Thrive Foundation for Youth | History and Experience

Our History and Experience as a Foundation

Thrive Foundation for Youth had its beginnings in 1995 when eight family members determined that they shared a common interest: supporting the positive development of youth.

Since that time, they have become passionate about helping diverse youth thrive.

They have supported the work of leaders in the youth development movement as they have increased their efforts to both define and identify thriving in young people. (You may have noticed that over the past two years, this word "thrive" keeps popping up in classrooms, academic journals, policy-making conferences, therapy sessions, and PTA meetings).
They have worked with practitioners to help create tools to assess positive indicators in their adolescents.
They have begun to develop some exciting resources that will help parents, teachers, and others support the emerging strengths and interests of individual youth.
And they have committed to stand behind some of the best organizations they could find who are doing a terrific job at relentlessly, thoughtfully, and effectively supporting the positive development of kids.

What we have learned

One of our highest values as a foundation is to be consistently willing to learn, adapt, and grow. Some of what we have learned so far is:

that constraint brings clarity;
to embrace a spirit of humility and patience;
that we like our foundation's name, very much;
to be guided by our strengths;
to stay relentlessly focused on our mission;
to find ways to help people succeed, including clear expectations, measurable deliverables, and honest communication;
to know that we can't plan, or control, all of the good outcomes of this work;
to be wiser about the systemic and relational complexities inherent in all human endeavor;
that good relationships involve attention and depth, a willingness to go the distance, and mutual respect;
that what we do for youth today makes a difference for the future of our families, schools, communities, and society;
to ask of our work and the work of others: "is it practical?" "Is it accurate?" "Is it rigorous?" "Does it inspire?" "Is it elegant?" "Is it true?"
that being part of this good work has transformed and blessed us beyond measure.