Foster Angels of Central Texas: Bringing Hope and Support to Local Foster Youth

In Central Texas, thousands of children and young adults enter the foster care system each year, often facing uncertainty, sudden transitions, and basic needs that go unmet due to limited public funding. Since 2010, Foster Angels of Central Texas (FACT)  has stepped in to change that story, providing essential support and creating brighter futures for those who need it most.

Ted Oakley and his daughter Sarah Smith, established FACT to improve the lives of children who experience foster care. Through diligence and hard work, they established an effective model, serving 30 counties with a small staff of seven employees. Over the past 15 years, FACT has assisted over 50,000 young people across Central Texas.

Many children enter the foster care system with only the clothes they are wearing, and limited public resources mean their needs often go unmet. FACT acts quickly — no red tape or long waiting periods —  to fulfill needs within 48-72 hours. This assistance covers a wide range of basic needs such as cribs and beds, clothes, therapy, and tutoring. In addition, FACT funds experiences that promote healthy child development, such as sports, art, music lessons, and camps.

The majority of children FACT supports are in “kinship care,” placed with grandparents or other family members. Kinship care allows children to live with someone they know, but these providers do not receive state funding equal to that of traditional foster care, which can lead to financial strain.

When Grandmother Pearl’s four grandchildren entered the child welfare system last November, she welcomed them into her home to avoid separating the siblings. However, Pearl is on a fixed income and couldn’t afford beds for each child, as required by the state. FACT quickly supplied a crib, a toddler bed, and two twin mattresses, helping all four siblings remain together with someone they know and love.

FACT’s impact is making a difference. “This December, we had seven scholarship recipients graduate from college, while we also filled a record number of requests for food, clothing, and beds. We want children in foster care to feel equal to their peers and have the same access to education, sports, camp, and more, but first and foremost, they need to have the basic necessities that we all take for granted.” FACT Executive Director, Terry Quinn, shared.

Another distinguishing feature of Foster Angels is their support of young adults. When older youth age out of the foster care system, they are often without a permanent family or a clear path forward. These youth face significant challenges in securing housing, education, and employment. FACT provides emergency funding for rent, transportation, food, and clothing to former foster youth up to age 26. Importantly, Foster Angels invests in their future by providing scholarships to college and vocational schools to set these youth on a path for self-sufficiency.

One former foster youth stated, “When I was a teenager going through foster care, FACT drove how I see the world from negative to positive. I used to think everyone was against me; no one was here to help me. But FACT has been there for me, from a winter coat to a laptop for school, and they helped keep me on my feet in a world with no other support.”

In 2025, FACT filled over 4,000 requests for assistance; requests submitted by CPS caseworkers, CASAs, LifeWorks, Settlement Home, and Helping Hand Home. They rely on individual donors, foundation grants, corporate philanthropy, and special events such as their annual Shining Stars Luncheon to fulfill their mission.

Further critical support comes from the FACT’S Board of Directors, which includes Austinites Quan Cosby, Danielle Delgadillo, Allison Edwards, Lina Flake, Shannon Hicks, Melissa Morrow, Richard Suttle, Alexandria Sooch, Robin Ward Del Conte, Dr. George Willeford, Eric Wright, and founder Ted Oakley.

Foster Angels of Central Texas reminds us that with quick, compassionate action, we can ensure no local child or young adult in foster care feels forgotten. Together, our community can help them not just survive, but thrive.