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Governor and First Lady Schwarzeneggar Name Foster Youth Advocate Kathryn Vaughn California’s Volunteer of the Year

SAN DIEGO (May 6, 2010) – Kathryn Vaughn, San Diego resident and Founding President of the local nonprofit Just In Time For Foster Youth, has been named California’s Volunteer of the Year for 2010. Ms. Vaughn was selected by by Governor and First Lady Schwarzeneggar, and is being recognized today in Sacramento.

"As the presiding judge of the Juvenile Court in San Diego, I am all too aware of the serious troubles foster youth encounter when they age out of the juvenile dependancy system at age 18," wrote Cynthia Bashant, San Diego Juvenile Court Presiding Judge. "These youth do not have a family support system to rely on. Since 2004, Kathryn Vaughn has worked tirelessly to transform a group of dedicated volunteers into a full fledged nonprofit agency to specifically address this need."

Ms. Vaughn, one of the lead partners of the law offices of Vaughn & Vaughn, became aware of the huge problem facing San Diego’s emancipated foster youth when she answered the call of Jeanette Day, a Child Advocacy attorney to help two sisters set up their first apartment. Having “aged out” of the foster care system at 18, they were on their own and about to move in to a completely empty apartment. This experience marked her first encounter with the then small group of volunteers that would become the nonprofit group, Just In Time. She soon made a tremendous commitment to step down from her law firm and become the unpaid president, executive director and active volunteer of this group.

Under her leadership, Just in Time qualified for nonprofit status, partnered with other agencies serving foster youth, expanded programs so more youth could be served, secured grants and community donations, and forged strong relationship with businesses for in-kind donations, such as beds and tech equipment. Vaughn created new programs to give career and college bound youth crucial vocational and educational tools and resources. Under Vaughn’s focused direction and care, foster youth were able to have a first home with all of the basic home furnishings and the love and support of Just In Time volunteers.

Based upon her incalculable positive impact by launching the independent lives of thousands of foster youth, Ms. Vaughn’s nomination was endorsed by Judge Bashant and many other local influential leaders, including Hon. Susan D. Huguenor, Judge of the Superior Court of San Diego.

Vaughn graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1980 and USD School of Law in 1984. She made Point Loma home where she raised two sons with her husband and partner, Don, and now enjoys her grandchildren.

Just In Time For Foster Youth is a 501(c)3 organization and currently the only volunteer-driven organization in San Diego that provides much needed gap services for transitioning foster youth to support their educational pursuits, vocational training, furnishing of first homes, and financial stability. Since its creation, Just in Time For Foster Youth has given more than $1 million in aid to this underserved segment of our young adult population.