New York Times Spotlights Friends of the Children Austin in Simone Biles Feature

Friends of the Children Austin was recently highlighted in a New York Times article featuring World Champion gymnast and youth advocate Simone Biles and her impactful work with our national organization. In the story, “To Become the GOAT, Simone Biles First Had to Be A Turtle,” writer Juliet Macur details how Simone continues to empower youth in the Friends of the Children program to dream big.

The article shares Simone’s experience in foster care from the age of 3 to 6, and how Simone wants youth to know that anything is possible. Anders Allison, a Program Manager and Professional mentor with Friends Austin, highlights Simone’s ability to inspire the youth, saying, “She shares her own story about struggling with foster care and her mental health issues and just makes the kids believe that they could do anything, like she has done.”

Over the years, Simone has worked directly with youth in our program, hosting virtual gymnastics stretching sessions and inviting children from the Austin chapter to her hometown gym in Spring, Texas. These moments of connection have inspired youth to dream big and have shown them that their circumstances do not define their potential or their ability to reach goals.

We are incredibly proud to have our work recognized in the New York Times and grateful for Simone Biles’s continued support and dedication to our mission. Read the full New York Times article here.