Everlyse Everlasting Education Fund (EEEF)

 

WHAT:  A plan to ensure youth in foster care graduate high school  

 

Everlyse Cabrera disappeared from a North Las Vegas foster home in 2006 and has never been found. The biological parents of the missing toddler, Marlena Olivas-Cabrera and Ernest Cabrera, haven’t given up hope that their daughter will be found, but they’re shifting their efforts toward preventing future tragedies. As a part of a court settlement, they have selected Child Focus to administer $35,000 toward the academic success of youth in foster care. The focus will be on providing professional in-home tutoring to these youth. “We wanted to do something in Everlyse’s memory to help other children,” Marlena said. “Being able to put this money toward an educational program like this is an amazing opportunity. There's been years of negativity, and with the tragedy of our daughter going missing, this is our opportunity to turn it into something so positive.” The funds will be earmarked for Child Focus' Academic Success program to provide tutoring and mentoring services for foster children in the Clark County public school system.

 

WHY:   Educational support for youth in foster care is highly needed  

 

Statistically, youth in foster care graduate at disproportionately lower rates than all other children. Primarily, this is due to numerous changes in foster home placement, resulting in many different schools attended in any given year. The foster child falls behind and often times drops out of high school. Tutoring has been proven to help; however, typically a foster parent cannot afford it or provide transportation. “This education fund puts a hopeful spin on a tragic situation,” stated Cristine Lindholm, president of the board of directors for Child Focus. “While we remain saddened that Everlyse has not been found, this gift will ensure that foster children struggling with education will receive the help they need in her memory.”

 

HOW:  By creating an “everlasting” fund for Academic Success  

 

The “everlasting” aspect of the program name relates to the goals of the educational fund – to provide an everlasting service to foster children in everlasting memory of Everlyse Cabrera. The goal this year is to raise $100,000, which will enable Child Focus to provide year-round professional tutoring services for youth in care. We invite you to partner with us to help these youth graduate high school and begin a productive life.