About First Star
Established in 1999, First Star improves the lives of America's abused and neglected children by strengthening their rights, illuminating systemic failures, and igniting necessary reforms. We pursue our mission through research, public engagement, policy advocacy, education and litigation. First Star's nonpartisan, multidisciplinary approach fosters collaborative action among organizations, advocates, practitioners and policy makers working to benefit children.
For more information visit www.firststar.org
MBF Supports First Star
Announcements:
August 2011
MBF Adds Nutrition Education To UCLA Bruins Summer Immersion Program
Mario Batali Foundation expands its support of the UCLA Bruins Summer Immersion Program lending further financial support and aid to incorporate nutrition education into the final program curriculum. MBF partnered with FIVE for KIDS, a non-profit cooking skills and nutrition course created by Tamra Davis (www.fiveforkids.org) and equipment sponsor KitchenAid to give these foster youth the knowledge to make healthier food choices and inspiring them to eat well by teaching them to cook their own meals using a fun, hands-on curriculum.
July 2011
Class Is In Session!
The first Bruin Guardian Summer Immersion Program kicked off with forty 9th grade foster youth participating in the summer academy. Created by First Star, with the aid and support of the Mario Batali Foundation and UCLA it is the first, scalable step to leveling the educational playing field for the foster youth of Los Angeles. Click here to read the LA Times article about the program
December 2010
MBF was pleased to support the continued efforts of First Star awarding them a second grant which will solidify the First Star & UCLA Foster Youth - Bruin Guardian Summer Immersion Pilot Program to take place in June 2011. The six week summer immersion pilot program will bring 25 to 40 9th grade foster youth to the UCLA campus where students will gain a college application/admission knowledge base, learn self-advocacy skills and interact with former foster-care students currently attending the University. They will also receive college credit for course work.
August 2010
MBF announces a leadership grant to First Star to underpin its efforts with the University of California, Los Angeles to expand UCLA's efforts in reaching out to the underserved foster youth community.
The UCLA-First Star plan has as its preliminary initiative a summer program which expands on a current weekend program. UCLA will help recruit at least 25 rising 7th - 9th graders for participation in a six-week summer immersion program on campus. The students will gain a college application/admission knowledge base, learn self-advocacy skills and interact with former foster-care students currently attending the University. They will also receive college credit for course work.
Two out of three young Americans go to college, but in the world of 800,000 foster children, fewer than 2% have that opportunity. This is not because they are less able, but because their grownups have failed them. "The numbers are staggering," said Mario Batali. "All kids should have the opportunity to learn and grow and this must include significantly better education and encouragement while they are teenagers."
"First Star is honored to receive this financial and moral support from one of America's leaders in raising the quality of life for the least privileged of all Americans." said Peter Samuelson, First Star's President.
The summer program will also further define a second First Star initiative - establishment of a college preparatory, day and board middle and high school for foster youth, located at a major university such as UCLA. This pilot program will allow for more continuous benefits to the foster youth population and leverage the university's strength in educational outreach. It is intended as a model for development of similar programs at other leading universities. Through proximity and deliberate association with the university, foster youth students will receive sustained attention, education, encouragement and inspiration. Another potential benefit is the increased likelihood of entering directly into undergraduate status on this or another campus upon transitioning out of foster care at age eighteen.
MBF Grantee First Star 
