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At just 16 years old, Tony felt like his story was already written—and it didn't have a happy ending. Years of bouncing from one foster home to another had left him jaded, numb, and without hope. So when his social worker told him he was moving again, Tony braced for more of the same.
"I was done," he recalls. "I had no hope left, no trust in the system. The last thing I wanted was to be sent to another group home."
What Tony didn't know was that this move—to Farmington Children's Home in Farmington, Missouri, formerly part of Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS)—would be the turning point in his life.
Finding Stability in Chaos
Within days, Tony was enrolled in the Farmington Transitional Living for Youth in Foster Care program, and for the first time, he wasn't just being placed—he was being prepared for life.
Farmington became more than a safe place to stay; it became a training ground for adulthood. Ernie, one of the staff members, taught Tony practical life skills, like how to open a bank account and manage money.
"He told me, 'Save a little bit. Even if it's just a little, it matters.' That advice stuck with me."
Mentors Who Made a Difference
Jeff, another mentor at Farmington, took Tony under his wing. Together, they worked on Tony's beat-up 1971 Chevy Impala.
"Jeff didn't just teach me about fixing a car," Tony says. "He showed me I could fix problems. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself."
And then there was Cindy—the steady, compassionate guide who simply listened.
"She didn't treat me like a case file. She treated me like a person," Tony remembers. "That made all the difference."
Support That Never Ends
Tony remained in the program until he was 20, and even after he aged out, the support didn't stop.
"Most kids feel abandoned when they leave the system," Tony says. "But Farmington never left me."
Coming Full Circle
Years later, Tony's journey came full circle when he returned to Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services—this time as a board member.
"Serving on the board is my way of paying it forward," he says. "I want to create the same ripple effect that changed my life."
Today, Tony uses his voice to advocate for children in foster care, ensuring that PCHAS programs continue to thrive.
"Every kid deserves a chance to feel what I felt at Farmington," he says. "To know someone is in your corner—it's life-changing."
The Ripple Effect of Compassion
Tony's transformation—from a hopeless teen to a mentor and leader—is a powerful example of how consistent compassion can change lives. As Tony puts it:
"When I look back, I see how the small, everyday acts of kindness at PCHAS added up to something extraordinary. That's the ripple effect. That's why I'm here."
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