Meet Dawon
Dawon serves as Supervisor in our Residential Youth Home here at St. Vincent Family Center . He is reliable, he is compassionate, he is dedicated - all the qualities you'd expect in a great employee.

But Dawon is so much more than the title on his name badge suggests.
At the very young age of 7, Dawon found himself living alongside his siblings in Foster Care right here in Columbus, Ohio. Forced to grow up quickly, Dawon cared for his little brother as they were separated from their family and shuffled into two new foster homes, trying to find the perfect temporary family.

Life was okay - but Dawon found it hard to cope with the complications of his childhood. He acted out, he made poor choices. Adults in his life labeled him "difficult," but we know that Dawon's behaviors were a symptom of his circumstance, not what defined him.
And after 4 years in Foster Care, Dawon and his brother found much more than a temporary family. They found their forever home .
Adopted into the home of who Dawon calls Dad , he and his brother spent the remainder of their childhood living in a safe, warm, stable family home. Dad cheered on Dawon at his football games, opened his home to Dawon's neighborhood friends, and fostered lifelong lessons of hard work and dedication.

Ask Dawon today, and he'll tell you life with his Dad was the closest thing to perfect he could have ever imagined.
He'll also tell you that working here at St. Vincent Family Center isn't just a job.

It's a calling.
Dawon spends 5 days a week (and then some) here in our Residential Youth Home serving children ages 5-12 who used to be him - acting out, making poor choices, "difficult" to handle. And it's no surprise that just like his Dad, Dawon cheers them on, encourages friendships, and fosters lifelong lessons of dedication and support.

His heart is BIG , and his confidence in our children and their worth is bigger .

Dawon is definitely more than his title. He is our children, and he is their future.
And you can be the change our children need to see a future beyond their circumstance. Here's how you can help:
Open your heart and your home to a child in need. Attend one of our FREE, no-commitment info sessions to learn more about what it means to be a foster parent.
Donate to support the many unmet basic needs of our community's youth (clothing, hygiene products, school supplies and more)
Invite us into your network (your church, your neighborhood, your place of business) for an opportunity to share more about the needs of foster youth.
Share our work with your families and friends. Knowledge is power!
Together, let's build a future where young Dawons grow up supported and cared for, where they're given a chance to overcome and achieve beyond their circumstance.

Learn more about how we support our foster youth and families at www.svfc.org .
We Make Good Kids Better.
St. Vincent Family Center | 614.252.0731 | 1490 East Main Street | www.svfc.org