Press Room

PHOENIX -- Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) is honored to be the recipient of Peoria Unified School District’s 2011 Student Council Charity Selection Leadership program. The nine-year-old program is dedicated to giving back to the community by engaging elementary students in fundraising initiatives that benefit local charitable organizations.

AASK and five other organizations were presented at the annual “Leadership Days” summit, where 31 student councils from across the district voted for the organization they would like to support. All nominees must be a non-profit agency and demonstrate a genuine need for support.

The councils plan to fundraise in support of AASK with various events like car washes, rummage sales and donations throughout the year. A grand-total check will be presented to AASK on April 24 at the Peoria Sports Complex in conjunction with a student council “PLUS DAYS” event.

With more than 11,000 foster children in Arizona, there is a great need for financial support. The funds raised by PUSD will be used to support several AASK programs and initiatives and find loving forever families for Arizona’s foster children.

Other charities supported in the past are: Camp Candlelight, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Andrea’s Closet, Abby’s Fight for Life, Natalie’s House, Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Peoria and Glendale.

AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 23 year history, 1,600 foster children have been placed into permanent AASK homes and 95 percent of those placements remain in place today. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, please visit www.aask-az.org.

The Peoria Unified School District, located in the West Valley, serves more than 36,000 students in 32 elementary schools, 7 high schools and one alternative school. With ongoing open enrollment and alternative educational opportunities, the District boasts a 94 percent high school graduation rate. Peoria Unified prides itself on excelling schools, award-winning teachers, high AIMS test scores, specialized signature programs and championship sports programs. The Vision of the Peoria Unified School District is, "Every student, every day, prepared to meet tomorrow." For more information, visit the District's website, www.peoriaud.k12.az.us or social media at www.facebook.com/peoriaschooldistrict and www.twitter.com/peoriaunified11.

Phoenix, AZ -- Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) is pleased to announce the opening of the West Valley Family Connections Center in Peoria; an 18,000 square-foot, multi-purpose facility that provides training space, support services and programs for Valley foster children and families.

Approximately 70 percent of foster children in Maricopa County reside in the West Valley, according to recent data from the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Of the 506 children currently residing in AASK homes, one third of these children are in the West Valley. The number of children in AASK homes continues to rise with the agency reporting an increase of 70 children from last year.

Stability is essential for all foster children to thrive, which is why placement nearby their own home, friends and school is paramount. Foster families and birth families have regular contact and close proximity means more convenience and less anxiety for the children. It also means foster families and mentors are needed more than ever, in every West Valley neighborhood.

The new office is available to serve families throughout the Valley, but will be especially convenient for those in Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Waddell.

Located off the Loop 101 south of Bell Road on 83rd Avenue, the facility offers orientations and trainings in both English and Spanish for potential adoptive and foster families. AASK’s West Valley Family Connections Center also includes four private meeting rooms; a children’s library; a child activity center; a life-skills center for youth, including a kitchen and laundry room; and office space.

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AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 23 year history, 1,600 foster children have been placed into permanent AASK homes and 95 percent of those placements remain in place today. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, please visit www.aask-az.org.

Back-to-school time is exciting for most kids, but for the more than 10,000 children in Arizona’s foster care system, it can be a source of embarrassment and anxiety. Many foster children fear going to school empty-handed, without a backpack, or even the most basic of school supplies.

To help ease their fears, Prudential Financial has partnered with AASK – Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, for the Annual Backpack Challenge. This is the ninth year Prudential Financial has conducted the Challenge, which ensures foster children across the country have everything they need to start the school year.

There are more than 500 foster children, living in AASK homes throughout Maricopa County and many of these youth will benefit from the Backpack Challenge. Local Prudential employees will gather at the Scottsdale branch and assemble the backpacks, which will be donated to AASK and distributed in time for back-to-school season.

For foster children, the first day of class often means living with a new family, attending a new school in a new community, and making new friends. By providing school supplies, AASK and Prudential allow these children to focus on more important matters: their education and future.

Last year, valley Prudential employees collected 479 backpacks, which AASK provided to local foster children.

About AASK AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in the successful placing of foster children in Maricopa county, is a private non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the mission of ensuring that every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 23 year history, AASK has placed 1,600 children into permanent homes with 95 percent of placements remaining in place today. With adoption, fostering and mentoring programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families. For more information, please visit www.aask-az.org.