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Changing Lives
Beyond Foster Care

Ready for Life (RFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Pinellas and Pasco counties dedicated to supporting former foster care youth in homelessness prevention, education and employment, and lifeline support networks. Our solution-based Skill Center offers former foster care youth and their children an incredible number of programs and services, all guided by the Youth Voice. 

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RFL is a caring environment where young people find basic needs like food and meal kits; personal and hygiene supplies; support networks; access to laundry and shower facilities; disaster preparedness; and so much more. We understand that until immediate basic needs are met, it is nearly impossible to contemplate the future...and RFL believes that all young people deserve the opportunity for a successful future.

Our Mission
Our Vision

Ready for Life provides the support, resources, and guidance former foster care youth need to successfully transition to adulthood.

Ready for Life’s vision is a world where every young person has the opportunity to succeed. We work toward our vision by providing a caring environment and wraparound services to the resilient young adults who age out of the foster care system with little to no support.

The Youth Voice

At Ready for Life, Youth Voice is our greatest driver and inspiration. From day one, we have listened intently to the young adults we serve—their stories, trauma, needs, and the challenges they face. We know that the most effective way to serve former foster care youth is to listen and let their voices influence the care and support we provide, so their firsthand knowledge and lived experience guide everything we do.

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Our Impact

2022-2023 IMPACT REPORT

“Due to her involvement with Mommy & Me, Serena is working to build a wonderful life for herself and her children, and in doing so she is keeping them far away from the childhood she had once experienced—far away from the cycle of foster care.”

 

View our 2022-2023 Impact Report to read the success stories of former foster youth Damien, Karalynna, and Serena.

Meet the Team

Meet the Team

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KATHY MIZE

CEO

727.513.4679

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PATSY STILLS

VP of Administration

727.472.9630

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SANDY HOGLUND

Program Facilitator

727.732.6880

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SERENA AGUILAR

Program Specialist, Pasco

727.597.5309

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ANDREW BRITTAIN

Youth Opportunity Grants

Program Coordinator

727.312.1319

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CHUCK DEITCH

COO

727.334.0534

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JAKE RAY

Director of Programs

727.291.9861

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FALANA SHANNON

Program Specialist, Pinellas

727.394.1231

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SARAH MARKIN

Counselor

727.591.4885

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CRYSTAL ZBYSZINSKI

Administrative Assistant

727.954.3989

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MICHELLE WALAG

SVP of Public Relations

727.500.2599

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DIAMOND DAVIS

Director of Family Preservation

727.301.9355

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NATE JOHNSON

Program Specialist, Pinellas

727.291.9250

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GLORIA RICHARDSON

Program Support Specialist

727.594.4121

Board & Advisory Council

BOARD MEMBERS

Our co-founders were approached about developing a nonprofit that would focus on assisting this population through this transition and thus Ready for Life was created.  

Co-Founders   David Fischer    Gerry Hogan    Bud Risser

ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Yvette Bean

Kenneth Beattie 

Scott Clendening 

Ben Coughanour

Jennifer Dittman

Mary Pat McLain - Chair

Sally McLane

Bruce Mitchell

Crystal Moore - Youth Voice

Bud Risser- Founder

Kathy Mize, CEO

Jamelle Connor

Provost, St. Petersburg College • Co-Chair RFL Advisory Council

 

Glenn Gomer

Attorney • Co-Chair RFL Advisory Council

 

Scott Clendening

Commercial Partners Realty • Immediate Past Chair RFL Advisory Council

 

Ken Beattie

RFL Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

Kathy Mize

CEO & One of the Founders of RFL

 

Michelle Walag

SVP Strategic Planning RFL • Staff Lead RFL Advisory Council

 

Erika Almond

Tournament Director Suncoast Ladies Classic

 

Mike Brown

Owner Trunk Bay Designs • President Santa’s Angels 

 

Laura Connelly

GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs Second Vice President

 

Kay Dillinger

The Beth Dillinger Foundation

Garreth Hughes

Director, Raymond James

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Terry Farner

Founder Suncoast Kingfish Classic 

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A​nne Gottlieb

Owner & Founder of Profiles Placement Services in Baltimore, MD • Mentor RFL • Chair of the RFL Marketing & Communications Committee

 

Uday LeLe

Serial Entrepreneur

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Kelly Mione

Marketing Professional, Retired

 

Margaret Martin

Re-Design Your Life Coach for Women 50’s, 60’s, 70’s • Martin & Associates

 

Jeni Mitchell

Retired, Former CEO of Caregivers Network • Founder of the Dr. David Zabrocki Dental Foundation and Program at RFL

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Jenn Tran

Chief People & Culture Officer for the Tampa Bay Rays

 

Bill Weiner

Chief People & Community Officer for the Tampa Bay Rays

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Ben Walker

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