Enhancing the lives
of youth and young adults
in Hampton Roads foster care
Who We Are
Connect With A Wish is a Virginia Beach-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides youth and young adults in Hampton Roads foster care and their caregivers with the resources and support to live well and grow. We began in 2014 by providing Wishes to children in Hampton Roads foster care. Since then, we have grown to over 20 programs and events that address the growing needs of the foster care community in Hampton Roads and are designed to offer hope, nurture a dream, and/or promote future success.
Our vision is to positively transform the lives of those we serve by delivering initiatives and forging collaborations with local organizations so that every foster child in the Hampton Roads community, both present and former, discovers their full potential.
Everything we do relies on the generosity of people just like you.
Ready to help? Connect with us!
Foster Care at a Glance
5,274
# of children in foster care in the Commonwealth of Virginia
1,000
# of children in foster care in all of Hampton Roads
286
# of children in foster care in Virginia Beach alone
3,151
# of times clients accessed CWW's programs or services in 2024
466
# of coats handed out in our Coat Drive in 2024
191
# of families positively impacted by our Essentials Program in 2024
Statistics from Calendar Year 2024
# of children in foster care courtesy of:
Our Mission
To connect the wishes and needs of local youth and young adults in foster care with the generosity of our community. We provide the resources and support needed to give our clients the opportunity to grow into positive and productive members of our society
Our Reputation
We're top-rated on Great NonProfits and platinum rated on Candid Guidestar. We're committed to transparency and integrity in following our mission, so you can support us with confidence. You can also view our annual budget.
Our Commitment to Diversity
Connect With a Wish seeks to reflect our vision of being an organization that has diversity in our staff, and strives for respect and inclusion throughout our workplace and in the communities we serve. We support our employees in building the skills and capacity to work in an inclusive manner with one
another and with the communities we serve. This means we continually celebrate the diverse community different individuals cultivate.
With the help of our entire family — our employees, board, foster youth, partners, and community — we can achieve equality and ensure our organization is a place that can be anyone’s place.
CWW News & Upcoming Events
Thinking about Foster Parenting? Want to become an advocate?
Join The Friends of Foster Care and Connect With A Wish to learn more about Foster Parenting and how you can get involved at all levels.
Free, family friendly and open to the public!
Foster Care Aware: 2025 Family Fun Day & Community Summit Presented by The Friends of Foster Care
20th Annual Dolphin Dash Presented by Ocean Lakes High School
Saturday, May 17th beginning at 9:00 a.m. Includes a 5K and the first ever mini-run!
Proceeds will benefit Connect With A Wish. Click the link below for more information.
Dolphin Dash 5K and Walk
Join YSC Virginia Beach once again for a day of great food and drinks while dancing to the sounds of Ready Steady Go and The Boneshakers. Proceeds from this event go toward grants that benefit charities, including Connect With A Wish.
$70 ticket includes oysters, BBQ, beef and chicken, as well as unlimited beer, wine and speciality drinks. Click the link to buy yours today!
.jpg)
53rd Annual Pig and Oyster Roast
JOIN OUR BIRTHDAY BRIGADE! .. Our Birthday Brigade program makes sure almost 600 children in our area foster care and group homes receive everything their caregivers or families need to throw a birthday party.
We are completely out of Birthday Plates and Cake Icing (all flavors)! Call us today at 757-337-2657 for more information and to drop your items by.
%20Birthday%20Brigade%20Needs.jpg)
Stop by Connect With A Wish on Monday, May 5th, 2025 from 12 to 6:00 p.m. to check out all that happens at Connect With a Wish and help raise awareness during Foster Care Awareness month
Bring non-perishable food items for our Wish to Dish program and receive a raffle ticket for each item you donate!
%20(8_5%20x%205_5%20in).jpg)
A Cinco De Mayo Open House!
Connect With A Wish is excited to announce that Lauren Tremper has been appointed Executive Director of Connect With A Wish, stepping in to lead the CWW team alongside President and Founder Joy Rios.
Read more below!
CWW Announces Lauren Tremper as Executive Director
Our Handle With Care and Essentials Programs are in need of a few items!
These items must be new: pacifiers, tissue paper, chapstick, shampoo/conditioner, lotion, deoderant, body wash, and baby rattles.
We can also use: flashlights/nightlights and teen coloring books
%20(Instagram%20Post).jpg)
Be a Part of the Solution:
Consider Fostering Today!
Foster parenting: a huge commitment with even greater rewards. If you are considering fostering a child, get in contact with us at media@cwwvb.org or connect with your city's Human Services Department. Connect With a Wish and professionals with your local municipal government are ready and waiting to help with every step of the process, from information on the process to counseling, furniture, clothing, and more!
Ready to Learn More?
On The Air
Volunteer of the Quarter
Winter 2025
CWW'S Winter 2025 Volunteer of the Quarter was Poly Federico!
Polly Federico is Senior Director of Tax for Sentara Health, one of the largest health systems in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and among the top 20 largest not-for-profit integrated health systems in the country, with 30,000 employees, 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, and the Sentara Health Plans division which serves more than 1 million members in Virginia and Florida.
Polly heard endlessly about CWW through a friend who has volunteered for CWW since it was formed. She finally went to visit the CWW office when her friend said Joy needed someone to list as a Sentara contact on a grant application; and it was love at first sight. Ironically, Polly was greeted by Jessica, who she later realized was a former student from her days as a middle and high school teacher.
Thanks for being a great volunteer, supporter, and Board member, Polly!
Polly Federico
Fall 2024
Ginger Sybers bumped into us (literally!) at Kindfest a few years ago, and immediately got involved in our office organization efforts and in event volunteerism. Whether it's sorting through our Birthday Brigade to supply foster parents with birthday celebration kits or arranging clothing in our Clothes Closet, Ginger is a fixture around North Landing Road.
Thanks for being a great volunteer and a part of the family, Ginger!
Ginger Sybers
Summer 2024
After moving multiple times as part of a Navy family and obtaining a degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Board Secretary Kathleen Roberts and her husband retired and relocated to Virginia Beach in 2021.
Kathleen wanted to find a volunteer role with a group that focused on youth in her new hometown. Once she saw the Connect With a Wish website and learned about its many awe-inspiring programs, she immediately knew she found her match.
Thanks for being a great volunteer and Board member, Kathleen!
Kathleen Roberts
Spring 2024
Linda Robinson is one of the family here at CWW.
She is a steadfast volunteer at all of our events; serving treats, pouring beverages and doing it all with a gracious smile and caring demeanor. Did we mention she is Ali's grandma?!
Join us in THANKING her for being a dependable & devoted volunteer.
Linda Robinson
Tribute and Memorial Gifts
Connect With a Wish is pleased to honor those who have donated in honor of friends, family, and loved ones. If you would like to contribute in celebration of an important event or people in your life, please contact us.
Ann Zingraff-Newton in memory of Shirley Hall
Stacey Powell in memory of Shirley Hall
Sue Doyle in honor of Marion Zillner
April Spratley in memory of Shirley Hall
Maribeth Yoder in honor of Kelly Polinkas
Mark Stevens in honor of Megan Eastman
Sarah Schwegel in honor of HBC
Amy Newton in honor of Carolyn Murphy
Kathleen Baker in memory of Colonel and Mrs. John J. Donahue
April Spratley in memory of Shirley Hall
Amy Robinson in honor of Amy Robinson
Lorita Hughes in honor of Ashley Conrad
Sue Doyle For Giving Tuesday in honor of Marion Zillner
Andrea Stover in memory of Shirley Hall
O Catherine Pierce in memory of Dan Pierce
Doris and Ned Goins in memory of Shirley Hall
Leslee Hardgrove in memory of Alan C Hamilton
Anonymous in memory of Shirley Hall, Ocean Lakes Latin Teacher and Dolphin Dash Organizer
Heather Schwark Cross in memory of Shirley Hall
Juana Oliver in honor of Layla Smith
Nancy Allan in honor of Joy Rios
Debra Dear in honor of Joy Rios
Samuel Lisner in memory of Shirley Hall
Ann Zingraff-Newton in memory of Shirley Hall
O Catherine Pierce in honor of Dan Pierce
Ryan Hickey in honor of Lauren Temper and Tara Arther
Susan McGowen in memory of Shirley Hall
Mary Arnold in honor of Tess Bradlee
Thalia Hocker in memory of Shirley Hall
Melinda Paul in memory of Granny & Daddy B
