Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 in Portland, Oregon by entrepreneur Duncan Campbell. Despite a hardscrabble childhood, Campbell was able to achieve success beyond anyone’s expectations. And he made a promise…that one day, if he had the resources to do so, he would help other children triumph over adversity.

Campbell searched for the most compelling evidence on how to help vulnerable children move forward. He collected the best practices from around the country. He wove these findings into the bedrock of the Friends of the Children program: start early, train and pay the mentors and stay for the long haul.

Friends of the Children Fact Sheet 2010