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Where Can I Volunteer?

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

I get many calls and emails from teens and parents who want or need community service hours.  I love those calls because I believe we all have something to contribute and we should share our talents to make the world a better place.    The Teen Toolbox sponsors two annual service opportunities to raise awareness about […]

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National Adoption Month and SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 8, 2012 | 0 Comments

Our “SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month” feature recognizes a teen in foster care that is making a positive impact in their community.  This feature allows us to highlight the best in our young people and show that when given support and opportunity, youth can change the world. I created SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month to eliminate negative […]

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Foster Care and Politics

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 6, 2012 | 0 Comments

Today is the day — Election Day 2012. Are you ready to exercise your civic duty today?  Maybe you took advantage of early voting in your state like I did.  Regardless of your party affiliation or selected presidential candidate I urge you today to let your voice be heard.  The ability to vote is a […]

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Celebrate National Adoption Month 2012

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 1, 2012 | 0 Comments

November is National Adoption Month. National Adoption Month has been celebrated for 17 years.  Every November, a Presidential Proclamation launches activities and celebrations to help build awareness of adoption throughout the nation. Thousands of community organizations arrange and host programs, events, and activities to share positive adoption stories, challenge the myths, and draw attention to […]

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Every Teen Girl In Foster Care Deserves A Special Purse

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 30, 2012 | 0 Comments

A woman’s purse symbolizes her pride, personality, and purpose.  A purse can also be a status symbol.  A study of 2000 women in the United Kingdom by Special K Mini Breaks found that the average woman has 7 handbags.  According to the UK poll, women are emotionally tied to their handbags.  Sixteen percent of the […]

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Donte Young – SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month Update

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 25, 2012 | 0 Comments

With our SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month relaunch we will feature youth, ages 14-21, who are currently in foster care.  In June 2008, we featured Donte Young as our SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month.  He was a high school sophomore, Chaplain of his high school’s the Student Government Association and member of the Praise Team.  Donte […]

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A Positive Alternative to Hollywood Celebrity Worship

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 23, 2012 | 0 Comments

Are you following the lives of Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Pipa Middleton, Drake (congrats to him for earning his GED this month), Usher, or Justin Timerlake?  New pregnancies, hot couples, divorces, altercations, arrests, CD releases — sometimes the title of pop culture critic fits me very well.  Other times I wish I could make the celebrity […]

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Is SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month Safe?

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 18, 2012 | 0 Comments

The Teen Toolbox is on a mission to raise awareness about the needs and potential of youth in transition from foster care and work to counteract negative statistics and stories by showcasing the talent and determination in young people.  We invite you to nominate a teen for our “SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month” feature which […]

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George and Emma Author A Book For Foster Youth

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

This weekend I had to pleasure of attending a book signing for “Who Would Have Thunk It: The First Adventures of the Fraser Foster Kids” with George Fraser and his sister Emma Fraser-Pendleton.  The eleven Fraser children were placed  in foster care after their mother’s mental illness surfaced and their father could no longer care for […]

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