Hello, this page was created for Donny, a 21-year-old former Palisades High School Student who aged out of the foster care system after he graduated. While he was at Pali, Donny lived alone in South Central in a single apartment paid for by the county, traveling two hours each way to high school on the bus. During high school, Donny would stay with us for the weekends sometimes. When I had to drop him back off at his tiny apartment, I knew he would be alone again. It broke my heart.

Below is a piece of Donny's art. You can see more on instagram @donnyteeth.

As for history, Donny was removed from his biological mother at age 3 and was adopted by a famous entertainer along with quite a number of other children. Sadly, the entertainer was mentally ill and so Donny and his siblings grew up in chaos and neglect until the county took Donny and his siblings away and put them all into foster care again. Donny was 11 when he returned to foster care.

Recently, while looking at Instagram, my daughter discovered that Donny was living in a homeless shelter after the apartment pod the county placed him in upon leaving foster care went bankrupt quickly. For some strange reason, the County did not give Donny extended benefits which would have lasted for him from age 18-21. Now it is too late for County help.

Given all of Donny’s trauma, and the shape he was in when we got him from the shelter, I did not think it would be a good idea for him to return to the shelter while waiting for Section 8.

Donny is currency being interviewed for a program called The Right Way, run by a former foster youth. They partially subsidize his housing and help him with life skills and getting a job. The job they get him will pay the 50% non-subsidized portion of his rent. Today we looked at the unit and it is very nice. The 5 bedroom apartment houses several carefully chosen young men, all of whom are in the Right Way and all of whom grew up in foster care.

We are creating a GoFundMe so that Donny has the means to move into the unit and to help him out for the first month or so. The money will also go towards furnishing his apartment, clothes, transportation, and necessities. Donny is a very sweet and gentle person and an artist. He hopes to do art and animation professionally someday.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated and any remaining monies will be used for a savings account for his emergency use.

Thank you, everyone!