Pearls Foundation

AboutPEARLS Foundation

PEARLS Foundation is a charitable organization within the meaning of Section 50I(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), and the Texas Tax Code, Section 11.18. providing assistance to PEARLS Court, EAGLES Court, and the participants and graduates of these restorative Court Programs. Our goal is to make a positive difference for Teens in Foster Care. Created in 2017, PEARLS Foundation was created by a group of amazing volunteers who wanted to assist PEARLS Court and its programming. Since then, the Foundation has expanded its focus to include teen boys in the EAGLES Court restorative court and the alummi of both Court programs.

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Invest in providing special programs to teens in foster care.

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Be a board member or work with teens directly.

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What We Support
What We Support

Court Programs, Building resiliency in teens in Foster Care, Scholarships, Events

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Our Mission

Healing, Loving, Building our Teens in Foster Care

PEARLS Foundation supports the PEARLS Court and EAGLES Court programs. As such, our focus is providing resources to assist these restorative court programs to provide comprehensive trauma-informed care, powerful positive mentoring, and interactive life-skills training to Foster Care Teens in Bexar and surrounding counties.

What We Support

Teens in Foster Care Rising to Success

PEARLS Foundation supports the intiatives of Bexar County PEARLS and EAGLES Courts and provides resources for youth in foster care who will be aging out to independence at age 18. PEARLS Foundation supports the intiatives of Bexar County PEARLS and EAGLES Courts and provides resources for youth in foster care who will be aging out to independence at age 18.

Kathy Driffill Scholarship Fund

Kathy Driffil was one of the founding mentors of PEARLS Court, board member and second President of the PEARLS Foundation. She passed away in 2019, after dedicating so much of her life to PEARLS girls. Her estate, family and friends created the Kathy Driffil Scholarship to honor her memory and to further her work. The Scholarship provides assistance to PEARLS and EAGLES almuni who are attending higher education programs.

Career Festival
Career Festival

Exploring future aspirations is a cornerstone of PEARLS and EAGLES Court. Each year, youth expand their knowledge of possible careers by speaking directly with community volunteers in the field.

Days of Opportunity
Days of Opportunity

These events offer participants the opportunity to dig deep into learning about themselves, their interests, possible career paths and life skills.

Days of Service
Days of Service

These events provide participants the opportunity to serve their community and learn the importance of giving back. Activities range from hosting activities for seniors, to tending the Food Bank gardens, to delivering meals for Meals on Wheels.

Graduation Extravaganze
Graduation Extravaganze

Every year, PEARLS and EAGLES Court celebrates the hard work and dedication of each youth over the past year. PEARLS Foundation is the sponsor of this affirming and heart-warming celebration.

Camping Experience
Camping Experience

Experiencing the great outdoors offers participants the opportunity to learn survival skills, overcome failure, build self-esteem and promote discipline. Once a year, alongside our mentors, staff, and judges, our youth spend the weekend developing relationships with their village, each other and getting to know themselves on a deeper level.

Our Impact?

PEARLS Foundation is focused on standing with teens in Foster Care and supporting their efforts to rise to adulthood.

<p><strong>PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Supported</strong></p><p>As of the 2021-23 school year, 134 Teens have been part of PEARLS and EAGLES Courts. In 2021-22, 43 teens actively participated.</p>
Since
2015

PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Supported

As of the 2021-23 school year, 134 Teens have been part of PEARLS and EAGLES Courts. In 2021-22, 43 teens actively participated.

<p><strong>PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Graduate!</strong></p><p>100% of youth eligible to graduate were able to graduate and 90% were promoted to the next grade level. 75% of youth enrolled in college successfully completed their first year.</p>
Since
2015

PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Graduate!

100% of youth eligible to graduate were able to graduate and 90% were promoted to the next grade level. 75% of youth enrolled in college successfully completed their first year.

<p><strong>PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Make Positive Decisions!</strong></p><p>98% of teens chose to postpone parenthood, and 95% improved in stress management. Almost all the Teens avoid tobacco, alcohol, and unprescribed drugs entirely. Maintaining a stable and permanent placement continues to be challenging, with 75% reaching this goal.</p>
500+

PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Make Positive Decisions!

98% of teens chose to postpone parenthood, and 95% improved in stress management. Almost all the Teens avoid tobacco, alcohol, and unprescribed drugs entirely. Maintaining a stable and permanent placement continues to be challenging, with 75% reaching this goal.

<p><strong>PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Grow Strong Relationships!</strong></p><p>In the 2021-22 school year, 39 youth were matched with a mentor from the community.</p>
100+

PEARLS & EAGLES Teens Grow Strong Relationships!

In the 2021-22 school year, 39 youth were matched with a mentor from the community.

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Why Donate

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Helen Keller

Donations are used by the PEARLS Foundation to fund programming needs of PEARLS Court and EAGLES Court, including resources that generally are not provide by Foster Care or tax funds, to support opportunities to support and normalize the teen years for youth in foster care.

P E A R L S
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Preparation
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Esteem
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Achievement
R
Resiliency
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Learning
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Strength and Stamina

PEARLS Court is a restorative program that supports teen girls who are permanently place in Foster Care. The group served generally lives in and around Bexar County, Texas and ranges from 14-18 years of age.

E A G L E S
E
Excellence
A
Achievement
G
Grit
L
Learning & Leadership
E
Esteem
S
Strength

EAGLES Court is a restorative program that supports teen boys who are permanently place in Foster Care. The group served generally lives in and around Bexar County, Texas and ranges from 14-18 years of age.

Become a Volunteer

We would love to facilitate you investing your time in our PEARLS and EAGLES teens. Please let us know if you are interested!!

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PEARLS & EAGLES

News and Events

Check out the great news about the PEARLS and EAGLES Courts’ Programming and PEARLS Foundation Events

Upcoming Events
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October 20, 2024 at 11:00am
One Day
Sunday
Purchase Sponsorship Online
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What People Says About us

We are blessed to share insights and experiences highlighting the importance of PEARLS and EAGLES Courts and the support we provide through PEARLS Foundation:

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As the founder of PEARLS Court in 2015, I cannot express how deeply impactful the PEARLS Foundation has been to support this program almost since its inception. The resources the Foundation has provided enabled PEARLS Court to become a permanent and transformational resource for rising Teens in Foster Care.

Former Judge Renée Yanta
President of PEARLS Foundation
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Im a PEARLS mentor. The foundation is crucial to programming and activities for Pearls. working together we are hoping to encourage these young people ib such a way that breaks the cycle of trauma, neglect, and crime.

Laura O'Neill
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The Pearls Foundation is a non profit organization that is changing the lives in the foster care system and making the lives of troubled girls have a better future…I feel I learn so much serving at the Pearls and I can see the girls grow in maturity to take control of their lives and be an independent valuable human being to be pro active in the community!
Thank you Judge Rene you are a compassionate judge with a servants heart!!!! Love you

Margie Harris
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Working to give foster girls direction, support and love as they leave the foster care system.

Maxine Oesterling
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At PEARLS Court I found friends and support and PEARLS Court has taught me that there are good people, people who care… I have realized, through this program, there are good people in the world, and I need to look for the right people instead of worrying about
the wrong ones.

PEARLS/EAGLES Alum
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At PEARLS, I have learned to work with other females. I have gained more independence. I have learned how to get into college and other options after high school. I know that I can get through whatever life throws my way. I had low self-esteem before but now it’s like after talking to all the mentors and all the girls its like I have a lot more self-esteem. I know I will always have someone to support me for the better. I’ve learned that you are beautiful in your own way no matter what you think of yourself.

PEARLS/EAGLES Alum
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What PEARLS has taught me is to be strong and to choose your friends more wisely. I realized that I want to have friends who have straight A’s and who are getting accepted to college. PEARLS has taught me how to be a better woman and how to be a role model for other people who need me. I am thankful that I have all of y’all at PEARLS in my life.

PEARLS/EAGLES Alum
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I joined PEARLS a year ago, before that I was the kind of person who didn’t like to talk to anybody, I kept to myself. I was afraid of getting made fun of. At PEARLS I started meeting new people and having fun. I want to thank Kimberlee and my mentor for helping me learn how to talk about my feelings
because I can talk to them no matter what Honestly everyone helped me learn how to open up. I love everybody at PEARLS, that’s for sure.

PEARLS/EAGLES Alum
Making a Difference

Our Sponsors

We are so deeply grateful to all of our Community who have joined with us to make a positive and life-changing change for Teens Foster Care.

Dykema
Texas A&M San Antonio
Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio
NuStar Energy
Ojeda Foundation
The Carlson Law Firm
Security Service Federal Credit Union
The Herrera Law Firm
Crista Branch Law Firm
Frost Bank
Espinoza Law Firm
Higdon Hardy & Zuflacht
Hill Law Firm
Law Office of Ana Laura Hessbrook
Law Office of Heather Tessmer
Law Offices of George Salinas
Wasmiller Cordova Attorneys at Law San Antonio
Jefferson Cano
Langley & Banack
Bandoske, Butler & Reuter
Legacy Offices
NRP Group
Rojas Law Firm
Santoya Moore Wehmeyer
women's law association
lionsclub
Solid Realty