Words by Tess Becker
Kids in the foster system often have a lot stacked against them and struggle to find stability and community when they’re forced to move around so often. This leads to mental health issues and problems that may follow them into adulthood.
To help foster kids find a sense of community Boston entrepreneur Jason Setaro started what he calls Project F.
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Jason was in the foster system himself when he was younger and, as a result, has a particular interest in helping foster kids. He owns North End Fitness in Boston and wants to give foster kids a place to form passions and a community, hence Project F.
“As a kid, I didn't have a sense of direction, and I didn't think anyone cared whether I made it in life or wound up in jail,” he wrote in a GoFundMe campaign.
“That changed when a great mentor came into my life. He loved me unconditionally when I didn't have a family to do that, and he taught me that my life mattered.”
He eventually graduated from Boston College and then started two gyms, and now he’s trying to do for other kids what his mentor did for him.
“Under my supervision, foster kids will set up the studio, get the word out about it, and administer it each day,” he wrote. “While I train the clients, the kids will learn the basics of fitness and running a business. More importantly, they'll have a place to call their own and a mentor who can relate to their experiences.”
Jason is aiming to raise $85,000 to make his goal a reality. Can you help?
