We’re proud to announce that the Young Center has received an extraordinary gift of one million dollars from renowned actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds! Their gift will help us establish the Waymaker Fund for Immigrant Children, which will amplify our fight for the rights and best interests of immigrant children who have migrated to the U.S. on their own or have been separated from their families. In addition to the Young Center, Lively and Reynolds are donating another $1 million dollars to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

“Over the last few years, our perspective has grown and we’ve realized we have to do everything possible to foster more compassion and empathy in this world. History’s being written right now. We’re grateful to give back to organizations who give voice to so many,” said Lively and Reynolds.

The Waymaker Fund, created with this gift from Lively and Reynolds, will provide essential financial support to the Young Center’s Child Advocate program and ensure that attorneys, social workers, and volunteers defend the rights and best interests of immigrant children who migrate to the United States by themselves or have been forcibly taken from their parents. The Fund will also help to fight the administration’s continued attacks on immigrant children’s rights and advocate for an immigration system that recognizes children’s unique needs.

"We are so deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift from Blake and Ryan,” said Maria Woltjen, Executive Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. “Their donation will help ensure that the most vulnerable immigrant children – who are in detention facing deportation – will have an advocate to protect their rights and their best interests." Woltjen continued. "Children are escaping rampant violence and persecution to seek safe haven in the U.S. The Waymaker Fund for Immigrant Children, created with this gift, is needed now more than ever We are so moved by Blake and Ryan's kindness and their generosity."