In 2023, after two years of social distancing norms, we launched our first Appreciation Event to reconnect and celebrate the power of community. It quickly became one of our favorite annual traditions.

This year, mentors, volunteers, supporters, community partners and friends gathered to once again celebrate the people who help make our mission possible. Thanks to the generosity of Bike Dog Brewing for donating the event space and Save Mart Folsom Blvd. for providing delicious bites, the mixer-style event was filled with gratitude and meaningful connections.

One of the highlights each year is recognizing individuals whose extraordinary dedication has strengthened our community and created brighter futures for youth. We proudly honor a Mentor of the Year, UPlifter of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year for their outstanding dedication and impact on the youth we serve. This year also featured a new heartfelt Founder Appreciation.

• Kecia Domoto | Founder Appreciation – This year’s Appreciation Event was the perfect opportunity to publicly honor Aging UP Co-Founder Kecia for her vision and leadership in helping create a community of opportunities and support for youth with foster care experience. It all began with a leap of faith in 2016, when she and Co-founder April, with assistance from other professionals, developed Aging UP’s trauma-informed, strengths-based model and mentor training curriculum. After recruiting our first mentoring cohort in 2018, Kecia continued to diligently serve as Program Director, managing day-to-day program operations, which required innovation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Kecia retired from her staff role in August 2025, yet as we say, “Once you’re part of our community, you’re always part of it!” Kecia’s efforts and advocacy will remain embedded throughout our culture.

• Kristin Leonard | Mentor of the Year – For more than 8 years, Kristin’s outstanding commitment has been an anchor for her mentee, Star. She is there to celebrate milestones, offer encouragement and provide practical support, including reaching out for grocery gift cards when needed. After Star earned her esthetician license in 2025, Kristin connected her with an opportunity to turn her passion for beauty into additional income as a Beauty Society Advisor. Kristin’s generosity extends beyond her mentoring relationship. She volunteers during events and is on our FUNdraising planning committee. Kristin also made last year’s  Holiday meetUP one of the sweetest events yet by baking more than 100 sugar cookies for youth and mentors to decorate together.

• Victoria Rodriguez | Volunteer of the Year – Our community has stories to share, and “Vikki,” as she’s known by Mentoring Matches, makes that happen! As a full-time videographer and editor, Vikki uses her expertise to highlight our mission in a meaningful way. While she has volunteered in this role since our founding in 2018, last year she made it a priority to create more video content, launching several new INsights videos featuring unscripted mentees and mentors. These powerful stories were a huge part of our much-needed end-of-year and Big Day of Giving fundraising successes. Check out the moving videos she produced on our YouTube channel!

• Don Wells | UPlifter of the Year – Don is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Just In Time For Foster Youth, a San Diego-based nonprofit that provides community and life-changing resources for more than 3,000 former foster youth annually. After an introduction in 2024, Aging UP joined JIT’s 100K Community, a “scaling by sharing” approach that allows partners to replicate JIT’s impactful model to best fit each organization’s needs. Shortly after, Don, who has led JIT for nearly 20 years, began mentoring Co-founder April. True to the UPlifter definition, this was extremely beneficial during a season of significant changes, including Keica’s retirement and the unexpected elimination of our local AmeriCorps program due to federal cuts and the two positions it provided. Don also made a personal multi-year investment of $20,000 and invited others to invest in Our Vision to serve 100 youth annually by 2030. When accepting his award, Don shared encouraging words that perfectly captured the spirit of the day.

Guests also enjoyed Mingle Bingo, which sparked great conversations, delicious appetizers from Save Mart, raffle prizes, and the opportunity to build new or deeper connections with others who believe in empowering young people. The event was a joyful reminder that every success story begins with a community of people who show up, care deeply and invest in the future of young people.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and helped make this celebration a success. Such support ensures that youth with foster care experience have access to the relationships, resources and opportunities needed to thrive.

Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us celebrate another year of impact. We look forward to continuing to empower thriving futures together!

What made the day even more special was that this was CalSAWS’ first charity golf tournament since 2019. After plans were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, an all-star volunteer committee was determined to bring the tradition back. The behind-the-scenes team teed off their day at 6 am, welcoming generous technology partners and CalSAWS staff ready to enjoy a day on the course.

From creatively decorated golf carts and custom shirts made for the occasion to sponsored holes with interactive games, every detail reflected the enthusiasm and care that went into making the tournament a success. Participants happily purchased raffle tickets throughout the day, helping raise even more support for youth with foster care experience.

The camaraderie continued long after the final putt. Golfers gathered for a delicious BBQ and vegan fajita lunch in celebration together. An enthusiastic raffle followed with prizes that seemed to multiply as they were given away.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. Event organizers Holly, Britt, and Logan announced that the tournament raised more than $23,000 for Aging UP!

Applause and even tears erupted. It was a truly moving reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with generosity and purpose.

We are deeply grateful to every sponsor, golfer, volunteer, donor, and organizer who helped make this event such a meaningful success. This generous support will build connections, develop life skills, and build confidence for youth from foster care as they navigate adulthood.

The California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) is the case management and eligibility determination system for county staff across all 58 counties in California responsible for administering vital programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, foster care, and other general assistance and relief to children, families, and individuals. This was an especially meaningful partnership because many of our youth and the foster families they live with are recipients of such programs.

Thank you, CalSAWS, for driving this event straight down the fairway and for investing in brighter futures for youth from foster care. We are grateful beyond words.

The afternoon started with a picnic lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies. Our most exciting special guests and co-leaders of the meetUP, Tracy and Tara from the Women for Wolves, along with Aria, a wolf-dog, were a special part of the adventure. A wolf-dog is exactly as it sounds, an animal resulting from breeding a domestic dog with a pure wolf or some combination of breeding within the types.

Aria has the appearance of a very large shepherd husky mix, yet despite her great size, she brought a calm and grounding presence. At first, Mentoring Matches observed her while Tracy and Tara shared about their work with wolves and wolf-dogs. They offered insight into their experiences and the importance of wildlife education and conservation. Matches also enjoyed time talking, laughing and engaging with one another in a relaxed outdoor setting. All the while, Aria sat patiently and was then rewarded with treats.

With full tummies and refilled water bottles, the group set out to walk the trails with Aria on a leash. Along the various paths, the environment shifted from flat open spaces to shaded paths or small banks near the water. The group tapped into quieter rhythms as nearby people fished and others rested in hammocks. There were also louder, funnier moments talking about the hardships of job hunting or their favorite animals.

At nine years old, Aria is considered an elder wolf-dog, yet she walked the path with graceful energy and trotted a bit into the water. Due to quality care and patient training, Aria is comfortable around people and quickly acclimated to our group. With Tracy and Tara nearby, the youth and mentors engaged Aria with careful touches.

Unique events like this help build real connections through shared positive experiences and learning. It’s very important for us to create opportunities for our youth to enjoy outdoor settings and activities. Not only does it offer a break from everyday routines, but nature also helps the body de-stress and self-regulate, which is a tool all people need, but especially important for people who have experienced trauma, like youth in foster care.

Before our time was over, mentees posed next to Aria for an impromptu photoshoot. Everyone appeared to leave feeling refreshed, inspired, connected and grateful. We love partnering with other nonprofits and are so grateful to Women for Wolves for this unique opportunity. It’s moments like this that remind us that growth happens when we are present, engaged and open to something new.

Martin is a Technical Specialist at Accenture, where he works on implementing the State of California’s first automated financial reporting system. He is a Microsoft Certified Data Analyst Associate, has led his office’s Hispanic Employee Resource Group, and currently serves as a Cultural Lead, helping advance inclusion and community engagement efforts.

In his role as Accenture Relationship Manager for Aging UP, Martin supports fundraising efforts, grant writing, and the coordination of office space and material resources to strengthen the organization’s programs and impact.

Outside of work and community service, Martin enjoys spending time with his children, cycling, attending live music events, and practicing yoga.

Thanks to our friends Christina Angeles and David Temblador, every teen and young adult in our program will receive gifts from their wish lists. The couple hosted their 12^th Annual Holiday Fundraiser, inviting friends, family and colleagues to join them in making the holidays brighter for youth who are often forgotten.

We are honored to be selected for the 4th year as the couple’s teen organization. And this year was a first for our Community Director, April, to attend the festive event, where guests enjoyed tasty appetizers, drinks and live guitar strumming.

This special fundraiser raised more than $7,500 in wish list items, monetary contributions and gift cards for Aging UP’s youth. With the addition of David and Christina’s 2025 pledge and other generous investments, it also raised $10,250 to benefit our overall program!! Truly, the holiday spirit of generosity abounded, and we are beyond grateful.

After the event, Christina graciously organized all the items for a smooth pick up. Then our team and a kind volunteer festively bagged and wrapped the presents for Mentors to deliver to their mentees on behalf of “Friends of Aging UP.”

The bountiful presents will spark joy for our teens and young adults! We are incredibly grateful to Christina, David and their guests for the extraordinary gift of care and generosity.

This year’s Holiday meetUP was intended to bring homey feelings of an old-time Christmas gathering with friends. Thanks to dedicated volunteers who led creative activities, the event had a special element of thoughtfulness. Other festive touches included a hot cocoa bar, holiday crafts, and one of the season’s most iconic traditions: cookie decorating.

Mentor Kristin, who also volunteers as a baker with Cake4Kids, truly made the day sweet (literally, with more than 6 pounds of powdered sugar!). After hours of prep to mix, roll out, and bake more than 100 cookies in 5 festive shapes, she also prepared 5 colors of homemade royal icing and packed dozens of mini piping bags for everyone.

Kristin and other amazing volunteers arrived early to set up cookie-decorating stations and transform a lovely apartment clubhouse into a festively welcoming space. Wintery decor also reflected elements of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza to honor the diversity within our community. As Mentoring Matches arrived, the room quickly filled with chatter and laughter amid holiday tunes. Mentees and Mentors mingled while eating tasty bites and warm hot chocolate.

Then, everyone gathered for cookie fun. Kristin guided the group through flood-decorating techniques, and once everyone got the hang of it, creativity took over. The perfectly golden Christmas trees, stockings, sweaters, snowflakes, and dark brown gingerbread cookies were decorated with care and delight. For several mentees, this was their first time decorating cookies, which was very special for Kristin, who cherishes memories of this tradition.

Another favorite activity was the craft station, where mentees created DIY ornaments and sculpted mini snowmen from air-dry putty. The space also had a small theater complete with comfy lounge chairs in stadium-style seating. A big screen played modern animated holiday short films curated by Volunteer Videographer Victoria.

Holiday cards for some of the people who invest in our mission were available for mentees and mentors to sign, offering an opportunity to share their gratitude. Two of the youth happily insisted on signing every card — more than 30 — to personally thank those who help make our community possible.

Seeing the youth mingle with one another, their mentors, and other volunteers is so heartwarming. It is also very meaningful to the youth. As one shared, “It’s my time to escape from my real world and come together with everybody and have a great time.”

Everyone left with a box of cookies (some with fewer than others as the sweet creations were hard to resist), any crafts they created, and feel-good holiday vibes. The youth also received a stocking with candy, useful items and fun gadgets, thanks to some generous friends. One mentee won a Chromebook through CalKIDS, which was perfect for her college journey.

After the event, our entire community of Mentoring Matches received an email with the cookie and icing recipes and a link to the animated shorts. This way, those who participated could relive the fun, and those who were unable to attend would still enjoy some of the festivities.

It was a day filled with cheer, new traditions, and gifts that brought care and joy during a season that can be very difficult for young people who have experienced foster care. We are deeply grateful to have held this space and thank all 7 volunteers — including a Mentoring Match and one young adult mentee — who made it happen.

May the spirit of sweet togetherness continue to fill hearts this season and throughout the year ahead!

And we’re seeing it happen! The youth in our program are breaking statistics—graduating high school on time, pursuing college and career pathways, securing employment, and living independently. These outcomes are not accidental; they are the result of intentional mentoring, trauma-informed support, and a community that invests in young people.

When Aging UP first launched, we served ages 13 to 17, with the intent of “aging up” through 24. Thanks to grants from Golden 1 Credit Union and other generous funding, we are proud to have achieved this first milestone. Today, half of our young people are 18 or older.

But our vision is greater. Over the next five years, we aim to triple the number of youth served annually, extend support through age 26, and lay the foundation for securing a dedicated training and recreation center where Mentoring Matches can connect, learn and truly belong.

Please take a moment to hear from our friend, Don, Chief Empowerment Officer at Just in Time for Foster Youth in San Diego, on how much he believes in our mission.

To make the bold move of hiring staff to efficiently lead this next phase, increase the frequency and depth of mentor training, and enhance the quality of support our youth deserve requires reliable, mission-aligned funding.

Here’s where you come in. Join us in making our vision a reality. Your one-time, multi-year or monthly commitment at a level that feels meaningful to you can make it happen. Whether it’s an investment of $25 per month or a one-time gift of $50,000, or any amount in between, every dollar gets us closer to expanding access to mentoring, connection and opportunity! Please click here to read more about our vision and download a pledge commitment form, or you can visit agingup.org/give.

Together, we can empower brighter futures for even more deserving young people in the Sacramento region!

From our first-ever Friendsgiving to holiday gifts from Friends of Aging UP and our annual Holiday meetUP, we are sprinkling in special moments that remind our youth that they matter and belong.

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS NOW

During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, many often pause to think about others—strangers and neighbors who may be in need or struggling. That’s why it’s the most generous time of the year. Nonprofits of all sizes rely on the generosity of this season to sustain their work. Aging UP is no exception, and every gift matters!

As we embark on the New Year, we aim to welcome 5 new teens into the program by early 2026. This means we need to raise $25,000 between GivingTuesday (Dec 2) and December 31. Thanks to our Board of Directors, $2,500 of GivingTuesday donations will be matched! End-of-year funding kickstarts the investments needed to help us reach our vision of serving 100 youth annually and expanding our young adult services through age 26 by 2030.

5 MEANINGFUL WAYS TO MAKE AN IMPACT

As you reflect this holiday season, we invite you to join our caring community by supporting youth from foster care in one—or more—of these impactful ways:

Invest Financially:  Your gift creates year-round hope through mentorship, recreational experiences, and hands-on adulting support. Every dollar counts! Invest online, through PayPal or by mail (PO Box 293504, Sacramento, CA 95829)

Request In-honor Gifts: When loved ones ask what you want this year, share that they can donate in your honor. You’ll receive a card acknowledging the gift, and everyone will feel great about it!

Host a Holiday Drive: Hosting a party? Invite friends to bring cash or gift cards for our program. Gift cards will go directly to youth, providing autonomy, choice and a sense of independence.

Volunteer Your Time: Explore volunteer opportunities, from becoming a mentor to sharing your skills in unique ways to support our mission.

Give from our Amazon Wish List: Purchase items from our wish list that support our teens or our program, and they’ll be sent directly to us on your behalf.

CREATE A SEASON FILLED WITH HOPE

Your investment of time, talent or treasure helps ensure local youth from foster care grow into happy, healthy, self-sufficient adults.

If you’re ready to make a difference or want to explore ways to give, please contact Community Director April at april@agingup.org.

Together, we can make the holidays matter. Join us—before December 31—and give hope to teens who deserve it most.

From the moment Mentoring Matches arrived, they were welcomed into a warm, mixer-style environment. As they enjoyed catching up and sipping sparkling cider, volunteers passed butternut squash soup shooters and pomegranate caprese skewers.

As Matches mingled, Mulvaney’s Co-owner Bobbin and Hospitality Manager Laurie began a warm and approachable etiquette lesson—sharing practical life skills on navigating social situations, starting conversations, and what to do when you’re unsure where to put a used skewer or cup. They also introduced both open and assigned seating customs, then guided Matches to beautifully set tables thanks to linens and place settings from Mulvaney’s.

The semi-formal 4-course meal flowed seamlessly, with pre-set harvest salads next. As the meal progressed, Bobbin demystified common dining questions (“Which glass is mine?” “What’s all this silverware for?” “Is it OK to reach for the bread?”), offering reassurance and real-world advice. Before entrees were served, Bobbin had shared the necessary tips on what to expect during more formal dining experiences, leaving time for Matches to simply enjoy the rest of the meal and one another’s company. Entrées of rotisserie chicken or a meatless applewood sausage, paired with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans, were then served. Dessert, of course, was pumpkin pie.

One mentee said, “…that was some of the best food I’ve ever had!”

This special gathering was made possible by a grant from Save Mart CARES Foundation. Save Mart store 623 on Kiefer Blvd. also generously provided the ingredients and collaborated with our Program Team to design a menu that was both tasty and easy to prepare.

After dinner, the celebration continued with raffle prizes, casual games of pool, and plenty of laughter and conversation. Watching our youth build genuine friendships with one another is one of the most rewarding parts of our community—and this gathering was full of those moments.

Friendsgiving was a joyful success, and we are excited to make it an annual tradition. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make it a meaningful and memorable experience.