YULS FOUNDATION FOR FOSTER YOUTH
About Us
Have you ever wondered what happens to foster youth when they age out of the system? Where do they live? Do they go to college – and if they do, do they have the support they need to succeed? What careers do they pursue? Who helps them navigate adulthood when they are suddenly expected to do it on their own?
While government programs can provide scholarships, housing assistance, and other resources, many young people still struggle with the practical realities of independent living. Some enroll in college but feel overwhelmed by the process and drop out. Others receive an apartment but have never been taught how to manage a household, budget their money, or build a stable routine. Many dream of learning a trade, starting a business, or pursuing a career they are passionate about, but they do not know where to begin or how to access the guidance and financial support needed to get started.
That is where Yuls Foundation for Foster Youth comes in.
Our foundation exists to close the gaps that traditional systems often leave behind. Through charitable grants, mentorship, coaching, and community connections, we provide foster youth with the practical support, encouragement, and resources they need to build successful and fulfilling lives.
We have created a structure that allows individuals, businesses, and organizations to contribute directly to programs that make a meaningful impact. Foster care organizations and young adults themselves can apply for tax-free grants and participate in coaching and mentoring programs designed to empower them to thrive.
YULS FOUNDATION FOR FOSTER YOUTH
Our Mission
Yuls Foundation for Foster Youth empowers foster youth to build stable, successful, and fulfilling lives and dream beyond their circumstances. Through mentorship, financial assistance, and meaningful support, we help close the gaps not covered by traditional systems by providing practical life skills, encouragement, and opportunities that enable every young person to move beyond survival mode and reach their full potential.
Yuls Story
I was born in the former Soviet Union and, despite the challenges of everyday life, I was incredibly fortunate to grow up surrounded by loving parents and a large, loving family. I always had a warm meal on the table, a safe place to sleep, and people who believed in me.
When I was five years old, I transferred to a daycare for children with impaired vision. Next door was an orphanage. I remember watching the children there and realizing they lived in that building. They did not have a mom or dad arriving at the end of the day to hold their hand, bring them home, or hand them a lollipop. Even as a child, that realization stayed with me and planted a seed in my heart.
At nineteen, I moved to the United States with two suitcases and $400 in my pocket. I still remember stepping onto American soil with a heart full of hope and excitement, knowing a new life was beginning.
Five years later, after graduating from Keene State College and starting my career, I felt a strong desire to give back. During one volunteer opportunity, I helped a young man furnish his first apartment as he prepared to age out of foster care.
He was grateful, but my heart ached.
He had housing, but he lacked the support system many of us take for granted – someone to guide him, encourage him, and help him navigate adulthood. In that moment, the seed planted in my childhood began to grow.
In July 2020, after attending Unleash the Power Within with Tony Robbins, I had a life-changing realization: helping foster youth was not just something I cared about. It was my purpose.
I also knew that if I wanted to make a meaningful impact, I needed to fully commit to that mission.
In early 2021, I became a licensed real estate agent and left the corporate world to build a business with purpose. In December 2021, Yuls Foundation for Foster Youth was officially established. A portion of every real estate commission I earn supports the foundation and the young people we serve.
In January 2024, I returned to Russia and visited the very orphanage that first opened my eyes to the reality of children growing up without family support. Standing there decades later was an emotional and full-circle moment. It reminded me that what began as a childhood observation had become my life’s mission.
Today, I am blessed to share this journey with my husband, Sonny, and our three wonderful children. They are my greatest source of love, support, and inspiration.
Yuls Foundation for Foster Youth exists to close the gaps that traditional systems often leave behind and to ensure that foster youth have access to mentorship, financial support, and the encouragement they need to build successful and fulfilling lives.
This journey has been challenging, inspiring, and deeply rewarding. Every day, I am reminded that sometimes the smallest acts of support can change the course of a life.
And I know, without a doubt, that this is exactly what I was meant to do.