Every month a newsletter is sent out to all members. Any member is welcomed to submit a story which is reviewed, edited, corrected and added to the newsletter by whoever is working on it. As an intern I was asked to work on this month's newsletter, creating a template, reminding members to submit their post, and editing the newsletter. The secretary of the board for Friends of Foster Care gave me specific instructions for font and font size as well as a base template. This task allowed me to learn word templates better to create an aesthetically pleasing but easy to read document. Overall my supervisors were happy with it and the newsletter was sent out on Dec 3.

1. 1
December 2020 Issue 8
studentsthat did notseek financial assistance this
semester stayed in touchwith they’re mentor to
talk throughchallenges encountered.
Inmy last newsletter article, I discusseda virtual
general meeting for Januarytentatively. The
Boardof Directorsdetermined the next general
meeting will be in March of2021,withthe
planning that it will be virtual. The Sugar Plum
wrapup will be discussedat this meeting, along
with the Nominating Committee slate and how
voting will happen.
Please feel free to contactme or any of the Board
members andOfficersto share ideas and voice
interest. Ifyou have any ideas onvirtual
fundraisingand/or assisting in developing a
strategic marketing plan, orare passionate about
a projectplease reachout. I have requested that
the Board of Directors cometo ourmeeting in
Januarywith ideas in whichthey wouldlike to see
forFOFC andthe future.We spend a lot of time at
Boardmeetings discussingideas andyet, it
sometimes feels like weare missing the mark.
This will give usa chancetocollaborate onideas
and bringforth more possibilities. The next Board
of Director’s meeting will be in the third
Wednesday in January2021.Please let myself or
the Secretary know you are interested in
attending. We will make sureyou have the link to
attend.
Lastly, I am available todiscussor talk. I work full
time and am also involved as a volunteer and
leader with otherorganizations.
Thank you for being kind, caringhuman beings
that extend empathy and heartfelt love and
supportforFOFC andthose we help. I hope that
each of you will have a blessed, healthy holiday
season.
Merry Christmas and Happy,Healthy New Year!
Boardmeetings are held onthe third Wednesday
of the monthat 1900 Hours.If you are interested
in being present please contact
president@fofcsgv.orgforthevirtual link invite
at least twenty-fourhoursin advance.
President’sMessage
Rachel LaSota
Dear Friends,
I am hopefulthat everyone is well. It is hard to
believe that we are in December.Normally at this
time, weare busywith SugarPlum activities each
day throughthe middle of December. This year,
we are fulfilling wishes, by creating a new Sugar
Plumprogram that will allow usto workwithin
imposed restrictions and still deliver Christmas
wishes. This has been noeasy task. I am
extremely proudofour SugarPlum Chairs and
the vision they are turninginto a reality. Sugar
Plum2020 is a creative endeavor that is being
reimagined to safely adhere toall CDC,State and
Countyguidelines while continuingtofulfil the
FOFC mission.
Ournominating committee has been formed and
the forms approvedin the last ByLaws update
have been made available. Ifyou are interested in
joiningthe BoardofDirectors or becomingan
Officer,I encourageyou to express interest and
get involved in this process.The Boardof
Directors may have upto eleven individuals. It is
currentlynot at that amount, butI believe that it
is healthy to includepersons whowantto be
involved. Please reach outto Nominating
Committee Chair Elaine Palmer if you are
interested.
I wasextremely happy to be updatedat the Board
meeting that FosterCaring Committee choseto
spend more duringthe Holiday seasonof their
budget.This will greatly help with special
activities requested by the Homes. Scholarship
Committee has continuedto workhard at
ensuringfinancial assistance andproviding
mentorship. The Boardwas updated that several

2. 2
Sugar Plum Dreams are Coming True
DebiMistretta and KathyStokes
The holiday season,regardless of your beliefs
always revert back to a message of
hope andfaith. Whether it is a star in the sky
leading toa babyin a manger,
candle oil that keeps candles burningdays longer
duringholy days of old, a
reindeer witha bright nose leading the wayor a
stranger giving a child money to
help pay for Mama’s Christmas shoes, it is
adversity in times that seem
unsurmountableand faith, hopeand miracles
that make it happen. AlthoughI am
not comparingSugarPlum to these monumental
feats, Sugar Plumdreams are
comingtrue.
The gift cardsand donations frommembers have
been arriving with each
envelope for SugarPlum arriving at the POBox.
Ouroutside business & club
members have really stepped upin a big way. To
date some ofourpartner
heroes include The Outlet by ELS,the
Shakespeare Cluband Sam’s BarberShop.
It is not toolate forothers to join in.
What do westill need? The answeris simple. We
need YOURhelp. We need
yourhelp withgift from the wishlists, monetary
donations orgift cards,
whicheverworksbest for you.We need YOUR
help to get the wordout to
friends, family and neighbors sothat their help
might also help the Foster
Children. We need YOURhelp to post it on your
facebook,Instagram,or any
other wayyou can.Checkout ourelectronic wish
lists onourWebsite.
Makea dream cometruetoday!
Ifthere is something ofurgence,please contact
me on my cell phone(available in the roster) or
usingthe Boardemail. I donot checkmy Board
email every day. I limit it to 3times a week and
respondto things of urgencyfrom my cell phone.
I hopethis helps toclarify how to contactme.
Thank youfor being kind, caringhuman beings
that extend empathy and heartfelt love and
supportforFOFC andthose we help. I hope that
each of you will have a blessed, healthy holiday
season.
Merry Christmas and Happy,Healthy New Year!
Boardmeetings are held onthe third Wednesday
of the monthat 1900 Hours.If you are interested
in being present please contact
president@fofcsgv.orgforthevirtual link invite
at least twenty-fourhoursin advance.
FOFC Kicks Off COVIS POSTER CONTEST
FOFC kickedoff our first postercontests forall
buddingartist in the residential facilities in the
corefacilities that weserve. George Ettenheim, a
characterartist amongmany other things, has
created 4 differentbase drawingsforthe foster
youthto workfrom.
Participantscan select, add color,backgrounds,
or slogansto these drawingsor create their own.
All submissions are due to FOFC byDecember 9,
2020. Posterswill be made and distributed of the
artwork. Prizes will also be given in several
categories.
Lookto ourFacebookand Website in Mid-
December forpictures of the entries.

3. 3
The Foster Caring Committee
CaroleKolla,Chairperson
The Foster CaringCommittee gathered together
onNovember 7 forits virtual meeting. Not
surprisingly the wishes ofall the Homes (Ettie
Lee, Hathaway-Sycamores,Haynes and Trinity)
focusedonthe upcomingholidays. This is always
a difficult time for fosteryouth with separation
from their family andincreased isolation. Today
with the social distancingof Covidand family
visitations being impossible, this holiday season
will proveto be even harder than usual,so the
Homes are making a special effort tobrighten the
holiday season for their youth in residence. To do
so they will use a variety ofThanksgiving,
Christmas, and New Year'sDay activities that
include bringingin a video game truckand a
cartoonistwhowill sketch eachboy's cartoon
image along withgames andgift card prizes.
The Homes are requesting fundsto cover
these events as well as decorations,gifts,
stockingstuffers,and special holiday dinners
topped offwithpastries and sweets.Our
committee wasdelighted to be able tofulfill all
the requests ofthe Homes in full
totaling $9,630.27.Ifyouwishto supportour
committee's work,please considersending a
checkto FOFCwith FosterCaring Committee on
the memo line. The more fundingwehave, the
better wecansupport
Acknowledgements
Thank youto the following individuals,
businesses, andfoundationsfor their recent
donations toFOFC:
 C.L.Jones/Lois
Jones
 Farryl Weitzman
 Janet Lane
 Patricia Amesbury
 Michelle Bess
 Mary Saxon
 ArdenAlbee
Kudos Korner
While the smiles and appreciation fromthose we
help has always been enoughfor all ofus: a little
nodfrom a fellow volunteer goes a longway.
Send any Kudosoutto yourfellow FOFC
members tonewsletter@fofcsgv.org,sothey can
be included in a futurenewsletter.
Looking for More Ways to Support FOFC?
Designate Friendsof Foster Children in your
estate plan or will.
Foster Caring Committee
CaroleKolla,Chair
The Joy of Sugar Plum
KathyStokes& DebiMistretta,Co-Chairs
Scholarship Committee
Cynthia Juvinall & SteveWittmer,Co-Chairs

4. 4
FOFC Member Name Tag Order Form
Member Name: ________________________________________
Name on Name Tag: ____________________________________
Cost: $16.43—via check made payableto Decco Awards
Mail order form and check to:
Carole Rodenbucher
593 Reno Ave.
TempleCity, CA 91780
Questions? Contact Carole at 626-827-2030 or crodenbucher@sbcglobal.net
Upcoming Events

5. 5
Please direct any questions or comments to the editor at newsletter@fofcsgv.org
P.O.Box1105
Arcadia,CA 91077-1105626-
445-4542
contact@fofcsgv.org
www.fofcsgv.org
Friends of Foster Children is
a non-profit, all volunteer
organization founded in
1976 to enhance the quality
of life for abused,
abandoned, and neglected
children in the San Gabriel
Valley.
FRIENDSOF FOSTER CHILDREN
P.O. BOX 1105
ARCADIA, CA
91077-1105
Board of Directors
President: RachelLaSota
Vice President/Secretary:
Carolyn Cota
Treasurer: AlisonLatiolait with
Elaine Palmer
Directors:
RichardCota
Debi Mistretta
Elaine Palmer
Susanne Spangler