About us
At the core of our mission, Memories Foundation is committed to celebrating the birthdays, milestones, and holidays of youth in foster care. Research shows that many victims of human trafficking were once involved in the child welfare system, making youth in foster care one of the most vulnerable populations. Traffickers often exploit the emotional needs of youth in care by building trust and relationships with young people who may feel unseen or unsupported. Memories Foundation works to intervene before that vulnerability can be exploited by creating meaningful moments that remind youth they are valued and celebrated by their community. Through our birthday deliveries, we provide a customized birthday package based on a youth’s wishes. Volunteers then come together to sing “Happy Birthday” Stevie Wonder style at their front door, creating a joyful and memorable experience. In addition to birthdays, we celebrate milestones and holidays to ensure youth in care know they are not forgetten. Our goal is to create uplifting experiences that foster a sense of belonging and lasting memories.
Meet Our Founder!
Briana Thezard Richards
Briana Thezard Richards is the founder of Memories Foundation. Growing up, some of Richards’ most cherished memories were the birthday and milestone celebrations lovingly planned by her family. Those moments made her deeply supported, valued, and celebrated. Inspired by those experiences, Richards turned that same love into action. In 2016, while attending Mount St. Mary’s University, there was significant media attention surrounding missing girls in Washington, DC. Motivated to better understand the issue, Richards began researching human trafficking and its impact on vulnerable youth. Through her research, Richards conducted extensive studies on human trafficking and began raising awareness about the issue. She delivered tech talks exploring solutions to combat sex trafficking and presented educational sessions to fellow students at her university. During her research, Richards discovered that many victims of human trafficking had previously been involved in the child welfare system. This revitalization became a defining moment in her advocacy and ultimately inspired her to create Memories Foundation. Memories Foundation was founded to support youth in foster care by creating moments of celebrations, belonging, and community. Through birthday celebrations, milestone support, and holiday initiatives, the organization works to remind youth that they are valued, seen, and worthy of being celebrated.
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
— Nelson Mandela
