About Us
Our Mission
Youth Forward Foundation empowers youth, helps them achieve their potential, and realize their dreams by funding scholarships. Our scholarship support is focused on developing their talents, and creating opportunities for experiences that develop their talents, build their confidence, and expand their horizons for what their future might be.
Our Vision
Every child has equal access to critical developmental opportunities.
About Us
Youth Forward is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization founded by Lisa Sondhof and her family to nurture the natural talents of kids in our community, and provide opportunities they might not otherwise have.
We do this by providing access to supportive resources, opportunities for growth and belonging, and the encouragement needed for kids to develop to believe in themselves.
All kids are loved and cared for by their parents, but some lack access and key resources that are available to others in the wider community. Youth Forward is here to fill in the gaps and help level the playing field.
Board of Directors:
Lisa Sondhof, President and Founder
Lisa Moser, Secretary and Treasurer
Axel Sondhof, DVM
Our Story
The idea for Youth Forward began when Lisa Sondhof and her husband, Axel Sondhof, DVM volunteered in the foster care system. The foster children with whom they interacted had amazing talents and big dreams. Their foster parents provided love, care, and stability; however, there were things these families wanted to provide but were not in a position to do. At the same time, the Sondhofs’ own children shared their observations of great disparities in opportunities among their schoolmates despite their intelligence, creativity and dreams. Bright kids with immense talent were being left behind. They were losing ground to their peers due to a lack of resources, and/or feelings that they were not worthy of support, and/or a fear of failure.
The Sondhofs asked, “What would be possible if, we as a community, join with the families to consistently nurture and support these kids?” Hence, Youth Forward was born to bring together our community and families to fill the gaps.
Youth Forward will move us all together, one child, one family, and one dream at a time.
