The Challenge We Face
Youth today face overwhelming mental health challenges, social isolation, and lack of safe spaces for self-expression. Without guidance and community, these struggles can lead to lasting harm.
1 in 3 teens
aged 12–17 has prediabetes.
1 in 5 teens
experiences a mental health disorder each year, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among youth.
60% of children
and teens’ diets are ultra-processed.
OUR MISSION
Empowering youth through a trauma-informed scholarship
At TARA, our mission is to provide trauma-informed support and holistic mentorship to high school students, fostering their emotional well-being and academic success.
OUR VISION
An ecosystem of healing for the next generation
Our vision is to build an ecosystem of healing that empowers youth to overcome challenges, reclaim their health, and become thriving members of their communities.
Our
Story
Born from a simple belief: when given the right tools, youth thrive
TARA was born after witnessing first-hand the toll that poor nutrition, inactivity, and disconnection take on young people. We set out to create a space where health, self-discovery, and community come together.
What began as a vision to support a few students has grown into a program rooted in five powerful pillars — helping young people not only navigate life's challenges, but build a foundation for a lifetime of well-being.
TARA is a lifeline for those facing emotional disconnection, chronic stress, and early health risks — providing culturally sensitive care without interfering with school or work. Through one-on-one coaching, community engagement, and a scholar-centered portal, we empower participants to reclaim their health, voice, and vitality.
WHO WE SERVE
We meet scholars where they are:
Youth aged 14 - 23
01
High School Students
Young people navigating the pressures of adolescence — academic stress, identity formation, and the search for belonging — without the tools to process it all.
02
Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care
Youth transitioning out of systems that were not built for them, needing stable mentorship, community, and practical tools to build a life on their own terms.
03
Graduates of Recovery Programs
Scholars who have done the hard work of early recovery and are ready for the next chapter -- or rooted in health purpose, and sustained connection
Our Five Core Pillars
Health
Building a conscious relationship with food — awareness, not restriction. Replacing ultra-processed foods and sugar with whole, nourishing alternatives. Listening to the body's signals.
Nutrition · Hydration · Sleep
OUR IDEAL PARTNERS
Join the ecosystem of healing
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Corporations
Sponsor product discounts — water filters, journals, athletic gear, art supplies, healthy food — that go directly into scholar hands. Your brand becomes part of a young person's healing journey, with tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities.
NONPROFIT NETWORK
Fellow Nonprofits
Partner on programming, referrals, and co-hosted events. We believe in collaboration over competition — the more connected the care ecosystem, the more scholars we can reach together.
REFERRAL NETWORK
Referral Partners
Social workers, school counselors, recovery programs — you already know who needs TARA. Help us reach the young people who are ready for this kind of support.
WELLNESS NETWORK
Wellness Providers
Life coaches, somatic therapists, acupuncturists, meditation coaches, gyms, dance studios — become a TARA-approved provider and connect with motivated, scholarship-supported scholars.
HOW IT WORKS
Each scholar's journey is personalized and self-paced
01
Apply
Scholar submits a scholarship application. Parental consent required for scholars under 18.
05
Track
Progress logged in a private, HIPAA-compliant scholar portal. Growth made visible and celebrated.
02
Match
Assigned a personal life coach aligned with their background, goals, and healing needs.
03
Equip
Receives a journal, water filter, and reusable bottle — the tools to begin the journey.
04
Customize
Builds a personal path across the five pillars — choosing modalities that can be adjusted at any time.
THE NAME BEHIND THE WORK
"Truth and Right Action"
TARA is a commitment. Truth means meeting each scholar with radical honesty, seeing them fully, and refusing to look away from what is hard. Right Action means responding with care, with intention, and with the courage to do what serves their long-term flourishing. It is both a philosophy and a practice — lived in every mentorship session, every pillar, every scholar's story.
