GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay dba Hero To A Child is to empower, uplift, and support children and young adults impacted by abuse and neglect to realize a brighter future. We envision a strongly connected community of care, creating an environment where every young person in the child welfare system can thrive, experience stability, enjoy their childhood, and be prepared for success in life.
About This Cause
Hero To A Child (HTAC) is a nonprofit organization serving children and youth impacted by abuse, neglect, and the child welfare system in Pinellas and Pasco Counties, Florida. Founded in 1989, it began as a volunteer-led initiative providing holiday gifts to children in foster care. HTAC has now grown into a vital resource offering comprehensive support to meet the evolving needs of children, youth, and caregivers in the dependency system. Previously known as the Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay, we rebranded as Hero To A Child to reflect our broader reach and to avoid confusion with state-run programs. Today, we serve all children and youth in the child welfare system not just those assigned to a volunteer Guardian ad Litem. Importantly, HTAC does not receive funding from state or federal agencies. We rely entirely on individual donors, businesses, and local grant opportunities to carry out our mission. Meeting Individual Needs: The Children’s Needs Program Our cornerstone service is the Children’s Needs Program, which fulfills thousands of individual needs annually. This program is designed to address the real and often urgent challenges facing children in care, challenges that, if left unmet, can impact their safety, stability, development, and self-worth. We provide funding and tangible goods in the following key areas: Basic Needs We ensure children have access to essentials that support safety and dignity: • Clothing and shoes • Beds, bedding, cribs, mattresses • Diapers, wipes, and hygiene products Educational Support To help children stay on track academically and reach their full potential: • Tutoring • School supplies • Technology (laptops, headphones, calculators) Social and Emotional Well-Being We fund opportunities that help children feel included, heal from trauma, and connect with peers: • Summer camps and field trips • Youth sports, dance, and music lessons • Sibling visits and reconnection days Therapeutic Support Foster youth often face complex mental health and emotional challenges. We help provide: • Counseling and therapy services • Specialized services • Supportive enrichment activities that aid in healing Aging Out Support Youth preparing to exit foster care often do so without a safety net. We support their journey to independence with: • First apartment kits • Scholarships for college or trade school • Workforce readiness items Caregiver Support To help foster, relative, and non-relative caregivers provide safe and stable homes, we assist with: • Home readiness and licensing needs Expanding Access: Resource Closets and Community Hubs In 2024, Hero To A Child expanded services to all children in care in our vast two-county region. To meet this growing need, we opened a new office in Clearwater that also serves as a Children’s Needs Resource Closet, a hub stocked with high-demand, no-cost essentials for caregivers, case managers, and advocates. Two satellite closets, one in Pasco County and one in Pinellas County, focus on providing back-to-school and basic needs supplies for volunteer Guardians ad Litem and Child Advocate Managers to conveniently access items for the children they serve. These localized hubs ensure advocates can quickly respond to the immediate needs of the youth in their care. Additional Programs and Innovations HTAC continually evolves to fill service gaps based on feedback from judges, caregivers, youth, and child welfare professionals. Our recent and ongoing initiatives include: Adulting 101 A conference designed for youth ages 14 and older, along with their advocates, to introduce the tools, resources, and services available as they prepare to age out of foster care. The event empowers participants to begin planning their path to adulthood—whether through college, technical or trade school, or entering the workforce. Through workshops, panel discussions, and direct access to community partners, we help ensure these young people have the knowledge and support they need to succeed beyond the system. Courthouse Facility Dog Program In 2025, HTAC welcomed Polar, a professionally trained courthouse facility dog from Canine Companions. Polar supports children who must participate in interviews, therapies, and legal proceedings, helping to reduce fear, anxiety, and re-traumatization. He is handled by a full-time staff member who ensures his training, certification, and well-being remain at the highest standard. The Impact of Community Support Each child’s situation is different and so are their needs. But behind every number is a name, a face, and a story. Every child deserves stability, joy, and the chance to dream. Together, we can help make that possible, one child at a time.