Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Biase.
Hi Donna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in NJ and majored in accounting. I was fortunate to work for companies like KPMG and CBS, which afforded me the opportunity to really learn so much about the business world. I moved to Florida in 1994 when my husband, a urologist, finished his residency and took a job in Palm Beach County. I became a stay at home mom, but was always volunteering. I met Debbie Ellman through PTA when my kids were in elementary school and we always worked so well together
When our kids were in middle school, we created a project to do an Extreme Makeover of a local children’s shelter. It was there that we developed a passion for helping children in foster care. We started as volunteers and became board members. We saw that these children needed someone to help them focus on school. Long story short, a young man who had just turned 18 and aged out of foster care came to talk to the board and staff about how they could better help kids in his position make it on their own and graduate high school. Debbie was so taken with him that she helped him complete applications and scholarships. Her husband said something very magical to her….”That was one kid, what about all the rest….”. That’s how Best Foot Forward was born. We co-founded the nonprofit in 2010 and hit the ground running.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Debbie and I were not teachers and we did not have a background in social work, but we were parents who felt strongly about education, and we wanted to make a difference. Many people were behind us, but the truth is, no one thought we had what it took for the long haul. Some said, “Yes, they have passion and desire, but how could they possibly help make a difference in the outcomes for these kids?” We called on anyone and everyone we knew to help us make some headway. We were able to get agreements with the Palm Beach County School District and the child welfare system which allowed us to work with the students. The educational statistics for children in foster care are really dismal. Only 46% nationally will graduate high school and only 3% will graduate college. Most are one to two years behind their cohorts. We really had our work cut out for us. We knew what we wanted to do, and did tons of research, but we didn’t find anything even close to a model to build on. We first started working with kids aging out of the system, but realized it was way too late to make a difference so we starting working with them when they were just starting high school.
There was a lot of navigating and trial and error before we developed a program that became a success. We boast a 100% high school graduation rate and to date, we have 27 college graduates. Three have even earned master’s degrees! We now work with children from elementary school through college!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We wanted to make sure we were not duplicating services and that we were providing a service that would make an impact. As Debbie and I learned more about foster care, we found there was a gap between the school and child welfare systems. To address that, we developed a program with a primary objective and focus on the education of children and youth in foster care . We use education as a vehicle to provide opportunities for to help them live fulfilling and productive lives. Our programs are unique in that they are designed to not only improve educational outcomes, but to also instill a love or desire of learning and teach the skills necessary to live harmoniously in environments that they are not familiar with. We have developed strategies that combine consistent support and a team approach with ensuring our expectations are realistic and attainable. We realized that there were two major components for success… relationship building and consistency. This is critical for everyone whether it be on a personal or business level. It is even more crucial for these kids, who through no fault of their own, have been removed from their parents. Not everyone believes in the handholding philosophy that we utilize and people sometimes think we baby our students. We believe if you have never learned something, then you are never too old and it is never too late and we start from the ground up. It sometimes takes a while to build this with our students and we may take one step forward, and three steps back, but in the end, our kids experience success!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned some very valuable lessons along the way of growing Best Foot Forward. Patience is a virtue and things don’t always take place on your time. I am grateful for all of the supporters I have met along the way. The relationships built with them is a great parallel to those built with our students. We want them to be a part of Best Foot Forward for the long haul, and not just one time. It is important to take time for yourself.
You can only help others when your mind and body feel good. I have also learned that you will always find the time to get critical things done, but there will never be enough time to do everything you hope to so don’t shortchange yourself along the way.
Lastly, people tell us we are changing lives. What I and others involved with Best Foot Forward have learned is that the kids have changed ours more!
Contact Info:
- Email: dbiase@bestfoot.org
- Website: www.bestfoot.org
- Instagram: Instagram.com/bestfootkids
- Facebook: Facebook.com/bestfootkids
- Twitter: Twitter.com/bestfootkids
- Youtube: Youtube.com/bestfootkids
