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MURRAY — It was a night centered on hope and the belief that no child should have to face the future alone. At the Raise the Future gala, community members, donors and state leaders came together with one goal: to support children in Utah’s foster care system. “They are kids that are waiting for permanency, that are waiting for love, they’re waiting for support,” said Vice President of Development at Raise the Future, Lindsay Kaeding. Inside a packed ballroom, guests gathered with a shared purpose of raising awareness and funds for the nearly 2,000 children in foster care across Utah. By the end of the night, that support added up to nearly $98,000 to help continue the organization’s work. Kaeding said those funds are critical to keeping services in place for the children and families they serve. “This night is everything,” she said. “This helps us continue our services, this helps us have staff who work hand in hand with our kids, that meet with them monthly, that help find connection for them.” That idea of connection was at the heart of the evening. At each table, guests found quiet but powerful reminders of why the night mattered: quotes from foster youth across Utah, simple and deeply personal, sharing what support and belonging mean to them. Kaeding said that connection can change the trajectory of a child’s life. “The reality for these kids is that if they do age out of the foster care system at the age of 18, one in five will be homeless on day one,” she said. “If we really want to talk prevention of homelessness and incarceration, it starts with connection.” Ashley Moser had the honor of emceeing the evening. Among those in attendance were Utah First Lady Abby Cox, who has made supporting children and families across the state a key focus of her work, along with community members and longtime donors, Dr. Steven Mobley with Beauty Now Med Spa & Mobley MD. “We have always had a soft spot in our practice for kids, and particularly foster kids,” Mobley said. “We just wanted to do some giving through our business, and so we reached to Raise the Future. They sent out a representative, and we worked up a little fundraiser, and that was 11 years ago, and we're still going strong.” Mobley said that while not everyone can adopt or foster, there are still meaningful ways to make a difference. “Maybe volunteer,” Mobley said. “It doesn’t always have to be money. It can just be your time and your love.” For children in foster care, even one connection can change the course of their future. “They’re just kids who are in our community and who really need us to step up and be there and support them,” Kaeding said. Related stories:Finding connection after adoption: How 'Sip & Be Seen' supports adoptive parents
