Governor Jared Polis Proclaims April 12, 2023 A Day for Wednesday's Child

Join CBS Colorado, 97.3 KBCO and Raise the Future

To Help Children in the Foster Care System Find Forever Families

Denver (March 21, 2023) – CBS Colorado announced today that Governor Jared Polis has
proclaimed Wednesday, April 12, 2023 A Day for Wednesday's Child and the station has teamed up
with 97.3 KBCO and Raise The Future to help raise funds and recognition for children in foster care.
Tune in to this day-long event as Raise the Future works towards creating a world where no child waits
for the love and support of a permanent family.
Colorado children in foster care available for adoption, family success stories, information on
Raise the Future and a celebration of adoptive families will be shared throughout the day on CBS
Colorado newscasts, streamed on CBS News Colorado, and talked about on 97.3 KBCO. CBS Colorado
anchor Mekialaya White will host the 2023 edition of A Day for Wednesday’s Child with coverage on all
newscasts including CBS News Colorado in the Morning; CBS News Colorado at Noon; CBS News
Colorado First at Four; CBS News Colorado at Five; CBS News Colorado at Six and CBS News Colorado at
Ten. Throughout the day, CBS Colorado viewers and 97.3 KBCO listeners are encouraged to reach out
for information and make online donations.
“At Raise the Future, we believe every young person deserves to go through life knowing they
have a caring adult by their side,” CEO Ann Ayers said. “For 40 years Raise the Future has been raising
the bar for youth in need by showing up for kids in foster care, listening to their needs and introducing
them to adults they can rely on. We surround those connections with support so that they grow into
meaningful, lasting relationship that help our youth heal from the past as they navigate life.”
 We invite you to tune in to CBS Colorado and KBCO on Wednesday, April 12 to support and
learn more about the work of Raise the Future,” CBS Colorado General Manager Tim Wieland
said. “This is a cause dear to my heart and it our station’s honor and privilege to continue this long-
standing partnership to raise funds and awareness on A Day for Wednesday’s Child.”
KBCO added, “We are proud to partner with CBS Colorado on the 2023 A Day for Wednesday’s
Child in the hope that more families can be brought together and connected through awareness. We
can’t wait to introduce our listeners to these great kids and help make a difference in their lives.”
According to Raise the Future, approximately 25,000 youth age out (or “emancipate”) from
foster care each year nationally – that’s 68 per day. More than 200 children emancipate each year
from Colorado’s foster care system. Before the pandemic, one in five youth who aged out experienced
homelessness by or before age 21. On average, only 23% of Colorado’s foster youth graduate from
high school on time and only 50% of emancipated youth will be employed at age 24.
There are about 5,000 youth living in foster care in Colorado right now. The child welfare
system in Colorado prioritizes reunifying youth with their biological families whenever possible, and
works toward this goal with children who have entered the system. Luckily, most youth who touch the
child welfare system are reunited with their biological families, but there are about 400 youth in
Colorado right now for whom that just isn’t a possibility. Raise the Future exists to help connect these
youth with families, and support those relationships so that they last a lifetime.
Since 1983, Raise the Future has placed over 10,000 youth with loving families. Each year many
youth exit foster care into the home of a loving and stable adult, and Raise the Future provides training
to families and professionals, providing the skills and tools necessary to support them on their journey
to permanency. Raise the Future now serves all 64 Colorado counties with free family support services,
offering trauma-informed training, customized family coaching, support groups, respite care services,
and more. For more information on how to access these services, visit Raise The Future or call (303)
755-4756.
For more information on A Day for Wednesday’s Child, please visit www.cbscolorado.com or
Raise The Future at 303.755.4756 or 800.451.5246.
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Contact: Danielle Dascalos 720-837-3845 ddascalos@viacomcbs.com