Welcome to the Friends Finding Friends 2008
Charity Art Auction Site

Highest Bid Item! $3600

"Objet Trouve: -The Concord Stela Unearthed-" by Chance Anderson & Robert Larsen

...of youth, children, older adults, homeless families and people living with disabilities...

Thank you to everyone who made this year's auction such a success, particularly the local artists who created over 40 pieces of beautiful art just for this event, and the Concord businesses who displayed these pieces throughout the city.

All proceeds from the auction support the work of The Friends Program, and make possible stories like this.

Junior Senior Friends Janet and Asli

Janet Ward was matched in November of 2004 with a fifteen-year-old girl, Melissa. For the next three years, Janet became a friend to Melissa, offering a listening ear, wisdom of opinion, and guidance that without question Melissa benefited. From a young teen without much expectation for herself, to a young woman pursuing college and a bright future, Melissa matured and drew off of the asset of having an adult mentor. Since Melissa entered college in September of 2007, Janet was introduced to her second Junior Friend, Asli.

Asli is a thirteen year old, sixth grader and the eldest daughter in her family of six children. Like many girls in her place, Asli had taken on much responsibility for herself and her siblings at a young age, therefore the time to “just be a kid” did not seem such a privilege afforded to her. This is compounded by the reality that Asli’s family origin is of Somalia, Africa, and her parents fluency with the English language has yet to be mastered, often leaving Asli in the role of interpreter for the family’s needs. It was for this reason that a teacher recognized Asli’s need for a mentor and referred her to the program. In their first month together, Asli became active in a local dance class with Janet’s encouragement and she has enjoyed it tremendously. Janet observes the family becoming more adapted culturally and hopes that her one-on-one role with Asli will be a benefit to her now and as she navigates through her middle school years.

Janet is a powerful illustration of what the true intention of the Junior Senior Friends Program strives to achieve. A well-meaning citizen devoted to a young person in their community as a mentor and supported by a quality program in an effort to increase the assets in that young person’s life in the anticipation of a successful future.