FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT, CATHERINE MILTON, FORMER VP AT SAVE THE CHILDREN
Catherine Milton, former Vice President and Executive Director of US Programs at Save the Children, was recently named President of Friends of the Children, an innovative, national professional mentoring program. CatherineÂ’s extensive experience in the development and launch of numerous national programs, including AmeriCorps and serving as the Founder and first Executive Director of the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, will be critical to Friends of the Children and its goal of changing the way America serves its most vulnerable at-risk children.
(PRWEB) September 28, 2002
Portland, Oregon – Catherine Milton, former Vice President and Executive Director of US Programs at Save the Children, was recently named President of Friends of the Children, an innovative, national professional mentoring program. Catherine’s extensive experience in the development and launch of numerous national programs, including AmeriCorps and serving as the Founder and first Executive Director of the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, will be critical to Friends of the Children and its goal of changing the way America serves its most vulnerable at-risk children.
Over the past 15 years, Catherine has been instrumental in the development and growth of national youth and community programs. Through her commitment and dedication, Catherine served on two presidential commissions, including serving as Executive Director of the Commission on National and Community Service under former President Bush, and as Vice President of the Corporation for National Service under President Clinton. In these roles, Catherine was responsible for the launch and direction of AmeriCorps, the “domestic Peace Corps.” At Save the Children, Catherine’s leadership led to the development of a strong domestic program that has been nationally recognized as one the best serving children in the poorest, most underserved areas of the country. In addition, she has also developed an award winning national mentoring campaign and several model programs for disadvantaged youth.
Founded in Portland by Duncan Campbell, Friends of the Children now serves over 600 children nationwide. In 1992, Campbell, Chairman of the timber investment company, The Campbell Group, worked with nationally recognized child psychologist Orin Bolstad to research effective youth development programs across the country and start an effective long-term program serving the most vulnerable children. Research confirmed that the strongest single protective factor in any childÂ’s life is a relationship with a caring, supportive adult role model. A year later, Duncan founded Friends of the Children.
Gary Walker, President of Public/Private Ventures, a nationally recognized social science research institute in Philadelphia, said, “In my professional life, I’ve seen only a few programs that I think have a shot at really making a difference. I don’t casually toss words around like ‘brilliant’ and ‘unique,’ but what Campbell did is brilliant and unique. What he created in Portland could change the way this country tries to help its children.”
Doug Stamm, the former Executive Director of Friends of the Children, was recruited to become the Executive Director of Meyer Memorial Trust in April. The Meyer Memorial Trust is the largest foundation in Oregon and supports organizations through Oregon and Southern Washington that make a difference in their communities.
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Friends of the Children is the only program in the nation that provides carefully screened, full-time, professional mentors (called Friends) to at-risk youth for 12 years starting in first grade. The program was modeled on extensive research indicating that the strongest protective factor for high-risk children was an on-going relationship with a supportive, caring adult. Friends of the Children selects children who are most in danger of school failure, abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency, gang and drug involvement, and teenage pregnancy and matches them with a “Friend.” These are children who live in poverty. Many have been in foster care, on welfare, have parents who are incarcerated, or are homeless. Each week, a Friend spends quality one-on-one time with eight children. Friends teach valuable life skills, instill positive attitudes and help our children grow into responsible adults. By modeling healthy behavior, exposing children to new, positive experiences and caring for each child individually, Friends take an active, preventative approach to breaking the cycles of poverty, violence and abuse.
