Ms. Leonard built a multi-pronged, collaborative approach into the RJLF is a testament to her knowledge of the myriad ways young adults need assistance as well as her dedication to the organization’s mission.

But just as the RJLF Fellows rely on support from their Mentors, the continued operation of the RJLF depends on support from the Bucks County community.

First, the RJLF needs donations to fund educational scholarships for deserving young adults. Ms. Leonard asks the lawyers reading this article — folks who recognize the importance of life-long learning — to consider donating to the RJLF if education is a value in your household. Second, the RJLF would like to build a stronger, more sustained network of businesses that could provide internships and professionals who would be willing to serve as Mentors.

RJLF scholarships and Mentors propelled Elizabeth to a B.S. in Nursing from Drexel University, after completing coursework at Montgomery County Community College. Dedicated and hard-working, Elizabeth turned to her two Mentors when she needed encouragement and pushed forward with the help of educational scholarships and a transportation scholarship. The RJLF didn’t make Elizabeth the woman she is today — Elizabeth did. But the RJLF gave her the boost she needed to cement her career and find stability for her family. Members of the Bar Association recognize the good that the RJLF is doing for young adults (it was the recipient of the 2022 “Phone Calls with Santa” YLD fundraiser). If anyone is looking to do more for a dedicated, homegrown nonprofit, the R.J. Leonard Foundation may be a good fit. 