540
PLUSHIES DONATED SO FAR

YOUR PLUSHIE PURCHASE TODAY WILL GO TO THESE

CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATIONS

• Starlight Children's Foundation Hospitals

• Angels Foster Family Network Oklahoma

• Seven Homes For Kids

• Least of These Carolinas

• Congregations for Kids

• Foster Village Charlotte

• Bethany Christian Services

• Child Hope Services

• Fostering Sweet Dreams Foundation

BUY ONE/ GIVE ONE TODAY

Just like I did,

our children need to hear these words so urgently.

I figured out the best way I can do that was to have a dog that would affirm them.

And, I found a way to make that happen in my household every day. 

I wrote these words on the plushie so that, when my kids are triggered, when my kids are not in a happy place, when I forget to affirm them, they will have a four-legged animal to remind them that they are known, seen, and heard.

Get Your Own “Now I am Known” Plushie Before They Run Out

There are over 150 million children worldwide who do not have safe, stable home lives.

I WAS ONE OF THEM

I am Peter Mutabazi. 

And this is my story.

As a child in Uganda, I grew up with shelter, food and clothing scarcity. But more than that, I grew up with safety scarcity. I feared for my life from a father who threatened me, and frequently called me “garbage” and “useless.” Parents are supposed to protect their children. When my father didn’t, I ran away from home to live on the streets in Kampala. 

Four years of doing whatever I needed to survive, a young couple:

… saw me

… heard me

… told me I wasn’t alone

… and showed me that I mattered.

They sent me to school. They put a roof over my head. They clothed me. And fed me three meals a day. And allowed me to be a child. So I could grow up to do the same for others.

I decided to do for other children what this one couple did for me.

I WAS ONE OF THEM

I am Anthony Mutabazi. 

And this is my story.

I entered the foster system at the age of 2.

I was one of the lucky ones to get adopted, until my adoptive parents abandoned me at a hospital at age 11.

When I came to Peter’s house as a foster child, it was only going to be for two days.

I never left.

Peter adopted me and we became a forever family.

You Can Help Every Child
be a Child

Approximately 60% of American adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their childhood.

In addition, there are currently 400,000 children in the foster care system who experience trauma on a daily basis.

The CDC attributes long-term negative effects of trauma on learning, behavior, and health.

Dangerous levels of stress, often referred to as toxic stress, that can derail healthy brain development, and increase risk for alcohol and substance use disorders, suicide, mental health conditions, heart disease, and dozens of other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, and risk behaviors throughout life.

Testimony before Congress by Dr. Houry July 11, 2019

EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL OF LIVING A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE.

Each one of us can help,
It only takes one good act.
-

I have personally fostered 13 kids and adopted my oldest.
YOU'VE ASKED HOW YOU CAN HELP.

We heard you.

Our mission is to put a “Now I am Known” plushie into the hands of every foster child.

By ordering a Now I am Known plushie today, you’ll be giving a second one to a child.

Even more than that, you’ll be supporting the children, and children-at-heart, in your life by affirming that they are heard, seen, loved, and known.

Every child needs to hear this message.

Put words of hope into a child’s arms. 

Get your Now I am Known plushie today.

We only made 2000 plushies in our first batch.

Get yours before we run out.

Yes I Want a Plushie!