A leading Oklahoma child-advocacy charity has issued an urgent appeal after revealing a significant funding shortfall in its seasonal campaign to support teenagers in foster care. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), which operates the OK Foster Wishes initiative, is working alongside Oklahoma Human Services (OHS) as part of the state’s Holiday Hope programme but has warned that donations remain well below the level required to meet demand.
According to OICA chief executive Joe Dorman, the organisation aims to raise $30,000 to provide gift cards for teenagers in the state’s foster system—one of the hardest groups to support during the holiday season. Each gift card will be valued at $150, allowing recipients to select presents for themselves. However, as of Monday, 1 December, the charity had secured only $1,240, including a single $500 contribution.
“Our goal is to raise $30,000 – enough to provide 200 gift cards of $150 each to teens in foster care,” Dorman said. “We’ve only raised $1,240 as of Monday, December 1, and that includes one $500 donation.”
Donation Appeal and Programme Structure
The organisation has created an online portal to streamline contributions, which can be accessed via a dedicated fundraising link. Donation tiers have been structured to incorporate card-processing fees, meaning the full value of each contribution reaches the intended recipient. Supporters may donate in increments such as $25, $50, or cover the full cost of one or more gift cards.
Dorman said the decision to focus on teenagers followed a specific request from OHS, which noted that this age group is traditionally more challenging for donors to shop for, particularly compared with younger children who often receive toys or more straightforward wish-list items.
“OHS asked us to take on this teen age range as those are often the ones who it is harder to shop for with items. This holiday season, you have the power to show a young person in foster care that they are seen and deserving of joy,” he explained. “These are youth who often feel anguish during a time of year that celebrates family, warmth, and belonging, a time when these children are unable to be with their biological parents.
“These gift cards will provide Oklahoma’s teenaged foster children a chance to choose something for themselves, to experience independence, and feel the joy every young person should during the holidays. Together, we can make certain no young person in Oklahoma foster care feels forgotten. Your support can turn a simple gesture into a lasting message for them: you matter.”
Financial Challenges and Public Request
With the festive deadline approaching, OICA is intensifying efforts to close the funding gap, acknowledging that many households are facing economic pressures of their own. Despite this, the charity is appealing for residents to contribute whatever they can without compromising their financial wellbeing.
“We know many people are struggling financially this year, a clear indicator by the amount which has been raised so far, so we do not want anyone to place themselves in a tougher financial position,” Dorman said. “We are asking Oklahomans to consider helping with this endeavor and to give what you can to ensure these teens have a little brighter holiday season.”
Alternative Giving Options and Wider Context
Holiday Hope, managed by Oklahoma Human Services, coordinates statewide gift-giving programmes each year to support children in foster placements. Individuals who prefer to donate through a local organisation rather than the statewide OICA campaign can identify participating community partners through the OHS website. These local branches collect and distribute presents across a range of age groups, though the need for teen-focused support remains particularly acute this winter.
Information on alternative giving locations is available through the OHS Holiday Hope webpage, where donors can select a nearby drop-off point or project partner. The agency emphasises that contributions must be received promptly to ensure gifts reach foster youth before the Christmas deadline.
Outlook
For OICA, the current shortfall highlights the broader financial challenges facing US non-profit organisations as they attempt to sustain annual giving programmes amid rising living costs and increased demand for assistance. While modest by the standards of major national charities, the $30,000 goal represents a meaningful target for a regional advocate group—particularly one reliant on individual donors rather than corporate sponsorships.
Nevertheless, the charity maintains that even small donations can make a substantial difference. A fully funded initiative would ensure that 200 teenagers experience a sense of autonomy and recognition during a season that can otherwise reinforce feelings of exclusion.
As OICA accelerates outreach efforts in the coming weeks, the organisation is appealing to both long-standing supporters and new contributors to help close the gap. With only a fraction of the required funding secured, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether Oklahoma’s foster teenagers receive the support envisioned by the charity at the start of the holiday season.
