Faye Luepton and Roberto Lopez talked about how the nonprofit is helping foster youth and how the public can help. www.promises2kids.org -In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Promises2Kids is selling blue pinwheels to bring attention to the issue of child abuse. The pinwheels start at $25 and will be planted to help create San Diego’s Pinwheels for Prevention Garden on the lawn at the San Diego County Administration Center. -Each week an average of 400 investigations of alleged child abuse and neglect are assigned in San Diego County. On average, five children die every day in the United States as a result of child abuse or neglect. -Promises2Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a brighter future for current and former foster youth in San Diego County. Pinwheels for Prevention will help raise awareness about the need to prevent child abuse and raise funds to benefit foster youth through Promises2Kids’ programs. -You can show your support of Child Abuse Prevention by purchasing a blue pinwheel, volunteering, mentoring a youth, becoming a foster parent or respite provider, or by wearing blue in April and using #WearBlueForKids. For more information, please visit www.Promises2Kids.org Roberto’s story -From a young age, Roberto had little understanding of what family was. His environment was heavily influenced by drugs and a violence, and he felt a sense of emptiness. -He entered foster care at age 9 and by 17 he had attended 8 different schools and had been in 11 different group homes. -Roberto gained the strength to chase his goals, going from a troubled kid to a college student. -Promises2Kids saw the potential in Roberto and presented opportunities to help him succeed through the Guardian Scholars program. Roberto is an active participant of the Men’s Leadership Network and Advocates for Change, both specialty groups under the Guardian Scholars umbrella. -Promises2Kids has shown Roberto how to advocate for himself and he now feels more prepared to finish his education and obtain his bachelor’s degree in social work.