Thomas Wise
Colonial Heights, VA.

Thomas is an incredible young man with an incredible story! Having lived a life with little food, no clothing, and nowhere to live, he was separated from his 4 siblings and placed in foster care at the age of eleven. Thomas was placed with a foster family who beat and abused him. He ran away and lived the next two years in a homeless shelter. At the age of 13 he was returned to his biological mother (his father was incarcerated for a domestic violence charge) but quickly found himself on the streets when his family was evicted from their home. Eventually, he was separated from his biological mother and placed into a foster home once again. This home became permanent and is where Thomas lives today.

With the support of his current foster parents, Thomas has realized that education is the number one priority. He has learned that he is gifted and can use those gifts to help others. He was 2010 President for the Technology Student Association and member of the Virginia Youth Advisory Council. He is a published author for Voices of Virginia Children and is consistently on the AB honor roll. In his spare time he babysits three children for a homeless mother.

His passion is to be a leader and a role model to other foster children and foster parents. Thomas has testified in the Virginia General Assembly for three separate bills: supporting sibling visitation, supporting biological visitation, and supporting a requirement to keep siblings together. He is currently attending John Tyler community college majoring in basic engineering. Once he graduates he plans to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute for his Masters in Mechanical Engineering. His dream is to work as a robotic engineer. Having achieved so much success in the face of tremendous adversity and at such a young age, we know Thomas will make his dreams come true.

Read Thomas' speech to the Viriginia Youth Advisory Council