Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Extraordinary Lives Foundation
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 26800 Crown Valley Pkwy #460
City: Mission Viejo
State: CA
Postal Code: 92629
Main Phone: 949-315-9735
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.elfempowers.org
Employer ID Number: 47-5447432
Organization Tax Status: 501 c 3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/14/23
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: Piggie Bear Toolkit for Foster Youth
Project Description:

Children growing up in underserved and foster care communities in Orange County face challenges like homelessness, neglect and abuse. There are currently more than 3,000 children in the foster care system throughout Orange County. According to an NIH study, most children in foster care, if not all, experience feelings of fear, loss, sadness, anxiety, and stress. These traumatic experiences can have a lasting impact on a child’s ability to form relationships, problem-solve, and control impulses. In order to decrease the negative effects on their development and mental health, these feelings need to be addressed and treated early.

Since its inception, the Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF) has worked to ensure that Orange County’s most under-served children have access to therapeutic and educational tools to address their mental and emotional well-being. The target population is foster children ages 2 to 10 who are currently in the foster care system, including CASA, For the Children, Olive Crest, Orangewood, and the Orange County Social Services Agency.

Our approach to early childhood intervention is grounded in social-emotional development. The Piggie BEAR (Building Emotional Awareness and Resilience) Program works with foster care agencies, Title 1 & Head Start schools, and pediatric hospitals to guide teachers, healthcare providers, therapists, and parents to improve children’s emotional and mental well-being and strengthen their reading literacy.

The Piggie BEAR tool kit includes “The Power of Piggie Bear” bilingual book, Piggie Bear plush & coloring book, and Piggie Bear power cards. Piggie Bear empowers children and teaches them how to identify and manage their emotions. Piggie Bear teaches children about self-love and lets them know that they are amazing just the way they are!

Program outcomes include:

1) Increase in the children’s ability to take deep belly breaths to help calm their emotions for a majority of foster youth after completing the program;

2) A large percentage of caregivers will confirm that the social-emotional calming techniques have helped their foster youth and helped to build their self-esteem;

3) A noticeable decrease in anxiety and sadness expressed in foster youth.

Total Project Budget: $141,449

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Pending: Impact Giving, Lakers Youth Foundation, George Hoag Family Foundation

Project Duration: Ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Orange County, CA
Age Group To Be Served: 3-10

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Mara
Contact Last Name: James
Contact Title: Founder & CEO
Contact Phone: 949-315-9735
Contact Email: mara@elfempowers.org