Support us for North Texas Giving Day 2025!
Fostering Dreams Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering foster youth and families in North Texas. What began in 2015 as Volley for the Children has grown into a movement that has served over 650 foster youth and 300 foster parents through trauma-informed support, grief care, mentorship, and community engagement. In recognition of this impact, D CEO Magazine named Fostering Dreams Foundation the 2025 Micro Nonprofit of the Year, honoring our ability to create lasting change with an annual budget of just $5,000.
Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our reach with new initiatives such as the Birthday Gift Initiative, an Annual Gala Fundraiser, and our Therapeutic Navigation Program, which pairs current foster youth with resilient former foster youth mentors. With your support, we will continue bridging the gap between grief and healing, isolation and connection—ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated as they dream boldly toward their future.
Help us continue creating hope, healing, and opportunity so every child can dream boldly by donating and our support our organization for North Texas Giving Day!
Fostering Dreams Foundation
Fostering Dreams Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2015 by Vallery Mitchell. Initially launched as Volley for the Children, the foundation hosted charity volleyball tournaments to raise funds and essential items for children residing in a foster care emergency shelter in Wichita Falls, Texas. As the organization expanded its scope, it became evident that a name change was necessary to reflect its broader mission. Consequently, in 2018, it transitioned to Fostering Dreams Foundation.
As of 2025, Fostering Dreams Foundation has positively impacted the lives of over 650 foster youth and supported 300 foster parents. All services provided by the foundation are made possible through the generous contributions of dedicated service providers from the community.
Our Story
On January 18, 1994, our founder, Vallery Mitchell, was born and immediately placed into the foster care system at birth due to her challenging birth conditions. After spending a total of five formative years in the foster care system, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) moved forward with the process of terminating Vallery’s biological mother’s parental rights, thus making her eligible for unrelated adoption. On September 15, 2000, Vallery was joyfully adopted by her forever family in DeSoto, Texas, who provided her with unwavering support to help her overcome the numerous birth conditions and emotional trauma she had endured during her time in foster care. In 2015, Vallery made a pivotal decision to redefine her identity, transforming herself from a victim of child abuse into a resilient survivor. She centered her senior year of college around the inspiring goal of opening Volley for the Children, which has now grown into the well-respected Fostering Dreams Foundation Nonprofit Organization. Vallery’s remarkable transformation and determination propelled her to embark on a meaningful mission aimed at supporting foster children through the development of various programs and the organization of numerous events that affirm their inherent worth, ensuring that each child feels seen, heard, and loved in their journey.
Host free events and provide services for children in foster care to increase their feeling of acceptance, visibility and normalcy.
What We Currently Do
🎁 Birthday Gift Initiative – A new program allowing foster parents to request personalized birthday gifts for the youth in their care, helping children feel seen and celebrated on their special day.
🌟 Annual Gala Fundraiser – In addition to our long-standing charity volleyball tournament, we aspire to launch an annual gala to raise critical funds, deepen community ties, and spotlight the stories of resilience that inspire our work.
📚 Empowering Case Managers Through Education
Host impactful, hands-on workshops for case managers, focusing on the power of positive, meaningful documentation for youth in care. These sessions equip professionals with the tools to highlight each child’s strengths, progress, and unique story, ensuring their records reflect dignity, hope, and opportunity.🧭 Therapeutic Navigation Program –Our vision is to launch a transformative mentorship initiative that pairs children currently in foster care with mentors who have lived through the system themselves. These mentors which are resilient former foster youth, will serve as powerful guides, walking alongside each child through the challenges and transitions of foster care.
More than just support, this program offers therapeutic navigation:
Real-time encouragement from someone who truly understands
Practical life skills and emotional resilience tools
A consistent, trusted relationship in a time of uncertainty.
What We Aim To Do
with more funding & support
Events & Services Currently Hosted
Volley for the Children Annual Fundraiser Event
Foster Parent Night Out
Annual Angel Tree & Christmas Party for Foster Youth
Service
We are committed to serving not only through our own initiatives but also by supporting other nonprofit organizations in their missions. We offer our time, expertise, and resources whenever possible. If you are interested in enhancing your volunteer efforts, please reach out to us via email at community@fosteringdreamsdfw.org.
