Father Joe’s Villages announced Tuesday it will host its annual Children’s Charity Gala on Saturday, May 21 at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe to raise money for youth support programs, including therapeutic childcare services for children ages zero to 12 and Toussaint Academy for homeless teens and at-risk youth.
Proceeds from the gala help these youth obtain the tools they need to break the cycle of homelessness, including safe housing, medical and dental services, mental health support, nutritious meals, solid guidance toward life and scholastic goals and opportunities for their parents to work toward self-sufficiency.
“Children who are homeless are four times as likely to have developmental delays and twice as apt to repeat a grade in school. Over half will not finish high school,” said Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joe’s Villages. “By offering programs like those through our therapeutic childcare and Toussaint Academy, we provide young people the tools they need to help prevent homelessness in their adult lives.”
An estimated 1.6 million kids in America are homeless, and the number is growing, according to the nonprofit. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that there are 550,0000 unaccompanied youth up to age 24 and 380,000 of those are under the age of 18, 2,000 of them in San Diego. Most come from families in poverty where stable housing was already in jeopardy, are fleeing abuse-physical, sexual, emotional, domestic violence, or neglect, are leaving child welfare services or juvenile justice system or are dealing with homophobia within family of origin.
For tickets or more information, click here or call 1-800-HOMELESS.
