About us
Fostering Wishes is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of foster children and opportunities for personal growth. Fostering Wishes offers a variety of programs designed to bring Joy, Dignity, Belonging, and Opportunities to address the unique needs of foster children. These programs range from our “signature” Holiday program offering gifts to providing duffel bags filled with necessities to children moving from foster home to foster home, to paying high school activity fees, offering trade school scholarships and aging-out resources for those transitioning into adulthood.
At its core, Fostering Wishes is powered by a passionate community of volunteers and donors who believe in the mission of uplifting foster children and giving them the tools they need to thrive. With 98% of all contributions going directly to support the children, the organization ensures that every dollar makes a meaningful impact. Through collaboration with local partners and the dedication of its supporters, Fostering Wishes continues to fulfill its goal of fostering hope and providing opportunities for foster children to lead fulfilling lives, despite the challenges they face.
History & Founding
From Past to Present
Fostering Wishes was founded in 2017 by Sabine Lemmo, a former foster mom to 25 children who saw firsthand the emotional challenges children in foster care face and the difference it makes when they feel seen, valued, and supported. Inspired by those experiences, she began with a simple Holiday Drive and a single giving tree at a local Starbucks. What started as a small effort to bring foster children joy and show them they are cared for by their communities became the foundation for a much broader mission.
In 2020, Fostering Wishes began building a larger volunteer network and expanding its programs to address needs throughout a young person’s journey in foster care. Today, the organization operates year-round, providing children and teens with resources and opportunities that promote joy, dignity, belonging, and opportunity—from holiday and birthday gifts and duffel bags filled with essential and comfort items to Teen Empowerment support and Trade School Scholarships that help young people prepare for successful futures.
At the heart of Fostering Wishes is Sabine’s belief that meaningful, lasting change requires collaboration. No single nonprofit, agency, school, business, government office, or community group can meet the complex needs of children in foster care alone. Fostering Wishes works to bring together people and organizations already committed to foster youth while also building partnerships across sectors—connecting nonprofits with schools, businesses, government leaders, community organizations, and individual supporters. By sharing resources, expertise, relationships, and ideas rather than working in isolation, we can strengthen the network surrounding foster youth and create more opportunities for them to thrive.
