Our Mission and History

Friends of Children of Walla Walla engages youth through caring mentorship in a safe environment that fosters resilience and hope for their future, strengthening the Walla Walla Valley community for generations to come!

The Friends program was formed in 1999 by a group of community leaders that coalesced around a strong concern for young persons in the Walla Walla valley. This founding group spent 10 months developing policies, procedures and infrastructure that became “Friends”.  Friends was incubated by the Department of Human Services (Walla Walla County) until July 1, 2002, when Friends met its goal of achieving independent status as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. 

The organization built its services upon the concept that a safe, consistent relationship with a caring adult outside the home can help a young person negotiate the developmental challenges that all youth face. From the inception of this home-grown, local organization, there has been a commitment to rigorous screening, intensive training and ongoing support of adult volunteers as well as a focus on matching the appropriate adult and child. Since the first Friends “match” was made in 1999, nearly 2500 children have been served in the program. Friends does not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

In 2007, Friends added a new, exciting program to its traditional, community-based services. While the latter is built on a one-year commitment from an adult who sees their matched young friend weekly, one-on-one in the community; the new ABC (Adults Befriending Children) Program requires a commitment lasting a school year, and all interaction takes place on school grounds during school time. Together, the two programs form a solid approach to helping young persons in the Walla Walla Valley.

Although both programs are built around the relationship of a child and an adult volunteer, the Friends founding community members felt strongly that they wanted to develop the program according to local community needs and to develop policies and practices which directly reflected the region. It was also a commitment of the organization that all funds would remain within the community in order to invest in direct services to children in the Walla Walla Valley. Therefore, no percentage of the Friends budget is sent to a national organization – all funds are spent in the valley.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement

This corporation and the Board are committed to incorporating the values of diversity, equity, and inclusions (“DEI”) in the governance and operations of this corporation. Ideally, our organization and the board composition should reflect the characteristics of the communities we serve.