From L: Hi, my name is L. I’m 17 years old, a proud mom to my baby girl who is 1 and a half. I’m on track to graduate this school year! This time last year, I was being told I should drop out, but I’ve worked very hard to get caught up and make up for the years of school I missed before I came into foster care. This summer, my daughter and I were relocated from a group home to living with a supportive family that’s helping me prepare for adulthood and college, where I will study to become an ultrasound technician. I recently earned my driving learner’s permit and am now working toward getting my first car.

For me, a car is about responsibility and connection, as well as providing a better life for my little girl. It would allow me to get to my school, daycare, work (hopefully soon), and to visit my younger brother, who’s been placed in another foster home that’s been such a blessing for him. It would also help me stay consistent in my next step after graduating high school: entering a Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program through foster care while attending college.

My goal is to raise $12,000 to purchase a dependable used car outright, cover taxes and registration, pay for six months of insurance, and set aside a small emergency fund for any maintenance or repairs.

From the Family (her foster family): We’ve had the honor of walking alongside our newest daughter and her baby as they rebuild their lives with courage and heart. Her little girl was a precious gift born out of tragic and deeply painful circumstances — not irresponsibility. She made the incredibly brave choice to give her daughter life, and every day she continues to choose love, healing, and perseverance for both of them.

She has faced more challenges in her teen years than most face in a lifetime, yet she continues to move forward — showing up for school every day, caring for her baby, and making responsible choices for her future. L is a wonderful mom who hasn’t let her origin story burn away her sweetness.

Each year, thousands of teens age out of foster care without reliable transportation, housing, or consistent adult support — and many struggle to stay connected to healthy systems that can help them thrive. Pregnant and parenting youth in foster care are twice as likely to drop out of school compared to other teen parents (txchildren.org). L is determined for her story to be different, and we are here to facilitate that however we can.

This car isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline that will help her continue her education, parent her daughter well, and stay connected to her brother and her support network.

Every contribution, no matter the size, moves her closer to stability and self-sufficiency as she steps into adulthood.

With Christmas and her 18th birthday just around the corner, this campaign carries even more meaning — a chance for gifts that don’t just bring joy for a moment but create lasting impact.

This is the season when so many hearts want to help, and we hope this need gives that kindness a place to grow — turning generosity into something that truly changes a life and keeps hope moving forward. Every dollar given helps turn this Christmas and the milestone of her 18th birthday into something tangible: a reliable car that represents safety, opportunity, and a strong start to her adult life.

Should this campaign be blessed beyond its goal, any remaining funds will go directly toward the purchase of a car with lower mileage and enhanced safety features — an investment in security and peace of mind for both her and her baby girl.

It’s more than a gift toward a car — it’s an investment in breaking cycles, in giving a young mother and her child a steady start, and in helping a story of hardship become one of hope.