FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 2025 FosterMoreys Awards: Honoring Resilience, Advocacy, and Impact in Foster Care
LOS ANGELES, CA, October 22, 2025 // FosterMore proudly announced the recipients of the 2025 FosterMoreys Awards, honoring extraordinary individuals and organizations redefining what’s possible for youth in foster care through advocacy, creativity, and compassion.
Hosted virtually by acclaimed actor and foster-adoptive mom Cleo King, this year’s event brought together a nationwide community of youth, advocates, and allies to celebrate stories of perseverance, leadership, and love that continue to inspire transformation in the foster care system.
“Each year, the FosterMoreys Awards remind us of the power of love, purpose, and community,” said Cleo King, host of the 2025 FosterMorey Awards. “These honorees are proof that hope is not abstract, it’s care, it’s action, and it’s connection.”
The 2025 FosterMoreys Awards also featured special cameos from beloved actress and longtime friend and supporter of FosterMore, Angela Kinsey, celebrated foster parent and content creator Laura The Foster Parent Partner, and Lisa Clements, Chief Executive Officer of Kidspace Children’s Museum. These appearances captured the spirit of the event, uniting voices from entertainment, community, and education to champion awareness, empathy, and opportunity for youth in foster care.
Attendees also had the opportunity to win BÉIS luggage and gift cards to La La Land Kind Café, a past FosterMoreys honoree. This special element also helped highlight two brands that are deeply committed to foster-care awareness and empowering youth through purpose-driven initiatives.
“The FosterMoreys Awards are about shining a light on the everyday heroes who show what’s possible when care meets courage,” said Jennifer Perry, Co-Founder of FosterMore. “Our honorees aren’t just changing lives, they’re changing the narrative of foster care itself.”
FosterMore extends heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners and nominees and thanks everyone who participated in the event. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for youth in foster care and driving meaningful change in the foster care community.
FosterMore 2025 Honorees
Content Creator of the Year: Peter Mutabazi Known as the “Foster Dad Flipper,” Peter has turned his remarkable journey—from surviving homelessness in Uganda to fostering and adopting children in the U.S.—into a global movement of hope. Through his social media presence of over 880,000 followers, his books, and his foundation Now I Am Known, Peter uplifts foster youth and promotes trauma-informed parenting. A single foster and adoptive dad, he has fostered 47 children, adopted three (with more in process), and continues to advocate for families built on love and inclusion.
Author of the Year: Desmond DeRoo In his memoir Loving Desmond, Desmond writes with unflinching honesty from a prison cell, recounting a life shaped by foster care, loss, and resilience. Adopted at age five, he faced immense trauma yet channels his pain into purpose—using his story to illuminate the system’s challenges and offer hope to others who have felt unseen. His writing embodies courage, empathy, and the enduring power of truth.
FosterMore Scholars of the Year These inspiring young leaders represent resilience, achievement, and the future of foster care advocacy. Each received a $1,000 scholarship to support their education and continued impact. Celeste Walley, a systems-change advocate transforming her lived experience into policy reform, research, and public speaking, advancing sibling rights and youth-led leadership. Dessirea Hernandez, a Child Development major at CSUSB and Resident Advisor for foster youth, mentoring others with compassion and drive. Taylor Celindro, who overcame family trauma and personal loss, is on track to earn a B.S. in Biology and pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Lotus Lancelot, a creative scholar and photographer with a 3.0 GPA at the University of La Verne, was recently accepted to the University of Scotland in Edinburgh for further study.
Organization of the Year: Foster Kinship (fosterkinship.org) Nevada’s only nonprofit exclusively supporting kinship families, Foster Kinship keeps children safely within their families through five transformative programs that have reached more than 24,000 children. Its nationally recognized Kinship Navigator Program has expanded to five states, proving that love and stability begin with family.
Business of the Year: The Savannah Bananas (thesavannahbananas.com) Through their Bananas Foster Program, the Savannah Bananas baseball team has transformed entertainment into impact, providing foster families with game tickets, mentorship opportunities, and moments of joy. Their community-driven initiative demonstrates how businesses can harness their platforms to inspire belonging and optimism for foster youth.
About FosterMore
FosterMore is a coalition of partners dedicated to shining a light on the potential of youth in foster care. Through awareness campaigns and programs, we aim to connect communities and resources to empower youth and their families.
For more information, visit www.fostermore.org or follow @FosterMore on social media.
Press Contact:
FosterMore
Kristen Pratt
info@fostermore.org
(818) 943-5747
