Rachel Ewald

250px|thumb|Ken Cornelius, President and CEO, Siemens One makes presentation to FCS with Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue,First Lady Mary Perdue, and FCS founder Rachel Ewald

Rachel M. Ewald is the founder and chairwoman of Foster Care Support. The Foster Care Support Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides clothing, equipment, and toys to foster children throughout the state of Georgia, free of charge for those raised on basic state per-diem. In 1997, Ewald began collecting and distributing clothing and toy donations from neighbors to local foster children in need. The donations and need grew to such a large amount that the Foundation was incorporated in 2000. Ewald, a foster parent herself of fourteen years and mother of four biological children, understood the difficulty of raising a child on fifty to sixty cents per hour. The center allows for more foster parents to afford to raise state children, while also allowing the children to wear new clothes, and have new toys, just like any other child. The organization's donation center, located in Roswell, Georgia, is set up like a retail store, fully stocked with new clothing, toys, cribs, bikes, highchairs, and other necessities, where foster parents throughout the state can come, by appointment, and shop for free. Rachel Ewald has also written a set of transition guidelines for foster care and adoption, with the intent of reducing disruption and trauma in foster and adoptive homes.

Recognition

Rachel Ewald has been recognized by many groups and organizations throughout the United States for her efforts in changing the face of foster care. Awards include the 2003 Commissioners Award for the state of Georgia, the 2003 Points of Light Foundation Award, the 2002 DHR Beacon of Light Award, the Volvo for life Award, and the 2003 Pearl Award.

Related links

* [http://www.fostercares.org/ Foster Care Support] Non-profit organization providing free clothing, toys, and equipment to foster children throughout the state of Georgia.
* [http://www.afterfostercare.ca/subway.html Too many stops] Audio documentary documenting former foster child's life story. Aired on CBC Radio Outfront on September 12, 2002.
* [http://www.adoptioninformation.com/ Adoptioninformation.com] - Wiki-style site for everything adoption and foster.
* [http://www.fosterparenting.com/ FosterParenting.com] Extensive resource about foster parenting and foster care.
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/agingout/index-hi.html Aging Out] Aging Out is a documentary produced by PBS that chronicles the obstacles faced by teens who 'age out' of the foster care system.