Tony Scarlata, World Champion Drag and Circle Boat racer endorses the We Are Their Future Initiative, using his international platform to help raise awareness about how to help children in foster care through fostering, adopting, volunteering, and donating. Everyone can do something. Find out more at www.wearetheirfuture.org
Foster Children and Families Need Practical Help – Everyone Can Do Something
Arizona’s foster children and families need practical help. Please take a few moments to watch this short clip about how to help the over 17,000 children in Arizona’s state foster care system. Filmed at the kick-off of We Are Their Future at the Lucas Oil Spring Nationals where we hosted hundreds of foster children and their families, you will learn a bit about the needs of these vulnerable children and their families, and ways we all can help insure that every Arizona child feels safe and loved through fostering and adopting. Then click thru to find out more at www.wearetheirfuture.org/waystohelp
Cainaan’s Adoption – from Foster to Forever
Cainaan was born substance exposed and entered the foster care system. At four days old, he was discharged from the hospital to Brandon and Jennifer, foster parents with two biological children of their own. Cainaan is now an extremely energetic, curious two year old with a a delightful smile and a significant mischievous streak. He is also a permanent member of Brandon and Jennifer’s family, having been adopted into a loving forever family with wonderful parents and siblings. His younger biological brother is also in Brandon and Jennifer’s care as a foster placement. He has been blessed to share life with his brother, surrounding by a loving family.
When asked why Brandon and Jennifer decided to foster and adopt when they have their own biological children, they respond that God has called them to open their hearts and home to children who need to experience the love of God and security of family. They know the lives of the foster and adopted children in their home are changed forever. Brandon and Jennifer believe their biological children has been blessed through learning to love sacrificially. Opening their hearts and home has been a very positive experience for their family and they are open to fostering and adopting in the future.
Over 17,000 children are in Arizona’s state foster care system. Thousands of these children are praying for a safe, loving forever family that will change their lives and futures forever. Everyone can do something. Foster, adopt, volunteer, donate. What can you do to help? Find out more: www.wearetheirfuture.org/waystohelp
Non-Profit Spotlight – Building Arizona Families
A licensed adoption agency whose mission is to advocate for and protect the right of every child to a safe, permanent, and loving family. Building Arizona Families believes that it has a responsibility to help ensure that every child has the opportunity to live, grow, and flourish within the love of a family. Building Arizona Families’ Forever Families Adoption Program works to place foster children from Arizona and across the United States with adoptive families in Arizona. These placements are direct adoption placements meaning that the adoptive family is not foster care certified but certified to adopt. For more information, visit www.buildingarizonafamilies.com
Adoption – Troy’s Foster Care Journey
Troy entered state foster care at three years old. At age seven, he still hoped for adoption. Six foster homes later, Troy was moved into a group home. In those years, he learned never to unpack the plastic bag that held all of his belongings, because he knew it wouldn’t last. At thirteen, Troy just wanted to make it until he was eighteen, and out in the world alone. He thought the young kids were most desired for adoption – therefore they were the ones that got forever families and permanent homes.
Until Rick, a single dad, found his photo online.
At thirteen, Troy’s whose parental rights were severed a decade ago. He waited a very long time for someone to adopt him, but really, had all but lost hope. Troy desperately needed someone to love him, to give him a family and a future. Rick said, “I can be his dad!” and he began the process of adopting a foster child from the state foster care system.
Six months later, Rick was Troy’s dad.
At fourteen, Troy enjoyed his first Thanksgiving and first Christmas with a family. His grades are improving and he now wants to be a child psychologist to help other kids who are in the foster care system. A smart and articulate young man, Troy is eager to share his journey to educate the public about the many needs of children in foster care who pray that someone will find them, want them, and commit to their adoption into their family.
You see, everyone can do something. And Rick did. He changed Troy’s life forever. In the process, adoption expanded Rick’s heart in ways he never dreamed possible.
Government should not raise these vulnerable children. Therefore, it is up to all of us, and it takes all of us stepping up to meet the needs of the tens of thousands of children in foster care. Find out what YOU can do to help the over 17,000 AZ foster children who are waiting for someone to love them… Foster, adopt, volunteer, donate. Find out more at: www.wearetheirfuture.org
For Immediate Release
MARCH 28, 2017
Lucas Oil Racing and Elevate Marketing partner to launch citizen led initiative that meets critical needs of Arizona’s foster children.
Contact: Vickie Isaac | M.Ed. 602-403-7575 | [email protected]
PHOENIX, AZ
On April 1, 2017, the “We Are Their Future” citizen’s initiative launches an intensive public awareness campaign to engage Arizonans 
in helping to meet the needs of the over 17,000 children currently in Arizona’s foster care system. Kick off will be at the Lucas Oil Spring Dragboat Racing Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motor Sports Park in Chandler, AZ.
The generous partnership with Lucas Oil Racing provides the high visibility platform needed to communicate with the public. In celebration of the initiative’s kick off, Lucas Oil Racing has donated race day tickets and is hosting lunch for over 500 foster children and their families.
According to Ken Dollar, Director of Lucas Oil Dragboat Racing, “It will be a wonderful day at the races! We are extremely excited about playing a role in kicking off this important initiative. Lucas Oil has long been committed to family values. It is a perfect match for who we are and exactly the kind of broad support we want to give to vulnerable children and families. We are honored to provide a platform to help change foster children’s lives, and invite Arizona businesses, corporations and individuals to join us.”
With the tagline, “Everyone Can Do Something,” the initiative outlines tangible ways to insure that no child is forgotten or denied the opportunity for a happy, safe childhood. Foster homes, adoptive families, volunteers, mentors, practical needs (cribs, mattresses, clothing, etc.), and financial contributions for the non-profits serving Arizona’s foster children will all be encouraged. The website will serve as the educational hub for involvement at www.WeAreTheirFuture.org.
We Are Their Future will provide crucial support for the non-profit organizations serving Arizona’s foster children. A thank-you luncheon is scheduled on Friday, March 31 at Grand Canyon University with keynote speakers Christine Arians, co-founder of the Arians Family Foundation and wife of Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, as well as Debbie Moak, Director of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family. The luncheon will celebrate the tireless efforts of the non-profits, and detail the ways the “We Are Their Future” initiative can help support their important work.
According to Vickie Isaac, President/CEO of Elevate Marketing and creator of the initiative,
I firmly believe that if Arizona citizens and businesses really understood the needs of our foster children, every foster child would have a safe, happy home. Foster children want to be just like other children — with forever families, birthday parties, bicycles, playing sports or music, camping, cooking, dancing, dreaming…. Everyone can do something to help. Foster, adopt, volunteer, donate. Government should not be raising children — we can all step up to help care for these vulnerable foster children. If everyone does what they can, these precious children’s lives will be changed forever. And Arizona will be a better state because her citizens put their children first.
About Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is the leading manufacturer of petroleum additives and oils for high performance engines. Founded by trucker Forrest Lucas and his wife Charlotte in 1989, today Lucas Oil sponsors a variety of motorsports racing events and is heavily involved in multiple national and international charities. For more about Forrest and Charlotte Lucas and Lucas Oil, visit www.lucasoil.com/about
About Elevate Marketing
Elevate Marketing is an Arizona based full service advertising agency with over two decades of experience serving local, state, national and international clients. Elevate Marketing specializes in meeting the needs of non-profit and cause oriented organizations whose missions are to help strengthen communities and serve people in need.
Elevate Marketing LLC | 602.403.7575 | www.elevatemarketing.biz | [email protected]
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Racing to Our Kick-Off!
We are pleased to announce that the “We Are Their Future” campaign kick-off is scheduled for April 1, 2017 at the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Spring Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, AZ. Hundreds of foster children will be on hand to enjoy the racing and a picnic lunch, courtesy of Lucas Oil.
The launch will invite Arizona businesses and citizens to get involved in meeting the needs of the over 17,000 children in the foster care system. Everyone can do something – fostering, adopting, volunteering, and donating – together we must make sure that there are no forgotten Arizona children, and that all have the same opportunities to be safe, loved, and nurtured in a family environment.
To get involved in this critical initiative, go to www.WeAreTheirFuture.org and sign up to be a Change Maker for children!