Founder, Iva Matsen, started Friends of Youth in 1951 after she saw the lack of quality foster homes for at-risk youth. She decided action must be taken and thus, Friends of Youth was born. More than 60 years later, the list of donors, volunteers, friends and staff of Friends of Youth have grown exponentially and to this day they remain true to its founding principle: “an unwavering dedication to providing quality services; the flexibility to meet new and emerging needs; and most important, a commitment to securing the futures of the most vulnerable members of the community.”
