Before Oralee was the youth speaker at our 2025 Southeast Setting the Stage event, she was a self-proclaimed “shy girl in foster care”, feeling lost and unsure of her future. 

In 2023, when her caseworker introduced her to Valley Youth House, Oralee said she didn’t have high expectations. “My caseworker didn’t explain much to me,” Oralee shared. “Honestly, that felt like the story of my life – no one ever really explained anything properly.” At the time, she accepted services mostly to get out of the house. What she didn’t realize then was the profound impact those services, and the people providing them, would have. 

Oralee did admit that if you had asked her back then where she would be today, she wouldn’t have answered, not because she lacked dreams, but because she needed encouragement just to use her voice. Valley Youth House became the organization that made finding her voice possible. Our staff don’t just talk about change; they provide real, daily support. 

Oralee credits them with advocating for her, encouraging her, and helping her set and reach goals that many youth who grew up in similar circumstances never thought possible. Valley Youth House helped Oralee in countless, tangible ways that have prepared her for the future like:

• Providing stipends to reward important accomplishments
• Teaching accountability
• Running workshops where she learned vital life skills and built confidence
• Helping her achieve major milestones like preparing for her driver’s license, graduating high school, securing and keeping a job, and renting her first apartment

Now, at age 20, Oralee is proud to say she lives independently – a future she could never have imagined for herself. She recognizes that Valley Youth House created programs that hold youth accountable and teach personal responsibility, all while giving them a continuous support system that advocates for their goals. “For a girl who just wanted to leave the house, thank you, Valley Youth House, for being somewhere I could finally call home,” she said. 

Thanks to the support of the community and her team at Valley Youth House, Oralee is standing strong today. During her speech at our 2025 Southeast Setting the Stage event, she emphasized that by giving to Valley Youth House, you are not just donating to a program; you are investing in young people just like her, giving them a chance to grow, find their voice, and build a future they never thought was possible.