Breaking the cycle of generational poverty is a long term endeavor. That’s why this organization matches kids with a mentor for 12 years — and it’s lifting them from difficult lives to lifelong stability.

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Friends of the Children is a mentoring organization based in Portland, Oregon, offering a simple but effective solution to generational poverty. They pair children with consistent, caring adult mentors starting at age 46, throughout their entire childhood, for 12+ years.

This longterm commitment aims to break the cycle of generational poverty by providing support and guidance to overcome obstacles in the child's life. One graduate, Jimmy, credits the program for breaking his family's cycle of incarceration and addiction, leading him to a successful career in the legal field.

The organization has achieved impressive results: 83% of participants graduate high school, 93% avoid the justice system, and 98% avoid teen parenting. For every dollar invested, the return is over $7, or $900,000 per child. Friends of the Children aims to expand its impact to over 50 cities, promoting longterm relationship models as a powerful approach to tackling generational poverty.



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