Sam’s Story

Help Sam and other Orangewood youth reach their full potential!

As a young boy, Sam’s sanctuary was a favorite tree near his family’s apartment.  Growing up in a violent and dysfunctional home, the tree was a safe place where he could find peace and quiet.

As a young adult, Sam’s sanctuary has become Orangewood Foundation.

Sam’s parents had a variety of problems.  They abused drugs, suffered from mental health issues, and committed violent crimes.  After spending time in foster care from ages 7 to 12, Sam was eventually reunited with his parents. But soon after, Sam’s father tried to kill Sam and poison his mother.

Sam’s oldest brother became his guardian, but life was still a struggle. Although both worked, they had difficulty making rent and soon became homeless.  Sam slept in churches, under bushes, and sometimes at friends’ homes. He eventually enrolled at Orange Coast College (OCC) and showered at OCC’s locker room.

During Sam’s time at OCC, an Orangewood staff member introduced him to Orangewood. He was accepted into Rising Tide, a program that offers transitional housing for former foster youth. The program gave Sam’s life stability and taught him important life skills. He also benefited from Orangewood’s Independent Living Program and the Orangewood Resource Center. These programs provide classes and other resources that help young adults make a successful transition from foster care to independent adulthood.

As a student at Orange Coast College, Sam became obsessed with science – chemistry in particular. Thanks to Orangewood scholarships, he is now a senior at UC Davis, majoring in chemical engineering.

Orangewood helped Sam get his life together and take baby steps toward trusting people again. Orangewood’s support has helped Sam pursue a challenging major at a highly-ranked university and is preparing him to be an impactful member of society.

But Orangewood can’t do it alone.  Each year, thousands of donors partner with us by making a charitable investment in the lives of the youth we serve.  The majority of our programs are funded by donors—caring people like you whose support is critical to providing these important services to nearly 2,000 foster and community youth each year. Please consider how you can help Orangewood youth like Sam realize their potential by making a gift below.