Kellie Jurado: a champion of children: volunteering with foster children gave Kellie Jurado direction in her life. It also inspired her to start her own support program for neglected kids, which won her a grand prize in American Eagle Outfitters' Live You Life Contest. Her secret to success? Dedication, friends, family … and an occasional time out for dessert

Careers and Colleges, Fall, 2006

At Goddard High School in Roswell, New Mexico, Kellie Jurado was like many other students. She went to the movies, bowled, and often headed to Chili's to share chocolate molten cake with her girlfriends.

Kellie was also an honor student, an athlete who played varsity soccer throughout high school, and, according to her friends, "a great listener" who often helped them figure out their problems.

Driven to help others, she always made time to volunteer with a teen community service institution and to raise funds for her church youth group.

Kellie also applied her organizational skills to having fun. To raise money for a trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Kellie and a group of friends put together a "dessert party," making treats and inviting guests to eat as much as they wanted for $5.

But by the end of her sophomore year in high school, Kellie started to feel anxious about her future. She had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, and that made her nervous. "I like to have things planned out," Kellie explains.

A devout member of the Assumption Church, Kellie turned to prayer for direction. During this time she also happened to read A Child Called "It" (HCI, 1995), a memoir by David Pelzer, who grew up with an abusive mother and was placed in the foster care system. The lack of a caring person in Pelzer's life was painfully apparent in his books, especially as he was cycled through foster homes. In part, Pelzer's story led to Kellie's decision to help foster children.

"I started to put it all together, and something came over me that I needed to look into helping children in foster care," Kellie says.

A Voice for Kids

The foster-care system removes children from "at-risk" environments and places them with families who can temporarily care for them. These children typically come from abusive or neglectful families, and in many cases, their parents struggle with substance abuse.

Through a mentorship program at her high school, Kellie decided to volunteer at a county branch of the Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA). CASA's mission is to get volunteers to serve in court as legal advocates for abused and neglected children. Ultimately, the group's goal is to find children safe homes in which they can thrive.

Kellie excelled as a volunteer office worker, and CASA hired her as a part-time staff member.

On one occasion, Kellie had the opportunity to interact with a child who had been taken from an abusive parent. The experience gave Kellie a new understanding of how simple kindness and personal attention could have a profound effect on a needy child.

From Dream to Reality

With the help of the director of the Chaves County CASA program, Kellie came up with the idea of developing a program to raise foster children's self-esteem through positive encouragement and consistent support.

Eager to make her idea a reality, Kellie knew she needed financial assistance but wasn't sure where to get it. The answer came in an e-mail, which she almost deleted.

A loyal customer of clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters, Kellie received an e-mail announcing the company's Live Your Life contest. Each year, the program selects six students with a unique vision for making the world a better place and awards each $25,000 to help achieve their dream. Kellie entered the contest in 2005--and won.

Kellie used the award to purchase a computer, printer, supplies, and toys for the children. During her senior year of high school, she officially launched the Transitions program.

With the support of CASA, Kellie met with children in foster care every week, and spent time talking, playing games, and reading with them. Kellie also helped the children build "Life Books," which featured photos and other mementos to help them remember their past and present families.

"Transitions is like Big Brothers/Big Sisters in a way," says Kellie. "In such a small town as mine, I never suspected there were so many neglected children. It really caught me by surprise. Most of these parents are on drugs, and their kids end up in legal limbo. The children are waiting to see if they'll go back to their parents or if they're going to get adopted. It's usually at least six months before any child goes back to their parents, so these kids can really use the support."

Currently starting her freshman year at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, Kellie says her work with foster children has inspired her to study to become a child psychologist. She also hopes to establish a Transitions program with the CASA chapter in Las Cruces, using the remaining funds from her American Eagle award.

Friends and Families Lend Support

As for the many hours she spent helping others during high school, Kellie says she couldn't have done it without the support of her friends and family. "My friends truly mean the world to me," says Kellie. "We have always been there for each other. We've cried every ounce of hurt, and we've laughed until our stomachs ached. I know they were placed in my life to guide me through the rough teen years."