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.

Thank you to each of the 109 people who chose to invest in our mission and empower youth with foster care experience toward healthy, self-sufficient futures!

It was incredible to watch generosity pour in throughout the day. We are honored to have received matching funds from Nugget Market, Brent Gove eXp Realty Group, and Friends of Aging UP (a small group of volunteers and former mentors). Because of these committed dollars, the impact of every investment up to $13,000 went twice as far in supporting youth who deserve it most!

Our services of one-to-one mentoring, positive recreation, life skills education and adulting support serve as a preventative approach to some of Sacramento’s largest issues, like homelessness, human trafficking, substance use, and mental health challenges.

Mentoring relationships offer more than just a trusted friend and role model. They help to ease anxiety, build resiliency and support overall mental health, which ultimately heals the effects of trauma. As one of many — nearly 900 — deserving nonprofits that were reaching out for support, we appreciate every gift received and every like and share to spread the word.

These tax-deductible dollars will equip 13-to-24-year-old youth from foster care with the skills and resources needed to thrive into adulthood.

Big Day of Giving is a program of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation to raise unrestricted funds for nonprofit organizations that strengthen the capital region. This year, the region raised $15.4 million dollars for local nonprofits! It is an inspiring day of philanthropy that began in 2013, and we are proud participants.

Numbers are preliminary, before potential company giving campaigns, mailed checks, and BDOG prizes or Golden 1 matching funds.

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.

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.

After nearly a decade of dedicated leadership, we share that Co-founder and Program Director Kecia has made a difficult but heartfelt decision to step down from her staff role. While she began the transition earlier this year, the time has now come for her official departure from day-to-day program management.

“Supporting youth has always been my passion, and this was not an easy decision; however, it was grounded in reflection and a deep commitment to doing what’s best for Aging UP as I embrace a new season in life.” ~ Kecia

Since co-founding Aging UP with Communications Director April in 2016, Kecia has been a passionate force behind our mission—helping to create a safe and empowering space where youth with experience in foster care can thrive.

Our Founders’ aligned vision and unwavering belief in the power of supportive mentoring relationships built the foundation for the strong, mission-driven organization we are today. True to her thoughtful leadership, Kecia actively worked with April and our Board to ensure a smooth, intentional and successful transition, which will be fully complete in January 2026.

While this is a significant change, it is also a time of great anticipation. Aging UP’s mission remains steadfast, and our vision for the future is bold: to reach 100 youth annually, expand young adult supports and continue empowering statistic breakers!

We invite you—our community of supporters, mentors, partners, and friends—to join us in celebrating Kecia’s impact by continuing to champion the work she helped build. One meaningful way is to donate in Kecia’s honor at agingup.org/give. This investment in Aging UP’s future will continue Kecia’s legacy and the life-changing impacts of our program.

Though stepping away from day-to-day operations, Kecia will always remain a part of the Aging UP community as a co-founder and lifelong advocate for our mission. Matches will also see her on occasion at Group Events, and she will be at Play to Empower.

We are deeply grateful for Kecia’s bravery, vision and unwavering belief in the power of supportive mentoring relationships. Our future is bright because of her efforts, and we wish Kecia all the best.

Our services of one-to-one mentoring, positive recreation, life skills education and adulting support serve as a preventative approach to some of Sacramento’s largest issues, such as homelessness, human trafficking, substance use, and mental health challenges.

Your tax-deductible generosity will equip 13-to-22-year-old youth from foster care with the skills and resources needed to thrive into adulthood. Plus, $5,000 will be matched thanks to our Sponsors, Brent Gove eXp Realty and HopSkipDrive! 

Mentoring relationships offer more than just a trusted friend and role model. They help to ease anxiety, build resiliency and support overall mental health, which ultimately heals the effects of trauma. We know we are among many—more than 800—deserving nonprofits reaching out for support, and we appreciate your thoughtful consideration to invest in our mission.

Give today at bigdayofgiving.org/agingup!

If you are a Golden 1 Credit Union member, please give with your G1 debit or credit card. Golden 1 will proportionally match donations among all the nonprofits!

Big Day of Giving is a program of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, raising unrestricted funds for more than 800 nonprofit organizations that strengthen the capital region. It is an inspiring day of philanthropy that began in 2013, and we are proud to participate.

The term “childhood trauma” refers to the effects—to the brain, nervous system, frame of mind and behavior—of extremely stressful event(s) that occur during childhood and overwhelm a child’s coping ability. Research shows that in-utero infants can also experience trauma if stressful events happen to the person carrying that infant. Examples of trauma include physical, emotional or sexual abuse; neglect; separation from loved ones; or unpredictable parental behaviors, such as those which occur with substance use or other mental disorders, or if the parent has unprocessed trauma of their own.  For many children, entering foster care is another traumatic event.

How Does Trauma Work?

When a stressful event (big or small, singular or repeatedly) occurs, the child’s brain responds with a survival stress response, including: fight (confronting the threat directly), flight (escaping from the threat), freeze (becoming immobile), and fawn (appeasing the threat by people-pleasing behaviors). . These stress responses help a child cope with the overwhelming situation and adapt to the circumstances they have no control over.  Stress response is automatic and initiated from our most primitive “lizard” brain. Therefore, it doesn’t involve the higher reasoning portion of the brain (not yet formed in childhood).

Trauma Triggers and Resulting Behaviors

When a child experiences trauma over time, their body adapts as if on autopilot to do whatever it takes to cope/stay safe (fight, flight, freeze or fawn). This adaptation becomes their stress response to their trauma “triggers,” things that remind them (often subconsciously) of the original traumatic event. Triggers often occur in entirely different settings and remind the child (or adult) of the original event that threatened their safety or nervous system.

Trauma triggers can be a sound, sight, touch, smell, feeling, place, someone’s expression, posture or tone of voice. The trigger drops the child right back into their need to stay safe in the way(s) that worked for them before, without thought. The child is not able to reason or consider the consequences or the effects of their behaviors on others. Triggers can seem unrelated to the child’s traumatic early life events but can be connected in a variety of ways. Homework, trying to fit in with peers, and angst about their family of origin can also move them into the same stress response behavior they first developed.

A young person might exhibit distrust, disobedience, disassociation, aggression, angry outbursts, willful non-listening, or defiance of the adult figure. Think of these behaviors as reflexes or automatic reactions. They are not thought out or planned.

And It’s Not Just Behaviors

Repeated activation of the stress response can also cause a child to experience a host of physical and emotional ailments. This is because stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, trigger the physical changes needed to fight, flight, freeze or fawn. This can result in migraines, headaches, gut problems, acne, anxiety, self-destructive behaviors (cutting, eating disorders, substance use disorder, hair pulling), suicidal ideations, depression, and sleep difficulties, as just some examples.  These ailments can be another sign a child has experienced or is experiencing trauma.

Stay tuned for tips on handling troubling behaviors coming soon in Helping a Young Person Who’s Experienced Trauma – Part 2.