December 11, 2025

For the first time, Jonathan Flores is able to give back to the place that changed his life. This year he returned to Plummer Youth Promise, no longer as a youth in foster care but as a volunteer leader.

“This year, I’ve joined the Board of Trustees, and I am making my first gift. It feels incredible,” Jonathan shares. “I hope my story will inspire others to give this season, too.”

It’s been a long road for Jonathan to reach where he is today. He entered the foster care system at 6 years old. For years, he experienced constant transitions and though briefly adopted that placement ultimately didn’t work out. At age 15, he arrived at Plummer Youth Promise.

When he first came to Plummer, Jonathan had no stable personal connections and experienced a past filled with mistrust. Transferring from home to home made it difficult to form meaningful bonds and he had not seen his biological family in years.

Once a young person comes to Plummer, we begin by empowering them. We believe in supporting their interests and helping them have normal childhood experiences like other kids their age. Jonathan joined lacrosse, ROTC, and became an active member of his church. He even attended prom in a tuxedo that our social workers helped him pick!

“Something that shocked me about Plummer is that they let me have my voice in a lot of things,” Jonathan says.

It was the first time that Jonathan felt that his voice mattered. We believe a youth’s voice should be amplified in any decision-making for their future. A young person ultimately knows what’s best for their own life and should always have a seat at the table.

Our goal for the youth we serve is to help them find permanency: a safe, stable, emotionally secure parenting relationship. To set up a foundation for Jonathan’s future, we needed to build his support network. We worked with Jonathan to rebuild relationships from his past and reshape how he viewed family.

“They asked me about who I wanted to get in contact with and to extend my definition of family outside of who is related to me,” Jonathan says.

For youth of any age in the foster care system, we know that family plays a critical role in supporting young people as they transition into adulthood. A team of caring, supportive adults provides consistent stability and belonging for the youth.

“I remember one day when Plummer was having a family event and everyone’s family was there. I thought to myself, ‘Whatever, I’ll just go to my room.’ But then I saw my history teacher and my Lieutenant Colonel from ROTC at Salem High. Plummer really went above and beyond with having people in my life to support me.”

Jonathan’s history teacher encouraged him to change his mind set for the future. He saw this bright, motivated young man who needed guidance to find his path. His history teacher taught him how to drive and gifted him his first car. He also inspired Jonathan to consider college. With his support, Jonathan put in his application into Salem State University to study criminal justice with a concentration in criminology.

“My history teacher, who was also my lacrosse coach, took me under his wing. He is part of my forever family and calls me his son,” Jonathan shares fondly.

While working full time at a restaurant and attending college, Jonathan stayed in Plummer’s Community Apartments, a program that supports young adults as they take first steps toward living independently. Plummer provided Jonathan with a safe place to heal while he worked towards his goals.

Jonathan graduated from Salem State in 2024 and was chosen as the commencement speaker. During his graduation ceremony, he felt elated to see his mother and brothers but also the extended supportive connections he had made along the way. The Lieutenant Colonel, his history teacher, his adoptive fathers, his Plummer foster mother, his Plummer social worker Cathy, and Plummer’s senior leaders Shane and Nicole were all in attendance to celebrate this amazing accomplishment! Jonathan says that seeing all his supportive connections and realizing how many people stood by him was wonderful way to close this chapter in his life.

Jonathan moved to Florida and is now a Deputy Sheriff for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. He advocates to support at-risk youth who need encouragement and guidance, much like the support he received at Plummer. This year Jonathan proudly joined the Plummer Board of Trustees to help shape major decisions for the organization. His lived experience offers a unique perspective and represents the youth we serve.

“Because of Plummer I ended up setting my life up for success,” Jonathan shares. “I can’t imagine who I would be without them.”

Jonathan also proudly made his first gift to Plummer Youth Promise this year, contributing to the organization that changed his life. He hopes to continue giving back by helping young people facing challenges like those he grew up with.

This holiday season, you can join Jonathan and help other youth in foster care experience the support, love, and consistent family connections they deserve.