About Us

Friends of Children of Walla Walla engages youth through caring mentorship in a safe environment that fosters resilience and hope for their future, strengthening the Walla Walla Valley community for generations to come!

The Friends program was formed in 1999 by a group of community leaders that coalesced around a strong concern for young persons in the Walla Walla Valley. This founding group spent 10 months developing policies, procedures, and infrastructure that became “Friends”. Friends was incubated by the Department of Human Services (Walla Walla County) until July 1, 2002, when Friends met its goal of achieving independent status as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.

The organization built its services upon the concept that a safe, consistent relationship with a caring adult outside the home can help a young person negotiate the developmental challenges that all youth face. From the inception of this home-grown, local organization, there has been a commitment to rigorous screening, intensive training, ongoing support of adult volunteers, and a focus on matching the appropriate adult and child. Since the first Friends “match” was made in 1999, nearly 2500 children have been served in the program. Friends does not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide or service animal by a person with a disability.