our story

 Fueled by an unwavering resolve, a passion for justice, and a deep empathy for vulnerable youth, Lisa Castetter began a journey that would transform the lives of countless older foster youth. Two decades later, her vision has become a proven formula—one that offers vital support and empowers these young people to rise above unimaginable adversity and shape their own futures.

In 2002, Lisa was forever impacted by her experience as a volunteer at a summer camp for teens in foster care.

That weekend, she watched a boy stuff his backpack with apples from the lunch table, fearful he wouldn’t be fed again over the weekend. She saw the physical marks left by deliberate and repetitive acts of self-harm—painful coping mechanisms rooted in years of trauma and abuse. And she became aware of the staggering statistics that shadow aging out youth: homelessness, incarceration, addiction, and hopelessness.

Then there was the boy who embraced his time in the mountains with a sense of joy and confidence that defied the scars covering most of his body. On the final night of camp, he stepped up to the microphone to address what he felt was the unspoken question in the room—his appearance. With striking courage, he explained that his scars were the result of years of abuse by his father, who routinely burned him with cigarettes. One day, the embers from those burns ignited their home, killing everyone but the boy, who survived—severely burned and emotionally shattered.

He thanked everyone for treating him like a “regular kid.” For the first time since the fire, he didn’t feel defined by his trauma or his past. Camp was a place where he was seen not for his scars, but for his spirit.

This profound moment was a defining one for Lisa. The reality that so many young people endured such horror—and that something as seemingly simple as a weekend camp could provide such powerful healing—awakened a purpose she could no longer ignore. She became deeply involved in the foster care community, mentoring teen girls and standing in the emotional, educational, and relational gap that so many of them face.

In 2007, answering what she recognized as her life’s calling, Lisa left behind a successful career as an executive in the apparel and textile industry to walk a new path—one rooted in compassion, advocacy, and action.

That same year, she founded Teen Leadership Foundation with a mission to eternally improve the lives of transitional age youth through programs designed to develop leadership, resilience, and independence. What started as summer camps has grown into a robust network of initiatives focused on education, employment, mentorship, and sustainable housing—each designed to equip transitional-age youth with the tools and support they need to build meaningful, successful lives.

Today, Teen Leadership Foundation is a beacon of hope—a trusted partner for foster youth stepping into adulthood, and a testament to what is possible when empathy turns into action and a vision is pursued with unwavering resolve.