About Us

Friends of the Children-Boston (Friends-Boston) is a prevention/early intervention organization whose mission is to help children living in at-risk communities develop the relationships, goals, and skills necessary to break the cycles of poverty, abuse or violence in order to become contributing members of society.

Friends-Boston identifies vulnerable kindergarteners from one of Boston's most troubled schools and matches them with trained, full-time mentors (called Friends) who work with them for the next 12 years until they graduate from high school. Friends spend a minimum of four hours each week after school and on weekends with each of their eight program children, regardless of how many times children switch schools or where they move in the Boston area.

We believe that our society's most vulnerable, at-risk children have the strength, motivation, and ability to rise above adverse circumstances if given the opportunity to do so. Our Friends provide that opportunity.