Welcome to spooky season!

It’s a time for frights and scares—but also for fresh beginnings: new dorms, new friends, and most importantly new opportunities.

This month, we’re excited to spotlight Ciclalis, one of our incredible Scholars, who recently received a new opportunity herself!

RTS Scholar Spotlight: Meet Ciclalis

Ciclalis joined Ready to Succeed in 2024 as a rising sophomore at UCLA. From day one, she dove headfirst into everything RTS had to offer: resume building, networking, and perfecting her elevator pitch.‍

And her hard work is paying off. 

• This summer, Ciclalis was selected for the Pat McCabe Impact Fellowship and placed at the Justin Carr Wants World Peace Foundation. There, she sharpened her communications skills while supporting internal operations.
• This fall, she accepted an internship with our partner organization AEG as a Talent Acquisition Intern, where she’ll gain hands-on experience in recruiting for the world of sports and live entertainment.

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Through Ready to Succeed, former foster youth like Ciclalis can explore career opportunities they might not otherwise have. These experiences equip them with the skills they need after graduation–not just to land their dream job, but to thrive in it.

Thank You for Making Project Dorm Room 2025 a Success

Over the last 3 months, Project Dorm Room has provided over 350 college-bound foster youth with a complete dorm room kit — bedding, towels, toiletries, school supplies, and gift cards — so they can begin college with comfort, confidence and less stress. ‍

And it's all thanks to you.‍

Your support reminds students they are not alone, and that there is a caring community right beside them from the moment they step into their dorm room.

“Receiving these items makes me feel welcomed, appreciated, and valued. As a foster youth, it’s easy to feel like you’re not enough or that people look down on you. Having this support reminds me that I matter—and it motivates me to do great things.” - 2025 Project Dorm Room Recipient, Oscar 

What is the Pat McCabe Impact Fellowship?

The McCabe Impact Fellowship is more than a paid internship — it’s a launchpad for young leaders with lived experience in foster care.  

Since 2020, the Fellowship has:

• Supported 72 fellows
• Delivered 16,000+ hours of community impact
• Partnered with over 20 non-profit and social impact organizations to open doors for tomorrow’s civic leaders

Watch below to see how Scholars like Ciclalis are growing through the Fellowship!

Ready News

For many, college represents a pathway to equal opportunity and career advancement. Yet in recent months, several Cal State and UC campuses have faced an abrupt loss of federal funding for programs dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Without this support, initiatives that provide students with internships, research opportunities, and hands-on experience are at risk of disappearing.

For system-impacted youth, like RTS Scholars, these programs are not just beneficial, they are essential. They help level the playing field for students who often lack the same access to opportunities as their peers.

Read the full Inside Higher Ed Article here.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support continues to open doors of opportunity for former foster youth.

With Gratitude,