In 2000, 14 year old Joseph Jarrod Walker suddenly and unexpectedly lost his single mother. As an orphan, Joseph bounced between relatives and the foster care system. At 18, he transitioned out of foster care with little direction, resources, or support. While the social support system provided his basic needs, he didn’t have access to the same guidance, support, and connections that most young people his age had. His older sister tried to help as much as possible, but there was only so much she could do as a single mother.

Over the next decade, Joseph bounced between low paying jobs and homelessness while struggling to manage his chronic diabetes, until his health failed him and he passed away in 2019.

Troubled by her brother’s experience, his older sister, Tonya Welch, now with years of wisdom and experience, set out to start an organization that helps disadvantaged youth. Tonya, like her brother, also had to navigate the social resources available to her.

She was able to rise through the system to have a successful career, buy a home, raise her daughters, get married and is now in a position to give back to help youth like her brother Joseph.

Troubled by her brother’s experience, his older sister, Tonya Welch, now with years of wisdom and experience, set out to start an organization that helps disadvantaged youth. Tonya, like her brother, also had to navigate the social resources available to her. She was able to rise through the system to have a successful career, buy a home, raise her daughters, get married and is now in a position to give back to help youth like her brother Joseph.