AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This May, in honor of National Foster Care Month, a new film strives to shed light on the plight of our nation’s foster children. Produced by OnBuzz and directed by AJ Edwards, Friday’s Child debuts in theaters nationwide featuring an internationally-acclaimed cast with Tye Sheridan ("Ready Player One"), Imogen Poots (“Green Room”), Caleb Landry Jones (“Get Out”) and Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”). Together, they tell the courageous story of a young boy facing the challenges and unexpected realities of adult life as he “ages out” of the foster care system.
Paving the way for a new kind of social impact filmmaking trend, OnBuzz combines awareness and activism with a platform that allows audiences to both learn about and participate in creating solutions for important social issues.
“Our mission at OnBuzz is to create a positive influencer society through technology and entertainment,” said OnBuzz CEO, Alan Elias. “Combining powerful films with powerful partnerships like the one we have with the Ticket to Dream Foundation, we can provoke meaningful ideation and action that betters the lives of those who need our support and our community at-large.”
Friday’s Child enables viewers to be a part of the solution by donating online or volunteering their time with the non-profit beneficiary, Ticket to Dream Foundation. Ticket to Dream is dedicated to improving the lives of foster youth across the country. The foundation works with over 200 non-profit foster care partners, corporations and communities to fill essential needs and fund support programs for foster youth “aging out” of the system to increase their odds of success as adults by reducing homelessness and increasing employment.
“When foster youth ‘age out’ of the foster care system, often at age 18, they are expected to find housing, employment and education opportunities without the guidance needed to succeed at this age,” said Gina Davis, Ticket to Dream Foundation President and Executive Director. “Our goal is to make the transition to adulthood successful by providing support programs that increase graduation rates, provide housing and teach employability and important life skills. Becoming a resource for these kids during this critical stage creates a path for our nation’s foster youth to flourish and join our community with the proper tools, and as a result, reduces the chance they will become homeless when they leave care.”
Over 20,000 foster youth “age out” of the system in the US each year. Of those 20,000, only 50% have graduated high school and nearly 40% experience homelessness. Friday’s Child is activating viewers to get involved to help change these statistics.
On sale now, film tickets can be purchased at www.fridayschildfilm.com, showing at locations nationwide. In addition to the donation from their ticket purchase, individuals and businesses can further support the cause by sharing the film on social media, telling friends and family or donating directly to the Ticket to Dream Foundation.
For more information about OnBuzz, please visit www.onbuzz.com