NEENAH, Wis. (Sept. 15, 2026) — HeadsUp Fox Cities, a Neenah-based nonprofit organization empowering former foster youth through transitional housing, personalized mentorship and community-driven support, is excited to announce that it has received a $4,000 grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation to support former foster youth who are at risk of becoming homeless or are already struggling with homelessness.
“Young people who leave foster care often face adulthood alone,” explained HeadsUp Fox Cities executive director, Sara Brown. “They carry a lot of pressure and often have few people to turn to for support. A safe place to live is one important step, but it’s only the start of what many of these young adults need to thrive. This is what HeadsUp exists to do: help get these young people set up to thrive in adulthood.”
HeadsUp Fox Cities helps young adults ages 16 to 24 who have aged out of foster care. Founded on lived experience, HeadsUp provides individualized support that helps former foster youth navigate the challenges of adulthood and build stability on their own terms. Through Life Skills Coordination, transitional housing, its community center and other resources, HeadsUp works alongside participants to identify their goals, navigate challenges and build practical skills in areas such as housing, employment, education, health and wellness, finances and everyday life. Rather than telling young adults what they need to do or following a one-size-fits-all approach, Life Skills Coordinators build relationships with participants, provide support and advocacy and help them develop the skills, confidence and connections they need to move toward the future they want. At its core, HeadsUp believes young adults deserve support built around their strengths, goals and choices, with genuine relationships and community serving as an important part of that process.
Over the next 12 months, the grant from the Packers Foundation will support both the people and the resources that make this work possible. It will help fund staffing for direct participant services, including the Life Skills Coordinators who meet regularly with young adults and guide them through employment, education, budgeting, transportation, housing, everyday life skills and the unexpected challenges that come up along the way. The funding will also provide direct support to participants, helping cover housing expenses, transportation, employment needs, educational materials, life-skills programming and other practical barriers that can stand between a young person and their goals.
“We know that having a safe place to live can change everything for a young person, but we also know that housing by itself isn’t enough,” said Brown. “Our young people need someone in their corner, someone who knows them, listens to them, shows up and helps them figure things out when life gets hard. That’s what we try to be at HeadsUp. This grant helps us continue providing both the housing and the support that helps young people build real, lasting stability.”
HeadsUp works with former foster youth on an individual basis to create a tailored path based on their goals and needs. Support can include housing stability, employment, education, financial skills, health and wellness, transportation and everyday life skills. Progress is tracked throughout a participant’s time with HeadsUp, including goals related to housing, employment, education and overall stability.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Green Bay Packers Foundation for believing in this work and investing in young people in our community,” Brown said. “Every young person deserves the opportunity to have a safe place to live, someone to call when they need help and the chance to build a life they’re proud of. We’re grateful to have partners who help make that possible.”
