Hello There.
From the Start
In 2007 the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay decided to focus on disadvantaged youth as a priority. The Foundation's President, David Fischer, observed a venture in Hillsborough County that had been successful in helping young adults as they make the challenging transition from foster care to adulthood. David believed nurturing such help throughout the community was a worthy project for the Foundation. A meeting was organized in St. Pete to expose our community to the issues the youth face when they turn eighteen. This transition occurs on their 18th Birthday without regard to any other outside considerations. For example, most of these young people are still in high school or trying to obtain their GED, have limited life skills, no clear plan for housing or employment yet they are expected to be independent.
Bud Risser and Gerry Hogan were approached about developing a not for profit that would focus on assisting this population through this transition and thus Ready for Life was created. They became involved because an opportunity to help these young people in a meaningful way was very compelling. They had a clear mission and manageable goals while leveraging community resources and volunteers to make a real and significant difference.
Meet the Team
Our Mission & Goals
To engage foster care youth, private citizens and public resources to assist Pinellas County foster youth in a successful transition to adulthood.
Success for Ready for Life, Inc. would be that within a few years it is our hope that every Pinellas County youth aging out of foster care is prepared for the challenges they will face, they are connected with an adult mentor and that they have access to a safety net should they be unable to surmount all the hurdles they face as they make the journey to adulthood.
Geographic Area Served
Ready for Life, Inc. serves youth in Pinellas & Pasco Counties 15 – 23 years old that are in foster care or have already transitioned out and are on their own. The youth RFL serves are “put out” of the foster care system on their 18th Birthday regardless of their housing situation, support system or knowing that they have what they need to be successful on their own.
TESTIMONIALS
"Ready for Life helped me find my voice as a youth who aged out of foster care; today I use this voice to help my foster brothers and sisters to do the same."
-April
"Ready for Life came into my life exactly when I needed it most; it turned out to be the conduit to the success I dreamed about. I am blessed to have discovered my passion to help improve the system and the lives of foster youth like me on both local and state levels every day."
-Andrea
"Ready for Life has helped me
to have a second chance at
life; from employment, to
housing, to sobriety."
-Tommy
"Being in foster care made me realize that I had to make it on my own. I did not have a Mom and Dad to support me and so I knew I would go on and finish my GED and go to college or technical school. Ready for Life provided support and encouragement for me to follow my dreams."
-Jamaica
Meet the Team
KATHY MIZE PLUMMER
Executive Director
KATHY MIZE PLUMMER
Executive Director
KATHY MIZE PLUMMER
Executive Director
KATHY MIZE PLUMMER
Executive Director
SHADAI SIMMONS
Youth Development Coordinator
FALANA SHANNON
Youth Specialist
MOSES BLANKS
Need Title
GREG BELCHER
Need Title
SHA'ROBIA DAVIS
Youth Specialist
Our Board Members
Bud Risser, Co-Founder
Gerry Hogan, Co-Founder
Scott Clendening
Mary Pat McLain
Bob Hilton
Kay Dillinger
Shadai Simmons
Don Howe
Erik Matheney
Kay Dillinger