On February 8th, we gathered at Union Station to celebrate another year of Imagining Futures for children and families. We are grateful for everyone who helped us raise more than $650,000—a Rocket Ball record—to lead families on a path of hope and healing. It was heartwarming to see the collective support of our community, which lit up the ballroom with hope for biological, foster, and adoptive families.

At the event, FamilyForward awarded Vic Koury with the 2025 Herman T. and Phenie R. Pott Child Advocacy Award. This award is presented annually to an individual or group that exemplifies the spirit of the Pott family's commitment to helping children. Vic Koury has been a dedicated supporter for over five decades, contributing his time, resources, and expertise to our organization. We thank Vic Koury for his unwavering dedication to raising awareness and supporting FamilyForward!

Relive more highlights from this out-of-this-world evening below!

Black History Month

This Black History Month, FamilyForward is taking a moment to pause and reflect on the legacy of Black Americans and honor the cultural contributions, sacrifices, and achievements that are intricately woven into the fabric of our country's history. Amongst internal celebrations and educational opportunities, we are also highlighting Black pioneers who have made contributions to the social services field on our social media platforms.

Join us every Monday this month as we share their stories on our Instagram.

Welcome, Joe Holt!

Introducing Joe Holt M.A., FamilyForward’s new Chief Development Officer! Joe will be leading fundraising and communications efforts to grow our donor base and expand resources for the children and families we serve. He brings strong relationship and team-building skills to FamilyForward and has the expertise to expand our community-centric fundraising. We’re looking forward to the impact Joe will make as he leads our development team.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Life Essentials Baskets

We received a generous donation of 20 life essentials baskets to support older youth aging out of foster care. This community effort is organized annually by Jennifer Kealey May, who believes that “one interaction could potentially change the trajectory of one of these children's lives.” We are grateful for her support and advocacy for older youth in foster care!

Looking for ways to impact children in our community? Find ways to show your support below.

Educational Opportunities

FREE upcoming educational opportunities at FamilyForward:

• RPC Trauma Training: February 17th and 24th
• MO C.A.R.E.: February 20th and 27th, March 6th and 13th
• Core Teen Training: February 18th, March 11th and 18th
• Show Me Healthy Kids: March 20th

To register, email intake.dept@familyforwardmo.org

or call 314.968.2350 ext. 7234.