Everychild Foundation funds the "Families Forever" project

By: Unknown on 12/05/2012

The Alliance for Children’s Rights and Public Counsel Announce Nation’s First “Families Forever” Project to Help Adoptive Families Stay Together and Thrive

Everychild Foundation $1 million grant will launch project to support families adopting children from foster care and meet mental health, educational and legal needs

As former foster youth and their new adoptive families celebrated National Adoption Day on November 16, Public Counsel and the Alliance for Children’s Rights announced a first-of-its-kind project to help newly formed Los Angeles families stay together and thrive.

The new project will be funded by a grant from the Everychild Foundation, which every year gives $1 million to fund a project to transform the lives of children.

The Everychild Foundation Families Forever Project will ensure families adopting children from the foster care system or becoming legal guardians to children without parents have long-term free legal advocacy to access the mental health, educational, and developmental support children need.

“We believe that children who have been victims of neglect or abuse and the families who adopt them deserve the best,” said Hernán Vera, President and CEO of Public Counsel. “By launching the Families Forever Project, we are joining with the court to say that our commitment to these kids and their families doesn’t end on adoption day, that’s when it really starts.”

“The Everychild Foundation Families Forever Project will help families adopting children from the child welfare system to be successful, not just at day one, but forever,” said Janis Spire, President and CEO of the Alliance for Children’s Rights.

“The women of Everychild are thrilled to be able to make this innovative new project a reality,” said Jacqueline Caster, Founder and President of the Everychild Foundation. “It is our hope that it will be a new national model showing how having the appropriate services available to families with children adopted from the foster care system can help to assure permanency and happy outcomes.”

The Families Forever Project will offer all adoptive families and legal guardians to children a full-scope assessment developed with UCLA researchers to determine what mental health, educational, developmental, or other needs they may have. Then it will pair adoptive families and legal guardians with attorneys and social workers trained to help families secure the support they need. Over its first two years, the project is projected to reach more than 2,300 children, from toddlers to teenagers.

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The Everychild Grant Screening Board Announcement

By: Unknown on 11/05/2012

As many of you may know, I am proud to be a founding member of The Everychild Foundation, conceived in 1999. Now entering its second decade the Everychild Foundation presents a strong example of a successful, efficient, leveraged, giving format. We are a group of women who are philanthropically minded, joined together by pooling our brain power and financial resources. 

I am excited to share with you, our next recipient Public Counsel and The Alliance for Children's Rights.

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Interview with Kymberly Marciano by Mommy Posh

By: Unknown on 11/05/2012

KYMBERLY MARCIANO has traveled the world in her years as a model for over a decade and now a LA-based photographer for children and adolescents and with her extensive philanthropic work we wonder to ourselves, "I don’t know how she does it."  Mom of four, Marciano, has contributed to campaigns and editorials for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Guess Kids, The Children’s Place, Vogue Bambini and, most recently, Babiekins Magazine.

I recently had the privilege of chatting it up with this busy mom (ages 18, 17, 14 and 6) post her most recent project as the official photographer during New York City’s Petite Parade Kids Fashion Week.

Below are excerpts from a conversation with Marciano about her passion, inspiration for work and how exactly she manages it all.

MOMMY POSH: Congrats on being the official photographer at the Petite Parade Kids Fashion Show. Heard it was a huge success.  

KYMBERLY MARCIANO: Thank you, it was busy backstage, shooting every single collection of every designer, I didn’t even make it out to the show…I have never done anything like this before..I live in LA, we don’t have anything like this.

MP: Working with kids can be a little challenging, how are you able to control the kids or your environment? 

KM: I have to attribute that to my work as a model, I think my experience in that world helps and also being a momma for so long certainly helps.  With my oldest one being 18, I think I understand what they are going through and not being able to let them get away with everything is a must.  Just like with your owns kids, I use “pinky promises.”

I have the best job, I love shooting kids, tweens and teens and getting them ready to go off on their journey.

Eating healthy, drinking enough water are key, if your parenting is in check then its easily to delve in the creative.

MP: What inspires your photos? 

KM: Life inspires me.  I love life, color and ambiance.  Ambiance is really important to me, it can get rowdy or whimsical. Anything goes.

MP: So you would say your job is relatable since you are a mom as a well as a former model? 

KM: Yes, very much, but on the flip side, when I am not raising my kids and not shooting, I focus on my  philanthropic work, which is very profound for me. I work with a lot of organizations that not only works with underprivileged children but with the youth at risk.

With work and parenting, I wanted to give back and that was something I wanted to pass down to my kids, especially my daughter as she was getting ready to go off to the word as a real women, I wanted her to leave home with that "yes we live a beautiful life, and yes we are healthy and rich in love, but also have that consciousness that others aren’t as lucky and when you can share and help you should do it."

That became a huge mission for me also in my work. I tend to align myself with fashion brands or designers that have social missions of giving back, you now see it more and more with brands, and I think it's great.  That’s peaking my interest right now and is my goal.

That was what was so great about working with the Petite Parade group, even though it was on a small scale, they partnered with Little West Group, which is an organization that partners with brands that are philanthropic. Anything that has this I want to be around it and being able to partner with people and brands that share your similar attributes is great.

MP:  So glad we are able to connect, because I love speaking with moms that are passionate about life…being a mom but yet have a creative outlet that they can turn to.  

KM:  Even with all the kids in the house, you have to carve out time with your husband and each other. Whether its a stay-cation or having the grandparents/aunts/friends watch your kids, it is important to keep the romance alive.

Need to find time with your man, your girlfriends and yourself. Even picking up a night course can make you feel good about yourself.

MP: As A Mom and Entrepreneur, How Do You Manage It All?

KM: Keeping yourself very organized is key, I am a list person and I regroup on the weekends, where I set my goals for the week and I follow through.  I consistently check in with my staff to find out what’s going on in the fashion world and PA meetings at school.

I even tell my kids to write things down for me on a post-it.  If it's in front of me I don’t forget.

MP: Ok, Now To Fashion…what 3 Must Haves Are In Your Bag? 

KM: I never leave home without a lightweight scarf, My iPhone, and Nivea Lip Balm.

MP: How Would You Describe Your Style? 

KM: For the most part it's casual chic, it's put together…and at night it's elegant chic.

MP: What One Thing Would Your Children  Say About You As Their Mom? 

KM: She never stops or she’s always there.

MP: What’s next for Kymberly Marciano? 

KM: I am in the midst of launching my new website,  it has been a whole year of archiving, rebranding, editing and making a shift. Also,  I’m super excited about the winter issue of Babiekins, its scheduled to to be out the end of November (A modern Norman Rockwell story..adorable!)

MP: Lastly, if you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?  

KM: I would be a chef.  It's like fashion.  I love the whole process of coming up with the idea from beginning to end.    

For Kymberly’s full portfolio, please visit her website. To keep up with her, you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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