Give the Gift of Hope This Holiday Season

This holiday season, you can make dreams come true for Utah’s children by giving the gift of literacy, confidence, and lifelong success - empowering youth to break harmful cycles.

When bilingual mentor Chris met six-year-old Mateo*, learning English was a daily challenge. With consistent support in the classroom and at home, Mateo began to find his voice. Today, he is fluent in English and a passionate reader. After Chris gave him a copy of Dog Man, Mateo couldn’t stop talking about it. “I’ve read it three times, and I’m going to read it again!” he said with pride.

Individualized mentoring makes this transformation possible. Every child learns and grows differently, which is why our professional mentors tailor their support to meet each youth’s unique needs, strengths, and goals. For Mateo, that meant bilingual learning and literacy support. For Conner, it means channeling his energy into healthy outlets and celebrating his hard work.

Conner, one of the most energetic kids in our program, has discovered a love of climbing that matches his mentor Zach’s own passion. As a reward for his steady improvements in academics and behavior, they head to the climbing gym together each month. “He even told me he wants to be a professional rock climber when he grows up,” Zach shared. “Look out Yosemite, Conner’s on his way.”

Every child in our program has already experienced significant challenges in their young lives. The effects of trauma can make learning and confidence-building more difficult, which is why individualized, trauma-informed support matters so deeply. Illiteracy is a predictor of long-term barriers and challenges. Friends–Utah is working to change that through our new literacy initiative, expanding access to education and training mentors to help children reach grade-level reading and beyond.

This holiday season, your generosity helps ensure more children like Mateo and Conner have consistent, caring mentors who believe in their potential. Together, we can open doors to brighter futures and create stories filled with hope, growth, and joy.